Take 2: Steve Sammut Nurminen To Run 365km Across Sicily To Raise Awareness On Mental Health
Steve Sammut Nurminen is set to run a whopping 365km across Sicily – the largest island in the Mediterranean – starting from Syracuse and finishing in Marsala, making it the second time Steve is attempting this.
365km is roughly 10 times the length of Malta, making it one of the longest runs ever done by a Maltese athlete – and it’s forecast to take as much as 60 hours!
With Steve set to leave on Friday morning, Lovin Malta sat down with the ultra-runner to hear more about his upcoming challenge.
But first – for those who would like to donate to the cause, you can follow the donation page here.
The run Steve is set to complete
So, Steve, why are you doing this run?
Steve is embarking on this run to raise awareness around mental health, through being active, as well as to help those in need.
“My goal is to raise enough funds to provide 2,000 meals to Soup Kitchen OFM, Valletta. Having attempted and cut short this run last year, I would like to show that anything is possible if you persevere, especially for anyone out there who is experiencing any self-doubt,” Steve told Lovin Malta.
“In a nutshell, my goal is to make every mile matter!”
What has the training been like?
“My preparation for the run has consisted of the following for the past four months; out of bed between 4-4.30am, even when I least felt like it.”
“Two to three sessions per day from Monday to Sunday, which consisted not only of running but also focused strength training & mobility work.”
“Most of my Saturday nights were dedicated to sleep-deprived runs anywhere from 10pm to 6/7am the next morning.”
“I intend on only taking short naps throughout the Sicily run so it is important that I prepare my body to work as efficiently as possible on little to no sleep at all.”
“I am also going to have a super support team with me helping out with navigating from one side to the other, physiotherapy, keeping me company on some of my running, and most importantly, ensuring that I push through the low moments.”
Are you feeling scared?
“To be honest, there are days, especially at night before I go to sleep, where I start to think about all the things that could possibly go wrong, but with time I have learned to use these thoughts in order to be better prepared in case something actually does go wrong.”
“Let’s face it, during a 365km run, there are definitely going to be some challenges! Funnily enough, I would say that my main concern is the possibility of being attacked by a stray dog, especially in remote areas during the late hours – just for context, there are over one million strays in Sicily.”
“Last year we only had a couple of instances but managed to avoid escape without harm.”
“With only one week to go, I am really looking forward to the challenge and cannot wait to get started!”
Be sure to show your support for Steve by hitting that donation page!
Good luck Steve!
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