universitysportsandleisure-blog

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10 Heroes of the 2017 BRND WGN & University Ring Road Races

It’s been over a month now since our 6th edition of the races and even though the hype is slowly dying down, here at the office we are still buzzing. A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting at my desk reading an article from the Times about the event and it really got me thinking. 

After every race, the winners are always put in the limelight and although they definitely deserve to have their efforts commended, sometimes we tend to take this overboard and almost worship them. In fact as a kid, being the keen athlete that I was, I too remember idolising some of the top local athletes in my sport. 

Although it is always great to have role models, i think sometimes we put so much attention on the victors that we fail to notice the feats of others which are just as admirable. 

Which brings me to our next blog post - here’s my take on the real heroes of this year’s edition of the Ring Road Races:

1) The Emergency Fire & Rescue Unit and the San Gwann Scout Group

As the saying goes: ‘Many hands make light work’ and this is indeed the case for our races. We are pleased to have the support of so many people working behind the scenes. It is down to organisations like these that our races are so successful year in year out and they are definitely heroes in our eyes!

2) Euchar Camilleri and his team from Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club

Most people hate getting up in the morning, I myself have a mental battle with myself every day to get out of bed for swimming (and many a time sleep wins...). 

What if we told you that at around 5am on race morning you’d find Euchar and his team setting up for the day. They sacrifice their Sunday to help us out and in the many editions we held, never have I heard any of them complain. Euchar really goes out of his way to help even in the build-up to the races, what with route marking and lending us equipment. He definitely deserves the title of Race Hero!

3) Giuseppe Lenti and the rest of the BRND WGN Crew

If we were giving out an award for productivity, then without doubt Giuseppe would be the man for this. I am not sure he realised what he was getting into when we initially met him round about December but he definitely got the job done! 

Anyone who has ever organised an event knows that things never run completely smoothly but Giuseppe was always there to provide a solution. He was great to work with and we will definitely miss our weekly chats over the phone and email correspondence. He was also up at the crack of dawn on race day to help set up!

At this point we must also mention the rest of the BRND WGN crew who were there on the day in masses (Murphy and all) to help support Hospice Malta.

4) Mark Zammit on behalf of Agones Sports Club and his timing system

In past editions, one of the most stressful parts of the actual event was collating results in time for the presentation of awards. This year we solved this problem by investing in chip timing (as opposed to doing everything manually). Mark is probably my manager Johanna’s number one hero of the day; she probably still has nightmares from past issues ;)

5) Jake Vella and his team mates from the Malta Youth Triathlon Academy

At just 7 years old, young triathlete Jake Vella has won over the hearts of thousands of people around the world. Everyone is talking about the little boy who despite training regularly and eating healthily, suffers from a rare disease called ROHHAD which causes him to keep gaining weight. 

Jake has participated in numerous editions of our event and he is possibly the most determined 7 year old athlete I have ever met. Furthermore he is an inspiration to both adults and children alike; in fact it is always an amazing sight to watch the support he gets from his training buddies at MYTA.  

Being a triathlete myself, whenever I’m lacking motivation or going through a difficult period in terms of training and racing, watching Jake is always a reality check. If a 7 year old suffering from ROHHAD can conquer each challenge he sets himself then so can I! Jake you are not only our youngest RACE HERO of 2017 but also my personal hero :)

6) Our Photographers

‘A camera is a save button for the mind’s eye’  Roger Kingston - and also let’s just face it, everyone looks forward to seeing the race pictures on Facebook. Personally I love to look back at albums as it always jogs memories and I often find myself smiling.

We are extremely grateful to our photographers Angie Conti (http://www.angieconti.com/), Robert Camilleri (Fotoclassic) and Alex Turnbull (@alexturnbullimages/) who all did an amazing job at capturing the day’s activities and emotions on film.

7) Wall’s Malta and Dr. Juice

If you’re like me and you think with your stomach then anything related to food is definitely a winner! Let’s face it, who can refuse a free ice- cream or an ice cold smoothie after a run in the sun. I am sure we are not the only ones who were grateful to have them there on the day.

