The marathon from Malta to Guatemala

Marathon was originally a location.  It was the place from where the Greek messenger Pheidippides was sent from to Athens to communicate the news that the Persians were defeated in the Battle of Marathon.  After that, marathon became synonymous with the foot race of 42.2 kilometres.

Nowadays, it is unfortunately abused by the uneducated of what a marathon really takes to do.  Every act that includes more than the touch of a keyboard is claimed to be a marathon.

But genuine marathoners still exist and the marathon still inspires people to get out of their way and make a difference.

Edward Sultana, is one of them.  After seeing what a fellow Maltese countryman is enduring in Guatemala day in day out, he decided to prepare himself to endure a marathon in the form of a foot race. In the process he wants to create awareness and raise up some funds for a 5-a-side football pitch.

I met up with Edward, and he had to tell me all this about this challenge that is now in just a week’s time.

Firstly, what is your connection with the Guatemala Project?

I was in Guatemala on vacation last year.  While there I paid a visit to Dun Anton Grech, a young Maltese missionary helping out in Puerto Barrios. Guatemala is a truly amazing country, rich in history, culture and breath taking landscapes. A large proportion of the population are of indigenous Mayan descent and most still lead a very tough hard life. When I met up with Dun Anton, he tried to explain why such a resourceful country still had such a high level of poverty. The story was truly depressing. Local people are forced to give up their land to corrupt governments, large multinationals exploit the resources of the country. This led to a civil war where the military government persecuted and massacred thousands of its own people. This did not happen in the middle ages. This happened in the 1980’s and 1990's.

Dun Anton has been in Guatemala since the mid 1990’s . He has witnessed all this first hand. He has set up a number of projects to help these people start a new life. He has constructed two fish farms, set up chicken farms, repaired schools , and the list goes on and on. It’s amazing how one person can make such a big difference to the life of so many people in need.

So that is when I decided to do my little to help him out. The project we are working on consists in the construction of a football pitch and small classrooms to enable kids to learn skills they could use to make a living. The whole idea of the football pitch is to attract the children off the streets and into these classes. The project is in an advanced stage. We hope that with the money we will collect from the marathon, to help finish it off.

How do you see the marathon relating to this project?

We have done a number of fund raising events in the past towards this project and we heartily thank all those who have believed in the project and have donated so generously. This time we felt we had to do something more to deserve each donation. So we thought it is up to us to work hard to earn each donation. That is when the idea to run the full marathon started. In conjunction with the Malta Marathon, Dun Anton will be organising a small marathon in Guatemala as well for the same purpose so there is a stronger link between the two events and countries.

I understand that you have done half marathons in the past, but a whole marathon is a whole different story.  How daunting are 42 kilometres?

Yes, it is a completely different story. Increasing your running distance slowly, slowly until you are in a position to run close to your target of 42 km is tough. The training hours are long and intense. It takes up all your focus and verges on an obsession. But the rewards are great. When I compare where i was a few months ago and where I am now, and all the distance I covered in the last few months, I am truly amazed and I am very proud. All that is left now is a good finish on the race day!!

Edward, I imagine you have been preparing holistically – physically and psychologicaly for the event.  What has been the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the journey so far?

The challenges are great. The physical efforts you have to put in and the mental strength to keep on pushing when your body is so close to giving up are both a challenge but also a reward once you’ve done what you set out to do. It really pushes you to the extreme both physically and mentally. I guess the best reward would be crossing the finishing line. That would mean that it was well worth the training.

Finally, which do you think is the farthest – Guatemala from Malta or the finishing from the starting line?

Good question J definitely the finishing line from the starting. I have to sweat it out all the way.....

More info about the cause can be found here.

Anyone who thinks such an endeavour deserves a donation, can do so by effecting a transfer on HSBC Account: 071-017552-051 or through Paypal on the address d01eds@yahoo.co.uk