About Run Gozo · Est. 1977 Volunteers
with one
common goal.

Run Gozo is a non-profit, voluntary and apolitical organisation that lives within the Xaghra Youth Centre. We exist to deliver il-Ġirja t'Għawdex — and, beyond race day, to promote healthy living, celebrate all that is Gozitan, back charitable causes at home and overseas, and run it all as sustainably as we can.

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Runners on the Gozitan coastline during il-Ġirja t'Għawdex

By the people of Xagħra

Editions since 1977

57+

Countries represented

1.7k+

Athletes per year

100%

Volunteer-run

Our Story

Since 1977

The first edition of il-Ġirja t'Għawdex took place on the 6th of February 1977 — making it the oldest road race in the Maltese Islands.

The idea came from Fr. Anton Refalo, who had taken part in similar events while living in Rome. It grew out of the Xagħra Youth Centre, where from 1976 a group of young people dreamt big, without knowing where it would lead, under the motto Flimkien — together. Young people and adults met for evening runs from Marsalforn to Ramla and back, by moonlight or in pitch dark, and Fr. Anton lived the adventure with them for 36 years. In 2020 he received the Ġieħ ix-Xagħra (the Local Council's tribute).

Fifty years on, what began as a local initiative for 35 runners now caters for athletes from all over the world. Today it stands as one of Gozo's main sporting events and one of the most craved races in the Maltese Islands — successfully coordinated by a group of youths from the Xaghra Youth Centre.

“All things are possible if you believe. Be convinced and convince others.”
Fr. Anton Refalo · Founder, writing in 2023
Read his story of the early years: in English or bil-Malti

Gold Label

Athletics Malta's highest race rating. Our half marathon and 10K both carry it.

AIMS Certified

Both courses are officially measured to the standard set by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.

Good Practice Story

Green Destinations featured our 2020 virtual run as Gozo's story in its 2020 Top 100 Destinations (PDF).

What we stand for

Four things we hold to

Run Gozo is a non-profit, voluntary and apolitical organisation. These are the values written into our statute.

Passion for sport and healthy living

Sport has the power to enrich lives. We promote discipline, perseverance and well-being for everyone — from seasoned athletes to people taking their first steps.

Promote Gozo and unforgettable experiences

We show what makes Gozo distinctive through carefully planned, high-quality events, so every participant and spectator leaves with something worth remembering.

Community and giving back

Our impact should not stop at the finish line. We put in voluntary work and support charitable initiatives, because everyone deserves a chance in life.

Sustainability

We organise our events to minimise environmental impact, cut waste, and build sustainable practice into every part of what we do.