The cherry on the cake was the ice cold Acai Sorbet also on offer at the finish line.

8) Mykill Cini, Capoeira Nagô Malta, Bouncy Castles Malta, Outdoor Living Malta

Because no event is truly complete without some awesome entertainment to keep the crowd going. And with an eager team like ours it’s no surprise that we had not 1, not 2 but 4 different forms for all types of people.

Having partied at various local clubs on his DJ set until the early hours of Race Morning, we definitely have to hand it to Mykill, one of Malta’s top DJs for once again being present at our races. His lack of sleep didn’t seem to have any effect on his energy levels - let’s just say he ‘brought the house down’.

A combination of martial arts and dance/ aerobatics, Capoeira was also a winner amongst our crowds. Their presence alongside the race route helped to keep spirits high, as did their performance on the university track.

Bouncy Castles - need we say more! Kids love them, adults wish they could still justify trying them out. They just add colour to an event like this.

Participants were even given the opportunity to build a 4 x 4, courtesy of our friends from Outdoor Living, to get a taste of how much fun and how beneficial team building activities can be.

4 more heroes who gave up their Sunday morning to be with us on the day!

9) Our fellow Colleagues, Friends and Family

If you read our previous blog then you’ll know that organising an event of this scale is never easy. Stress levels can get super high and let’s just say the last few weeks in the build-up are not the easiest of times for us at the office. After a day like that, you also aren’t the nicest person to be around at home (especially if you are busy fretting about tying up loose ends).

We are lucky enough to have so many people around us who really do have our backs and although at this stage it would be difficult to mention each individual - you know who you are and you really are heroes in our eyes. Whether you helped us out with logistics in the build-up to the event, showed your support by rallying troops to participate or gave up your Sunday Morning to help us out on race day (some were even there at the crack of dawn with us) - we cannot thank you enough!

10) All of you !!!

This year we were able to raise €3200 for Hospice Malta and it is all down to you! Thank you for being a part of our races whether you were there on the day or in spirit! 

Bonus Heroes - Our Sponsors (YOU WERE AMAZING!)

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The 5 stages of Organising a Big Event

If you are one of our regular followers on social media, then I’m sure you noticed the overwhelming amount of pink that recently took over our various pages. For a few years now, March has become a special month at our office  - no it’s not to do with the numerous public holidays (although I must admit I do enjoy those too) but rather because it has become a period we associate with our annual running event - The Brnd WGN & University Ring Road Races.

Ever growing in popularity, the event requires a huge amount of planning and tends to result in a rollercoaster of emotions in its build up. When we finally got some time to breathe after our races, I sat down to figure out an ideal blog post about our races. Rather than boring you with the nitty gritty details of actual race day (because I am pretty sure you’ve heard and seen enough of this online), I wanted to show you what happens behind the scenes in terms of stages of planning. I am certain that if you have any experience in planning out a big event then you can relate pretty well to some, if not all of these stages.

Stage 1: The ‘Uwija, we have months to plan this all out’ Stage.

I like to think of this as the ‘calm before the storm’ stage. This is my second year being a part of the organising team and once again about 6 months before the actual due date we start looking into how to plan things out. Because it’s always great to plan ahead right? 

The problem with this is that 6 months seem ages away so you start to put things off - ‘I’ll just finish this email and oh we have that meeting and I had to deliver that merchandise ....” - before you know it 3 months have gone by and your initial idea of planning ahead has gone out of the window. You make a mental note to think ahead next time round and then you move on to the second stage.

Stage 2: The ‘Let’s get the ball rolling’ Stage.

You realise how much work you still have to do and start getting organised. You have a list of tasks (yes over the years we have learnt to keep a list of everything that needs to get done in terms of a timeline), you take a deep breath in and you just get down to it. 

This stage tends to involve extensive amounts of coffee and a whole lot of patience. But luckily all starts to fall into place and you start to think that this year things will run more smoothly. That is until bam, without warning, something crops up (because something always does) and it sends your plans to be organised plummeting to the ground. We move onto stage 3 ...

