Malta: Living on the Edge of Europe » Sports

First-ever heart rate monitor in Malta?

Sandro — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:41:12 +0000

Here's the evidence:

Invoice for a Polar Accurex HRM (predates the Accurex II model shown in photo above) from Creative Health Products dated 23/10/1990.
Malta customs declaration dated 15/11/1990

That makes it over 21 years ago. So, am I the first-ever owner of a sports heart rate monitor on the island? Would be happy to hear from other early owners - when was it and what model.

Sweet and salty

Sandro — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:16:37 +0000

Make no mistake. There's no Chinese influence on this post, even though yesterday I was following a multi-national debate on the culinary habits and predilictions of the various nationalities that made up my group of students: Belgian, French, Spanish, Korean, Brazilian, Libyan and Chinese. Neither is this a reference to food, be it main courses or desserts. Besides, it was still 6.55 of a Saturday morning when I was assaulted by the salty and the sweet.

The wide arms of Pwales valley, which extend to form Xemxija bay, offer an open welcome to north-easterly winds. When these reach force 7 or more (as happened overnight), the road which seperates the swelling sea from the Simar nature reserve becomes a breakwater. The result is that the frustrated waves don't only throw a tantrum but anything imaginable at the tarmacked obstacle - the small, like pebbles; the soft, such as seaweed; the sizeable, as the boat which found itself parked close to the Pitstop kiosk. In its foaming fury, the sea's spittle splashes across the sidewalk and, on this particular morning, drenched me (a willing victim, I must add) with a shower of moistened salt. If the ocean thought it would dampen my mood with its actions, it couldn't have been more mistaken. The salt on my lips served as a foretaste of the approaching summer, setting me smiling.

Half-an-hour later, envious that I was still in high spirits, the entity that commands the heavens cracked its whip. The clouds, which until then had been visibly pregnant, delivered a deluge while the accompanying thunder increased in frequency and decibels - that's one hell of a slave driver up there! Despite its best efforts, nature failed to match my mood to the colour of the depressed sky. Rather, the sweetness of the rain water helped wash my body and clothes clean of the encrusting salty grains.

This morning I tasted the sweet and I savoured the salty ... and I relished them both.

Week 19 of 34 – Service suspended

Sandro — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 23:05:25 +0000

I have maintained the 3 key running sessions: hills, speed and long run. This falls far short of the mileage I had envisaged doing at this point but at least I'm still keeping the participation door slightly ajar.

Trail run – Victoria Lines: On and Under

Sandro — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:45:12 +0000

Click here for: GPX file of the 23k route

Video clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AGM266NY4c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUR6fsHcxuE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCy6s86aH2E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OnxuOA5JXo

Local trail video

Sandro — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 11:00:57 +0000

This part of the run is around Ras il-Griebeg and Mgiebah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHxR9evWggA

ASICS “I am made of blazing trails”

Sandro — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:13:07 +0000

2011 CCC Mont Blanc winner Emmanuel Gault explains how trail running is just as much about challenging yourself as it is about challenging nature.

Week 18 of 34 – Service suspended

Sandro — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:05:32 +0000

In view of this body refusing to cooperate in the buildup towards the 0 -3000 challenge, I am temporarily suspending these weekly updates.

Should the situation persist, I'll be obliged to cancel the attempt and will inform you accordingly.

Week 17 of 34 – Half way there but still too far behind

Sandro — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:05:14 +0000

Seventeen weeks have run by, another seventeen weeks to go. I have trained through 50% of a 34-week build-up but I'm only feeling 15% prepared. No, it isn't false modesty. The past few weeks have been simply horrid - lost training days, plethora of aches and pains and now the hills I have run up countless times are feeling harder.

It wasn't the original purpose of this page for it to become an outlet for my moaning and whining. So for today, bye.

Ghajn Tuffieha and Karraba

Sandro — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:30:52 +0000

A run and walk around one of my favourite nature spots this island has to offer - the clay slopes and beach of Ghajn Tuffeiha together with the Karraba plateau. An idyllic location to relax in but also an exciting route to explore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I3Jh1lyRfo

Week 15 of 34 – A weaker week

Sandro — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:05:56 +0000

Does the title of this week's post seem uninspired, seeing that it's almost the same as last week's? The reality is that this has been the poorest 7-day period to date. Having completed only two sessions is bad enough but even worse is my failure to do any of the key workouts: hills, speed and long run. Admittedly I was feeling poorly with flu-like symptoms siphoning off my energy supply. As any of you athletes know, the temptation to force a reluctant body into action is always there but a recurring elevated resting heart rate confirmed my physical sensations; going head to head with common sense would have been counter-productive. At least I now know why week 14 was so disappointing - the body was already busy trying to fight off the virus.
Unfortunately these let downs are par for the course but thankfully there is still plenty of time to get back into stride for the 0 - 3000metres Etna marathon challenge since I'm not quite half-way there yet. And to cheer me up, I concluded the week with the proverbial silver lining - a 15km trail run taking me to the cliff edge of Ras il-Wahx.

Training hours: 4 / Weight: 70.9kgs / Body fat: 12.4% / Muscle mass: 69.4% / Water: 57.6% / Bone mass: 3.0 / Resting heart rate: 50

Safe cycling: a guide

Sandro — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:51:49 +0000

Safe cycling: A guide

Avoid lorries

Never wait between the kerb and a lorry at a junction. If the lorry turns left, the driver may not see you. Stay well behind or, preferably, in front, where you can be seen.

Stay clear of the kerb

The kerb is not your friend. Ride clear of it so that drivers steer around you. Hugging the pavement invites them to try and scrape past.

Show your face

Looking at drivers at junctions helps them to view you as a fellow road user they would rather not run over. Do the same to vehicles on your tail.

Use your neck

Learn how to look over your shoulder without wobbling and do so regularly – particularly before making a manoeuvre, when you should also stick out an arm.

Obey the code

Some may argue that it is safer, say, to jump a red light than wait in a lorry's shadow but egregious violations endanger you and harm the image of cyclists.

Overtake buses

If you're approaching a bus at a stop, look over your shoulder, and move to overtake. If you can't, wait behind the bus. Never undertake.

Be bright

It's more important to show your face and position yourself well, but bright clothing, strong lights and reflectors will help you get noticed.

Plan your route

It stands to reason that you're probably more vulnerable in three lanes of traffic doing 40mph than on a residential side street.

Find a friend

If you're a new or lapsed cyclist, venture out with a more experienced friend. Keep a good distance behind and watch. Then let them follow you and take their advice.

These tips are taken from The Independent. For the full article, please go to - The 'ghost bike' revolt: Families demand action on cyclist deaths

Do what you love

Sandro — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:49 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDmt_t6umoY