Milestones

Five decades on the road

1977
Where it all began
- The oldest road race in the Maltese Islands (opens in a new tab). Inspired by Fr. Anton Refalo, who led the Xagħra Youth Centre.
- Started as part of Xagħra Day, which marks the founding of the parish in 1688.
- 35 runners (opens in a new tab) on a course of about 6 km round Xagħra on 6 February.
- The event ran twice that founding year.
- The second race was on 9 July, the only time it has been held twice in a year or in summer.
1979
- Became a 10-mile race through Marsalforn and Ramla Bay.
- Runners from other youth centres across Gozo joined in.
1984
- Established Maltese runners joined after wide coverage in the local media.
- The Xagħra Marathon became the Gozo Marathon, and foreign runners soon followed.
1991
- A new 13.1-mile race format applied for the first time at the 16th edition.
- 120 athletes participated.
- The new route ran from Xagħra through Victoria, Sannat, Xewkija, Għajnsielem, Qala and Nadur, back to Xagħra.
- A shorter 8-mile race was added, and the 120 athletes were across both races.
1992
- New 6 km (ages 13 to 16) and 4 km (under 13) races for young runners.
- The event became officially affiliated with the MAAA.
1998
- Re-named the Gozo Half Marathon.
- New 2 km and 4 km races introduced for younger athletes.
2003
- 250 athletes took part.
2011
- A 13.1-mile mountain bike race joined the programme, run alongside the half marathon until 2015.
2013
- 340 athletes (opens in a new tab) from 16 countries.
2014
- 420 athletes (opens in a new tab), the biggest field up to then.
- Thanks to the Malta Tourism Authority, every runner was offered a free guided tour of Gozo (opens in a new tab) the day before — Marsalforn and the Qbajjar salt pans, Victoria and the Cittadella, and sunset at Dwejra and the Azure Window.
2016
Teamsport
- Teamsport became main sponsor — the first Teamsport Gozo Half Marathon.
- More than 550 athletes from 32 countries (opens in a new tab).
- 1988 Olympic marathon champion Gelindo Bordin was invited to present the trophies.
2017
3-Star certified
- ~700 athletes at the Teamsport Gozo Half Marathon.
- Awarded the 3-Star Certification (opens in a new tab) from European Athletics — a first for Malta.
- The certification brought an invitation to the first European Running Business Conference, in Frankfurt, where a delegation from the committee took part.
- Runners came from 38 countries.
- The 8-mile walkathon and chip timing were introduced; the committee bought its own timing system for about €15,000.
- A study found the race brought more than €200,000 to Gozo.
2018
Fair Play launched
- 1,274 athletes from 60 countries (opens in a new tab).
- The Fair Play Project (opens in a new tab) was launched. 15 volunteers travelled to Guatemala. €37,766 raised.
- New 5K walkathon, kids 5K and family 5K races, and entries were capped for the first time.
2019
5-Star 10K
- The 10K was awarded the 5-Star Certification (opens in a new tab) from European Athletics.
- 1,439 athletes from 58 countries on the start line.
- The first-ever race expo (opens in a new tab) held in the Maltese Islands, hosted at the Ġgantija Temples.
- The Gozo Tourism Association gave the race the Gozo Cultural/Social Tourism Achievement Award 2018.
- Became a two-day event (opens in a new tab), with the kids' races on the Saturday, and the 10K replaced the 8 miles.
- Our first Ramla Bay clean-up.
- We helped organise the San Lawrenz 5K in aid of Guatemala with San Lawrenz Local Council, and an adults' 5K and kids' 2K with Għarb Local Council.
2020
- We designed a new half marathon route and launched the Conquer Your Run campaign.
- COVID-19 then cancelled the race, and our first virtual run took its place.
- Across the 2020 and 2021 virtual editions, about 1,000 athletes from over 40 countries took part.
- Green Destinations featured the virtual run as Gozo's Good Practice Story (opens in a new tab) in its 2020 Top 100 Destinations.
2021
- The virtual run raised €1,900 for Puttinu Cares, a child and adolescent mental health charity and the Guatemala Foundation.
2022
AIMS measured
- The first in-person running event in Gozo after the pandemic, held on Wednesday 21 September (opens in a new tab), with about 500 athletes.
- The new half marathon route was raced for the first time, officially measured by AIMS-certified measurers.
- The 10K was re-measured, and the race became part of AIMS (opens in a new tab), the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.
2023
Re-brand to Run Gozo
- 1,117 athletes from 40 countries.
- Introduction of our own 5K route for runners and walkers.
- The organisation rebranded to Run Gozo; the race became Il-Ġirja t'Għawdex.
- Streamed live online through the Xagħra parish's channels, as it was again in 2024.
2024
- 1,315 athletes from 50 countries at the 49th edition.
- For the first time since 1977, more female than male athletes — a feat achieved in our 5K.
2025
The 50th
- The iconic 50th edition, with a record 1,550+ registered athletes.
- An exhibition, “A Legacy Through Time”, celebrated the journey that began in 1977.
- Runners came from 51 countries, and the race was shown live on TV for the first time, on TVM Sport.
- Joseph Arundel set a new half marathon course record of 1:13:29.
- Our founder, Fr. Anton Refalo, attended the thanksgiving Mass on 25 April.
- The trophies were made from leftover Gozitan stone.
- All cups in the square and at the water stations were 100% compostable.
- The lead cars were fully electric.
2026
- The 51st edition.
- A record 1,750 athletes from 57 countries.
2027
Next up
- The 52nd edition — Sunday, 25 April 2027.

Our Team

They just have the heart

The volunteer crew from the Xaghra Youth Centre. We deliberately bring young people into leadership roles — a diverse team of young professionals is how this keeps going.