Stage 3: The ‘What is this stress you speak of?’ Stage.

When organising a big event like this you learn that you can do all the planning in the world but nothing is ever plain sailing. To make matters worse, you usually don’t get a lot of warning signs and issues have a habit of cropping up all at once. I tend to call this the ‘make or break’ stage because it can literally do just that i.e. it can be the downfall of the actual event. 

Luckily I am part of a great team  plus we all have each others’ backs. Although the last few weeks prior to our races tend to be quite testing and stress levels shoot through the ceiling; we always pull through in the end - bring us to stage 4.

Stage 4: The ‘I never really had a doubt’ Stage.

In my two years watching the races come together, this is by far my favourite stage. After months of planning, emailing, promoting, pitching etc etc the day finally arrives and watching how things pan out is always a proud moment. Somehow the success of the actual day makes you forget the hours of work you and all the other members of the organising team put into the event. You almost start to question why you made so much fuss after all about how tiring the planning process was - you actually start to think it was simple after all.

That is until the day is over, adrenaline starts to die down and then the fatigue that has been accumulating for a few months now, hits you like a ton of bricks - bring us to stage 5.

Stage 5: The ‘I can’t decide if I need a hug, an XL coffee or 2 weeks of sleep’ Stage

After the races, it usually takes a few days to recover fully from this state of tiredness. Having said this, you’re still so hyped up about how much of a success the actual event was that you don’t mind one bit. Slowly you start to close things off and put more focus on things that you’ve had on hold for quite a while now. Finally you get some time to actually breathe a bit - after all, the next races are 12 months away - that’s ages right? Oh and it wasn’t that stressful after all....

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A Year in Review

For once the title of this entry is somewhat on point and typical for this time of the year. Sadly yes, I am one of those philosophical people who like to reflect on how the past 365 days have flashed by. Let’s face it, a lot happens in 12 months and what better way to cherish those precious moments than by pointing them out in a blog entry. 

Here in our office 2016 has definitely been another one for the books; it also marks my first year working for MUHC. For once I’ve decided to save the talk though, so here’s a few pictures instead just to give you an idea of how our year went:

1) Remember Murphy? He’s the super cool dude who took on the Malta Half Marathon in February to help raise funds for Hospice Malta. He’ll be making a comeback in 2017 so be sure to stay tuned.

2) March will definitely go down in history as the month we held the 5th edition of the University Ring Road races. 2016 also saw our first ever title sponsor BRND WGN who helped give the races a bit of a facelift. This crazy bunch have already confirmed their support for 2017.

3) Spring is always the perfect season to make the most out of our University Residence in Lija. Be sure to check it out.

4) Let’s not forget the first in our series of quiz nights that we came up with to help support research in ALS. We are definitely planning to hold more of these in 2017 - laughter guaranteed.

5) Here’s another one from the sequel we held. Our ‘not so serious’ team -Can you believe they actually won the second time round?!

6) 2016 was definitely a lot of fun. This one marks a photoshoot we organised to help promote our merchandise.

7) It was also great to have numerous companies join us throughout the year for team building events.

8) Let’s not forget taking on Lovin Malta’s ‘Millied Challenge’. What a way to end the year!

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Not your regular day at the office

In my last piece I happened to mention December has been an eventful month for us. Ok I may have emphasised this a bit, but we’ve also had a pretty awesome time along the way. You know how they say things have a way of falling into place? Well the past month has also taught me this. 

A couple of months ago, I sat down with my manager, our financial controller and our Group CEO for an annual budget meeting. Like many things this year, this was my first experience and not really being the number crunching type, let’s just say my enthusiasm to attend this meeting after a day at work was not at its highest. 

