The paralysing influence that the dictatorial North Korean leadership has on its people and country also extends to the  Malta-Korea Friendship Association. For the evidence, just take a look at the “activities” page of its website and you’ll see that the most recent update is way back in June 2007; the one before that is May 2006. Morbidly enough, these two “activities” are in fact obituaries. More of the North Korean joie de vivre rubbing off here?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfbaYmQbqbY

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxAIbxSyEiY

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2DmP3xulCQ

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gNQGwWfWnY

I’ve now set my sights on next year’s challenge. Put in figures it reads: 0 – 3000 / 42.195. In words, that’s running a full marathon which starts at sea level and finishes at an altitude of 3000 metres. Reading between the lines (and if my math is correct), there’s an average gradient of 7% for each and every one of those 42 kilometres.

The location is Mount Etna. The date is 16 June 2012.  The time is 08oohrs. The aim is to keep going up unless the volcano brings me down … to my knees in submission. In answer to the question, ‘why this event?’, it’s because living on an island of mere hills, I cannot even begin to imagine a non-stop climb of that magnitude.

The purpose of adding a new page (click tab at top right) to my website is two-fold. Making my commitment public should help me through (inevitable) phases when enthusiasm begins to flag – the ‘I don’t want to lose face’ motivating principle. Also, I wish to share my preparation for the event should anyone else think of doing it, be it in 2012 or future years. To this end I’ll be logging weekly updates, with Monday being the target publication day.

The photo above depicts what one sees today upon reaching the car park of Gnejna Bay – three aluminium container-like structures housing two kiosks and a water sports centre, all partitioning the beach from the parking area. In the eyes of some, the sight of silver aluminium shining in the sun is more satisfying than tanned sand, shimmering sea and crumbling cliffs. In the pockets of others, it is more rewarding to allow businesses to appropriate what, until recently, belonged, at no charge, to all those who frequented the bay. Where once upon-a-stormy-day it was possible to sit in the relative comfort of one’s car while watching nature unleash its fury, today one can still sit in the relative comfort of one’s car but, watch what exactly? Aesthetic idiocy unleashed.

(Hamrun Local Council / Mayor Peter Attard / unveiled this plaque / in remembrance of the Hamrun townsfolk who died / through enemy action / during the Second World War)

The above is a plaque that can be found on the Hamrun parish church’s facade. Ostensibly it was unveiled to commemorate and honour all the townsfolk who died during the Second World War. A worthy act, is it not?

Not.

Highlighting the plaque, both by position and larger-sized lettering, is the name of the local council and it’s (then) mayor. Lower down and in a smaller typeface is the reason for its affixing.

This, therefore, is not a matter of “who is commemorating what” but “what is commemorating who”.

No more catamaran rides to Sicily or weekend flights for a spot of mountain running. This hilly island has its altitude training possibilities too and they’re only a few bus stops away from where I live. Mount Etna here I come!

Petralia Sottana, the village that serves as my base for my 3-day stay, is a spaghetti of narrow, cobbled streets that cling to the mountain-side at an altitude of 1000 metres. This means that I either start up and end down or vice-versa. I opt to let gravity lead the way knowing that it’ll be a bit of a fight to let go of its grip on the way back. All in all, it was a pleasant half-an-hour and it left me plenty of time to shower and build up to the next challenge – an Italian style buffet breakfast!

Click here for part 1: Done!

Click here for part 3: Lessons learned and lessons confirmed

Click here for part 4: Marco Olmo, ultramarathoner, is the guest runner

Click here for part 5: Technical information

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw0OFwQzZ5o

Click here for part 2: Perched at 1000 metres

Click here for part 3: Lessons learned and lessons confirmed

Click here for part 4: Marco Olmo, ultramarathoner, is the guest runner

Click here for part 5: Technical information