DGTri Athlete Report - Keith Galea

At Last – Malta Duathlon Champion!!!

Finally the 2012 triathlon season started with the national Duathlon championships. I was waiting impatiently for this race. After a difficult 2011 season, I promised to myself that 2012 will be my year. My coach Dermot did not peaked me for the race but still we wanted the championship back to where it belongs, to the club and to the Galea family. With very encouraging results in running and cycling races, I was looking forward to do a great performance and to make it clear that I am the man to beat this year.

When the race started, I sprinted in front of the pack. I wanted to lead and settle the pace myself. Legs were responding well. When someone tried to skip me I immediately increased the pace to lead the pack. I wanted to open a gap before T1. I managed to do so and covered the first 5km in 17.10, 35seconds in front of 2nd and 3rd placed athletes. After a good transition, I felt that my legs were having a good day, so I immediately started pushing.

After the first lap I noticed that I was gaining ground on my nearest rival. After the first lap I increased my advantage to 50seconds. I was feeling great. It was a bit windy on the bike. The winds were a bit strong on both sides so one had to dig in all the way. I continued to increase my advantage in every lap and the chances to be crowned national champion where increasing. I kept a reasonable good average speed of 39km/hr covering the 27km in 40minutes 40 seconds. Coming back to transition area I increased my advantage to 2minutes 30seconds. A very good advantage but still I was not satisfied.

When I started the 2nd run, my legs were still fresh after the strong bike I had. I was afraid that will feel some cramps as I felt a couple of cramps in the last lap of the bike. However everything was fine and I kept on pushing and pushing till I could not push no more. I did not want to relax. I wanted to push till the end and shoe my dominance. Was not happy to win by 2 mins, I wanted more.

Seeing I was way in front, the last 200m were awesome. When you win a championship for the first time, the last 200m are the most beautiful thing you remember from the whole race. When I crossed the finish line, I shouted CHAMPION CHAMPION!!!!. After a difficult 2011 season where everyone thought that I am finished. Well I am back, faster stronger and quicker. I won the race by 4mins advantage from my next rival, winning the race in 1hr 08. 52. The first thing I did after I crossed the finish line, was to hug my girlfriend Elizabeth. Before the championship I was going through a difficult period and she helped me a lot to go through it. The support she gave me before and during the race was incredible; she gave the extra energy needed to produce this wonderful win.

This time I did not want to win for myself. I wanted to win this race for 2 persons who were fundamental in the build-up for this race. I would like to thanks the best triathlon coach on the island Dermot Galea. His hard training regime, 25-30hrs a week and his fundamental advices helped me to enter in the history of Malta Triathlon by becoming the 6th athlete to win triathlon and Duathlon championships and Triathlete of the year award. I would like to thank my nutritionist Johanna Calleja. Thanks to her nutrition plans I am in the best shape of my life. In October I was weighing 65km with 14% body fat. Now I am 57kg with only 5% body fat. I followed her nutrition plans to the letter and now I am extremely happy to see all these results.

I am satisfied with this championship win but I still want to keep on winning. I am training 3 times a day making lots of sacrifices to improve. I want to win. This is only the beginning…..

Keith

DGtri Athlete - Barry Farrugia

NATIONAL DUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS

The National Duathlon Championship 2012 arrived. Not only was I excited to put all my hard training to the test, but I was also going to race with my new TT bike for the first time and was looking forward to see the outcome!

The nerves didn’t get the best of me though, I was fully focused and aiming for a satisfying result. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, did some warming up and was soon on the starting line. For the first 5k I kept a good tempo and after 18.53 I was in transition, wasn’t one of my fastest transitions but I was soon going strong on my new Cervelo P3, enjoying the ride to the max. I felt stronger than ever and soon made my way to 4 th place. Kept strong for 3 laps and kept pushing hard till I managed to get myself in 3rd place for the 4th and final lap. In transition 2 and out for the last 3k run. Although it is one of my strengths, the last 3k were quite a struggle. Just a few seconds ahead of the 4th I gave it my best and was in the lead for most of the 3k until he managed to over take me in the final bend. He widened the distance between us quite a lot and I was about to give in and settle for 4th place (would have been pleased just the same) but a voice inside me told me it’s now or never. My family and friends cheers were the last thing I needed to give me that final boost. I gave my last 100m sprint and didn’t stop till I was done….. in 3rd place!!!

In just 1,13:49 I made it to my first podium finish in 3rd place, having been only my second Duathlon this gave me great satisfaction! Would like to thank many people who helped me get there, Dermot my coach and friend, who got me this far, having no doubt that he will lead me to much greater success, Johanna for her professional nutrition advice, my better half Niki for all her support and patience. Antonella my sister in law also for her great support, Jack and Maurice for my bike and all the work and time they put in to it, to make it perfect for me! Last but not least all my supportive friends and family, who make me want to achieve so much more.

Barry Farrugia

National Duathlon Championships - a day of mixed feelings

This morning we had the National Duathlon Championship of the Coast Road racing course. We had a very good turn out of 46 participants, a record in itself. For me it was a day of mixed feelings, on one side I had the race and on the other I was thinking about a friend we have lost last Friday - Micheal Aquilina. He was a teacher, lecturer, and friend to me. A person who will be very hard to replace. A person unique in his own way of doing things, and his dedication to sport is something rare is this country. I thought to myself that if I managed to win this race I would dedicate it to him

We started the 5km opening run at a very hard pace, too hard for me I thought after about 1km. The main contenders for the race were Keith (my brother), Mark Zammit, Brian Magri, George Vella and Fabio Spiteri, the latter unfortunately was injured on the day and had to miss the running section opting for the relay bike leg. I kept my own pace as I knew that in a duathlon its easy to cook yourself on the first run although on the other hand I couldn't afford to lose a lot of time.

At transition I was around a minute off the pace. I was confident that I could do a strong bike leg and that's what I went out for. I pushed the pace and caught Keith, Mark and Brian after a lap and a half. It wasn't easy at all but the legs were turning well. Keith was the only one to keep close but I managed to open a small gap on him before T2.

After the change over I was out running the last 3km but something was not quite right. Both my calves cramped just after going out of transition area. I had to stop briefly to stretch, but after that all was OK. I felt much better in the second run and also could push the pace.

Approaching the finish line I dedicated my win to Michael. Michael, was my PE teacher in Form 3 and after Br. Jimmy and Manuel was a big influence in my sports career, and later on was my lecturer and friend at university. Farewell Mike, will miss you and I hope to make good use of what I learned from you.