Of course there was some talk of numbers, we were even given statistical charts (I may have phased out a bit when things got complex, sorry Johanna). Having said this I couldn’t have been more wrong about the primary purpose of this meeting. Instead of being a dull account of the year’s numbers in terms of our different sections, it turned into a driven discussion of the areas that are working and also what needs to improve. To cut a long story short, an hour or so later, I came out of that meeting more motivated than ever (and also a bit hungry). I knew our targets, now it was time to get down to business.

One area we wanted to focus on was our team building activities. I spent a while planning out how to go about promotions and before we knew it we got down to implementing this marketing plan. For a few weeks, I waited for the magic to happen. And waited... And waited. I’d almost given up all hope that we were actually going to manage to reach out to anyone. I mean we’d had events in the past and most groups had thoroughly enjoyed themselves, what was I doing wrong?

And that’s when out of the blue we got our first request for an activity. As with all quotes we discussed things with the company to see what activities would best suit their wants and also their budget and together we came up with a plan for a fun day out. A week went by and our first activity was booked. As I said previously, things have a way of falling into place and they really did as we ended up booking quite a few activities after that. Most were set for the month of December. Being the end of the year, this period tends to be quite popular in order to start the new year on a high.

So as you can see December was indeed a busy month but also a fulfilling one. We were very lucky with the weather during most events and I can safely say that each group were thoroughly satisfied with how things went. I always enjoy holding these events as I tend to see the group come together as the day’s activities unfold and it really shows just how essential these activities are. 

From archery, to pyramid building, to a virtual adventure ‘around the world’, to mini games including bocci, lifesize jenga, aqueduct challenge, catapulting angry birds etc etc... each group found the ideal activity for their employees and had a whale of time. The cherry on the cake was getting to sit down and watch them chat and chuckle over their three course lunch. What a perfect day out of the office.

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Of Shoeboxes and Stationeries

This time last year I started working for MUHC and let’s just say that things were pretty relaxed back then. Flash forward to December 2016 and boy how the tables have turned. If you’ve ever heard anyone say the build-up to Christmas is a busy period then rest assured that ‘busy’ is an understatement. 

For our team, this month has been a mad dash what with keeping up with Graduation orders, numerous team building activities (stay tuned to our blog to find out all about this in my next post); oh and the various Christmas events we’ve been invited to as well as prepping things for the launch of our new website (exciting times ahead :)) - I think you get the picture of how our days have panned out lately.

So you’re probably thinking - “what’s this got to do with shoeboxes or stationeries for that matter”; and that’s where I get to the nicer side of our December. A few weeks ago, mid all these crazy antics, my colleague Johanna sent me a facebook message with a link to the ‘Lovin Malta Millied Challenge’. (even though we sit less than a metre apart; me and my manager tend to communicate mostly by email and facebook messenger. Antisocial? maybe a bit but it really has worked for us, also at times I must admit some of her replies have made me chuckle). 

I tend to get side-tracked easily, so back to Lovin Malta and their challenge. For those few individuals still unfamiliar with this recent website that has gone viral; Lovin Malta is ‘the bomb’. They are your number one go-to for anything currently trending on the Maltese islands and they also have an extremely humorous way with words. In case I didn’t make it clear already - I’m a big fan! 

I started reading into their ‘Millied Challenge’ and my immediate response was ‘challenge accepted’. We all spend a lot over the Christmas period and sometimes it’s really stressful buying gifts for everyone and going to a billion get-togethers being organised by all your different groups of friends and colleagues. 

Sometimes we forget the true meaning of Christmas and the magic behind it. Unfortunately not everyone is as lucky so it’s great to give something back to these people. Who knew that all it could take to make someone’s day (or probably year) was an old shoe box, some wrapping paper (ok I’ll admit I had some difficulty when it came to wrapping the box) and a few small presents all bought from my local stationery. In financial terms it literally came down to one less bottle of wine (the bonus was less calories too ;)) 

I was taken aback by this great initiative (as was Johanna) and it got us thinking that our colleagues would have the same reactions. So we roped our company in to the challenge and were extremely pleased to have so many of our employees support this (although we heard a few bribed others to wrap their box....)! Here’s a shot of us with our boxes ready to take to Lovin Malta’s headquarters. 

