Amid Scorching Heat And Crippling Injuries, Maltese Athlete Battles Through 240km Run For Mental Health
Scorching heat, dislocated limbs and crippling pain. One Maltese man battled through a 240km run along the Sicilian coast to help those struggling with mental health. And while injuries meant he could not complete the entire journey, the campaign still very much remains active.
Superathlete Steve Sammut Nurminen attempted a mammoth 365km run from Siracusa to Trapani. But managing to get through 240km until his body gave way is still one impressive feat. In fact, it’s still possibly the farthest run completed by a Maltese national, to date.
For the challenge, Nurminen teamed up with Dr Klown, the Maltese NGO known to provide aid to hospitalised children through fun and laughter.
The run began all well and good, but things went south after injuries and harsh conditions took their toll and caused the endeavour to be cut short.
1. “I never experienced that kind of heat in my entire life!”
Mental fortitude is more than a requirement when running half the coast of Sicily mid-summer. And even though Steve was no stranger to Herculean feats, this venture happened to coincide with one of the worst heatwaves the season has seen thus far.
“It was very hot,” Steve told Lovin Malta. “Even though we prepared for the hot temperatures, it was the worst I’ve ever experienced. There were heat warnings everywhere. And during the run, there was neither shade nor shelter.”
The prospect of throwing in the towel first appeared in Steve’s mind at the 43km mark, at which point he passed out the moment he met his team at a designated checkpoint.
“When I showed up, my face was completely white. My physio had a foldable massage bed. I hopped on it and rested a while whilst my team called a doctor and nutritionist at home.”
The aim was to replenish all the lost fluids and electrolytes lost through the journey so far. Something he could only do by chugging bananas, dates, electrolyte gels, and three liters of water every hour on the dot for the remainder of the run.
2. “I ran 240km with the same pair of shoes”
You know that feeling of discomfort you get when you use the same pair of shoes for way too long? Well, imagine running non-stop for 62 hours with the same pair of shoes.
“I brought two extra pairs of shoes with me, but we left them on the boat,” he said.
“By the end of the whole thing, my shoes were in shambles. I ran the entire distance with the same pair. At one point I took them off to see my feet covered in blood and bruises. I had one dislocated toe and another one completely broken.”
“The bottom of my feet felt as though they were on fire. It was like standing on hot charcoal. Unbearable.”
Despite the pain, Steve soldiered on.
“Looking at the state of my feet on Sunday, I began telling myself that it’s going to be very tough to finish.” Regardless, he managed to squeeze in another 24 hours of running.
3. “I ran for 62 hours, but only recharged with a series of mini-naps”
Running 240km is one thing. But doing it without a proper night’s sleep takes the venture to a whole new level of madness.
Steve powered through the ordeal stopping only in brief moments to take “mini-naps” that lasted anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Regardless, Steve “came off the short naps feeling like he slept for hours.”
4. “Mind games helped me reach my checkpoints”
How does one distract himself through such a journey? Steve had a checkpoint set at every 10km of his run. “Each time I’d tell myself ‘it’s just another 10km. I’ll catch the team at the checkpoint and everything will be ok.'”
Eventually, the ‘mind games’ bordered on hallucinations after his colourful imagination made him conjure scenarios to continue to reach his checkpoints.
“I’d create scenarios in my head that cars or bikes were trying to run me over and stop me from reaching the goal. So I’d try ‘dodge’ them to arrive healthily at each checkpoint.”
5. “I’m ready to try it again next year!”
Steve did not reach his own personal goal of 365km. Nevertheless, covering a distance of six marathons in just under 62 hours is no mere human feat. And it was all done for an overwhelmingly good cause.
“I don’t see this as a failure,” he said. “Without ‘failing’ this run, the next one wouldn’t be a success. I am quite satisfied to have learned so much about my body, my mental strength and of course, my team.”
“I’m disappointed because if I play the whole thing back in my mind, I argue that I was still in a good place to continue. But had I done so, the injuries would have ruled me out for a considerably long time.”
Help Steve reach his goals by donating!
Steve’s endeavour amassed just over €5,000 in donations. But with your help, he can still reach a target amount of €10,000.
Donations still remain open, and should you like you can contribute by way of this GoFundMe page, if not through the following:
- Revolut +356 79023975
- BOV App +356 99450718
As for Steve’s future, he’ll be giving his feet some time to recover. However, it won’t be long before we see him on the road again.
“In three weeks’ time, I’ll be running an 80km race in Turkey, so my feet better recover quickly!”
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