The 40th edition of the Mdina 2 Spinola will be held on Sunday. This run is traditionally held on the last Sunday before Christmas and this year will be no exception.

The M2S, as the race is also known, is the second largest road race in Malta following the Malta Half Marathon. In recent years, the number of participants had risen to 1,000.

But this year as in all other races organised by the Malta Marathon Organising Committee there will be a substantial increase as there are over 1,500 applicants aiming to participate in this well-established race.

The M2S will start at 7am just as the sun begins to rise. The race starts from just outside the main Mdina gate and finishes in Spinola Bay.

The route will see the participants go down Saqajja Hill to Attard. From there they will pass through Mrieħel, Fleur De Lys, Ħamrun and on to Blata L-Bajda.

From Blata L-Bajda, they will head down towards Pietà and from there they will run along the waterfronts of Msida, Ta’ Xbiex, Gżira to the Sliema Strand.

At this point the runners will turn left and run the length of Tower Road to Balluta Bay and then on to the finish at Spinola Bay.

Along the route, motorists may find some traffic deviations and delays between 7am and 9.30am, by which time all participants would have finished.

The major traffic deviations will be from Blata L-Bajda and Floriana to Pietà/Msida and vice versa from 7.45am to 8.30am and no access from all directions to Pjazza Qalb Ta’ Gesu (Spinola Bay) from 7.30am to 10.30am.

Light traffic travelling from Balluta Bay toward Spinola will be deviated to Triq Il-Kbira from 8am to 9am.

The route will be marshalled by several local wardens and members of the Police Force.

“Motorists should proceed with caution and follow warden and police traffic directions,” the organisers said in a statement.