Towards the end of the year, I tend to take some time out to reflect on how things have gone. 2016 has definitely been a big one for me; not only as an athlete but also as an individual relatively new to the world of employment. I have changed a lot as a person and grown in many ways but primarily this year has made me appreciate just how special our team is. Despite being so busy in our different units, we all managed to find some time to help others in need. What a way to end the year!

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4 Reasons to Buy a Graduation Memento

We are now in the month of November; for some it means the start of winter, for the more enthusiastic kind - it marks the beginning of the festive period (Christmas trees, Santa Clauses etc have already started to crop up in my neighbourhood). 

Here on Campus, all anyone can speak about is GRADUATION; from buscades and hijacked lectures to Grad Ball and a general party fever, it’s safe to say that this is a pretty great time at the University. If you are a student that is....

It’s funny to think that 12 months ago I was a part of all of this. One year in and what does Graduation mean to me? As Rihanna would say, “work, work, work, work, work...” - did I stress the term work enough? (I better tone this down this gets screened by my trusty manager (a.k.a. the Grammar Nazi)). 

Joking apart November is a very busy month for us since we are involved in the sale and distribution of graduation photography and merchandise. With so much to choose from, these items are extremely popular. 

Here is my take on why everyone should buy at least one graduation related item this November (although while you’re at it why not turn it into a full blown shopping spree ;)) :

1) YOU ONLY GRADUATE ONCE!

After years of attending lectures, late night assignments and weekends of studying (ok and quite a bit of partying too), graduation marks the day that all university students eagerly await. A photo or some other memento is a great way to look back on this day and remember not just the ceremony but also all your special university moments.

2) WHAT BETTER EXCUSE TO SHOP?

Let’s face it the feeling of spending money is just so satisfying - we all love shopping. “But did you actually need it?” Well actually mum this time I did - it’s education related, who wouldn’t want that graduation frame of their child on the mantelpiece or a cute personalised teddy bear to cherish after so much hard work?

3) IT HAS YOUR NAME ON IT!

No this is nothing to do with you being popular at university. There is actually an option to get certain merchandise personalised. From handy #ISURVIVED mugs (because let’s face it some days at university were just so tough) to cute little teddy bears, we have it all.

4) A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.

Ok I admit it here I got a bit cheesy but the title says it all. It’s always great to look back on a graduation photograph and remember your days at university and everything you worked for. Why not go the entire way and book a photoshoot with the entire family? After all they probably deserve this as much as you do - they were definitely subject to at least one pre-exam tantrum.

Do we have you convinced? Visit us ONLINE to have a look at what we have to offer. All it takes is the click of a button! Yes it’s that simple!

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A COMFORT ZONE IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE...

....BUT NOTHING EVER GROWS THERE.

Being an endurance athlete I’ve slowly had to learn this and apply it to my training because let’s face it, the feeling of being outside a comfort zone sucks big time and many a time I’ve backed off slightly during intense workouts (silently hoping none of my coaches read this).   

Recently we organised a team building event at the University Residence in Lija. Our company has been organising these events for a couple of years now but this was my first experience ensuring that things ran smoothly. I’m going to be honest here and say that being the adventurous person that I am, sitting on the sidelines trying to look somewhat professional in my shirt on such a beautiful sunny day was not my idea of fun. In fact it was a huge struggle, I would have loved to be a part of the games, everyone seemed to be having such a blast and the perfect weather just added to the great vibe. Most people seemed to have a smile on their face and what’s more important they were all working together. And that’s when I remembered that joining in would have defeated the whole purpose of the day i.e. to create unity amongst the employees. 

Looking back, this is why I started this blog entry with a particular quote about comfort zones because I feel that this was key to the entire day. That day we were catering for a big company and for this reason people were not familiar with all of their colleagues especially those who worked in different units - hence where the challenge arose. In fact it wasn’t all smiles and team bonding; when people arrived at the Malta University Residence in Lija (one of the main venues for the team building events we organise) first thing in the morning, they all seemed a bit apprehensive and despite being a group of around 60 they divided up according to work divisions and kept to themselves a bit.  

