The Wigan Runner is on our islands! For those of you who have no idea what I’m on about, The Wigan Runner is a dude that has been running everyday in different places around the world since 1st January 2017. And now, he’s made his way to Malta!

A little bit about The Wigan Runner

This originally started as a personal challenge for Wigan resident Matthew, to run every day for a month. But it turned into something so much more than an exercise routine. After coming into contact with British charities, he started running every day to raise money for the less fortunate. Then he decided to start running as much as possible in different countries around the world, and Malta was next on his list. 

Running in Malta

“Day 1025 and we are in Malta, St Julian’s in the north of the island and it is a lot cooler than it was this afternoon when we arrived,” Matthew Melling (The Wigan Runner) began, commenting on Malta’s party town’s nightlife. “I’m going to run through a famous street in St Julian’s Bay,” he says, referring to Paceville’s main street (yup, down the stairs by all the clubs). And it's not Matthew’s first time in Malta, having been here six years ago.

He goes on about how it’s October and still warm AF. Welcome to Malta, Matthew! “We’re here for a few days and the forecast is like mid-20s every day,” he says, also noticing the number of building developments in the area. “It feels like, in a weird way, a mix of African and European cultures – I can’t really explain it.”

“I’ve got to be a little on the ball running here cos there’s a lot of people around me drinking alcohol, so I have to keep a tight hold on my phone so I don’t drop it, and just be wary of everywhere I go.” Possibly his best reaction was to the shisha bar on the side of Paceville’s main street: “Oh, you’ve got shisha here, why don’t we have those in England?”

As he walks down the street he’s a little flabbergasted by the scenery. “I’m kinda entering a little bit of a dubious area to say the least – I’m not even sure if I should be filming to be honest but we don’t give up easily.” #Dead

He obviously gets a little held up running down the Paceville steps, but crosses to BayStreet for the view and down the side where there’s Hugo’s Burgers, down to the beach and around Dragonara Road.

Watch the full video here:

The Wigan Runner / Facebook