This quickly changed with their first activity, when they were randomly picked to line up in separate groups and master the sport of archery. This is where the fun began; sitting on the sidelines did have its advantages as I got to witness the different characters each take their shot at the target. There were those, eager to impress, who were sure they would be experts, because it’s only a bow and arrow, it can’t be that hard to shoot, right? Wrong - I’ve tried archery a few times in the past and can safely say that it is much harder than it looks. And then there were the more weary ones who seemed stressed out even by the thought of having a weapon in their hands. Despite the various personalities, by the end of it everyone seemed to do quite well and I was actually really impressed. 

Archery was kind of an ice breaker for everyone as after that the group was already more interactive. They sat together on a large table during coffee breaks and lunch and they seemed excited about the way they had been grouped up (purposely dividing units) for the various games held in the afternoon. Adding a competitive edge to things always brings people together and when they found out they would be going head to head in activities known as ‘team olympics’ and accumulating points in order to be able to award a winner, things got serious and they really worked together. Activities were a mixture of the most inventive games you could think of ranging from catapulting angry birds at targets, building a bridge, life-size jenga, bocci etc.. 

It was all great fun and it was good to see them all bonding and getting to know who they actually work with. The cherry on the cake was that the winning team shared their prize with the entire group - I got a chocolate too so that was me happy for the day :)

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Lights, Camera, Action

If you are thinking on the lines of filming then you’re correct in having figured out the theme of our latest entry. These past few days have been a bit of an adventure for me - from witnessing a six foot tall camera man whiz up and down on his skateboard to dumping my car in the middle of Regional Road let’s just say I’ve seen it all by now. Definitely not your typical day in the office but here at MUHC we aren’t exactly your ‘normal’ bunch ;)

Ok I’m guessing I’ve lost you at this point but fear not for all is about to be revealed. This all started almost a year ago on my first day of ‘work’ - I say ‘work’ for the simple reason that my so called day of training quickly turned into a huge brainstorming session between me and my manager. When I get an idea, I tend to go off on one (whatever gave you that impression? ...).

Months later, what started out as an ‘imagine that ...’ chat has really had an impact on the company. We have actually put numerous ideas into practice and a lot of which have been a huge success. NEVER BE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT - my mother is probably cringing at reading and yes maybe my mouth does get me into sticky situations at times but I still cannot stress how important this phrase is in life. Had I been the shy type back then, I would have never given my ideas for new merchandise items and we would not have spent the last few days shooting a cool video and some pretty amazing photos too, to help promote the launch of our new product line.

Two of our new T-Shirts are themed around Pink October and Movember and we have decided to donate a portion of our proceeds to the relative causes. I remember at the time saying that we would need to figure out a promotional plan to make these items go viral and really help raise funds. What better way to get the crowd going than by teaming up with the most funky marketing company I know  - BRND WGN (I’m kind of a huge fan or so is every other marketing graduate I know). 

So with a super cool photographer/ videographer, 4 keen Students who were absolutely brilliant and bags and bags of UoM Merchandise (I must stress the amount of bags because I got to lug them around everywhere - dear coach who needs the gym ?), we got cracking. At this point I really cannot thank these people enough for making this happen. I am still overwhelmed with the final result, without further ado, I give you our AWESOME MERCHANDISE VIDEO: 

https://www.facebook.com/UniversitySportsAndLeisure/videos 

Oh and here are some pretty sweet shots too:

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A QUIZ NIGHT TO WRITE HOME ABOUT

You are probably thinking that I’m being a bit dramatic with the title for our latest entry. OK maybe it is a bit over the top but spirits are still super high from last Friday’s BATTLE OF THE BRAINS event that we held at the University Residence. Let’s just say, it was definitely one for the books!

Before I go off on one about how things panned out, let’s flash back to where the idea first sprung from. I remember sitting at my desk probably munching away at the time (it tends to go this way in our office), when my manager Johanna suddenly proposed the idea of holding a quiz night since it had been a while since our last event.

 Around the same time, the C.E.O. of our company had been in contact with the University of Malta Research, Innovation and Development Trust. It all seemed to fall into place from there and we decided to host the first edition of BATTLE OF THE BRAINS - our take on a quiz night, in support of research in ALS. I must admit being a bit hesitant at the time since I am not usually a fan of quiz nights and was kind of sceptical about the whole thing actually working out. Boy could I have been more wrong! Come the actual event - we had a record number of participants and even ended up turning people away.

After the success of our first quiz night we couldn’t not hold an even more enjoyable sequel. We headed back to the drawing board and got busy planning out what promised to be an even bigger event. Apart from participants on the actual night, we were overwhelmed by the support we got from companies to help with our event. We must admit even we were impressed by the super prizes we were able to offer on the actual night! Shout out to all our friends from:

BATTLE OF THE BRAINS - By the Pool Edition saw 12 teams go head to head in a heated battle of the smartest. To keep things in line with our theme - we even got it to rain ;) (sorry Johanna, I tried to make it sound convincing... ) OK so participants got a little wet and there was a moment of mad dash mid quiz to find shelter for a few of the teams but this surely didn’t deter any of the participants. Spirits were extremely high; some teams seemed puzzled, others intrigued and a few of them just plain smug for knowing the answer immediately.

 All in all it was a great night, with oodles of laughter and everyone seemed to be having a blast. After 6 intense rounds, it was an extremely close call but in the end it was the EVERGREENS who emerged victorious. After their participation as the MINIONS in our first edition of the BATTLE OF THE BRAINS, this team sure made a comeback. Was it months of reading to brush up on their general knowledge? Or maybe it was the addition of another member who proved to be their dark horse? Whatever their secret, it surely was a huge surprise for all. 

Not one to chat (jokes I know I tend to get lost in conversations), I’ll leave you with OUR NIGHT IN PICTURES with some pretty amusing captions: 

Kudos to Emvigee PR & Marketing for the super shots

“IF I STAND HERE LOOKING CUTE AND HELPLESS WILL THEY GIVE ME BONUS POINTS ?”

“HOW DID I EVEN GET INTO THIS? ”

“I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT HE’S ON ABOUT BUT THIS PLATTER IS AWESOME”

“IF SHE WOULD JUST MOVE HER HEAD SLIGHTLY I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT TEAM HAS DOWN AS THE ANSWER”

“MUST AVOID ALL EYE CONTACT WITH THIS ROWDY TEAM IN FRONT OF ME”

“THIS IS SO EASY I EVEN HAVE TIME FOR A QUICK NAP”

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MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS: 3 things I learnt

5 months ago, when I first came up with the idea of a ‘Meet the Team’ blog entry I had two things in mind. Primarily I wanted to build awareness (because hey that’s what marketers are meant to do). 

Having only worked with the company for a few months I also had another motive behind this. I wanted to find out more about my co-workers and what better way than to have a justification to ask the most random questions ever. 

And that is exactly what I did - I asked away and if you’ve read any of these posts then you know that I did not hold back too much :) So in a way, these 5 months have been a learning experience for both the readers of this blog and also for me. Here are 3 important lessons I learnt: 

1) NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

When I first started interviewing our team members I can remember being extremely surprised by some of the answers they gave me. I started to realise that I had fallen into the trap of building my own idea of what I thought their interests would be, based on my brief encounters with them at work. 

But really and truly, I knew nothing about my colleagues and their hobbies outside of work. In fact it became a really intriguing task getting to interview a different employee each week and above all I was reminded of the importance of keeping an open mind.

2) WHEN IN DOUBT, ALWAYS ASK

I see this happen often in everyday life - people are often too afraid to ask things as they worry too much about what others will think. I must admit that initially I did feel nervous asking my colleagues certain questions as the last thing I would want to do is put someone in an uncomfortable situation. 

In fact I remember coming up with questions to ask my manager or the CEO was a bit stressful (especially being so new to the company). Having said this, as time went by, I started to realise that there really is no issue in asking - often people see this as a sign of flattery (I know I do) and if they do feel uncomfortable, they will always tell you.

3) A TEAM CAN MAKE OR BREAK A COMPANY

This is probably the most important thing I learnt throughout these past months - the importance of a strong work ethic. Luckily, as many of you must have realised, I work with a pretty amazing bunch. We are all there for each other and I really do look forward to my daily chats with my co-workers. 

I feel that this is what has strengthened our unit so much - we are all in it together and everyone is ready to go out of their way for each other. Furthermore we all have an extremely good relationship with our unit manager and the company CEO. Both are very understanding and approachable - hence making it more motivating to work together to achieve our objectives. 

It has been great writing these ‘meet the team’ entries and even though at times it was challenging, it has really helped me to grow as a person and also to gain even more respect for my colleagues. As you can see, I have learnt some amazing things about my colleagues and I will definitely miss that time of the month when I write this particular entry. Want to meet some of these amazing people in person ? Then why not join us at one of the numerous events we organise ? Follow us on Facebook to keep updated on our latest shenanigans. 

[universitysportsandleisure-blog]

Meet the Team Mondays - Reggie Bartolo

I know it has been a while since I wrote about my recent work antics but things have been a bit hectic and I also just haven’t had that ‘Eureka Moment’ lately to get me into blogger mode. Well, until yesterday that is! I was having a conversation with my boyfriend and for some reason I happened to mention my colleague Reggie. Usually my work related conversations with any of my family members tend to be quite one sided with a bunch of nodding from the other party (because we all know how much I can talk if given the opportunity) but this time was different. My boyfriend actually turned to me and said, “Who is this Reggie that you bring up quite often and what’s his role in your company?” For once, and believe me this is a very rare moment and I have only experienced a few of these in my life, I was tongue tied. I realised that I knew very little about the kindhearted man who I’d shared an office with from day 1 at MUHC. 

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not like we had just ignored each other for the past months. In fact we chat almost every day since Reggie is very much into the sporting scene (despite no longer practising it himself) - currently he fills me in, every morning, on all the latest Olympics’ happenings. When I initially walked into the office, on my first day at work, from the four desks he was occupying, 3 computer screens, two printers and an excessive amount of paperwork; it was clear to me that Reggie was definitely a busy man! Since both me and my colleague Johanna have now moved into his office, he has had to compress his work space down to two desks now (and numerous filing cabinets). 

So, before I go off topic (I told you I’m a talker), back to Reggie and why he is my latest victim in my series of ‘Meet the Team’ blog entries. Apart from being a talker, I am also extremely curious hence I decided to do some digging into my ‘now mysterious’ office buddy. I delved deep into company records desperate to get some answers - ok I’m being dramatic here, I did look up an old newsletter where the company had done a short bio on Reggie. Having said this, mostly I turned to my trusty colleague, Johanna (who I consider a bit of a Mrs. Fixit). It was quite a shock to find out that Reggie had been with the company since 1992 (that is before I was even born!). His present role at Malta University Publishing is administrator, as well as Book-Designer for the Journal of Mediterranean Studies (Mediterranean Institute at the University of Malta) and also for Malta University Publishing - that figures all the paperwork!

Anyway, that’s quite a bit of talk from my end - let’s hear what Reggie had to say:

1) Tell us a bit about how you spend a normal day at the office?

My normal day begins by going through my emails and answering the urgent ones. Then I continue formatting a publication in hand. During the day as normal, I have to answer various telephone calls regarding orders besides the foreign authors in connection with the journals.

2) How do you find working on Campus – any funny stories to tell?

It is interesting being in contact with students and lecturers but I don’t remember any funny story.

somehow I’m certain Reggie is being his usual polite self :) Working on Campus definitely has its eventful days...

3) What do you do outside of work?

Outside work, I normally take care of my small garden and plants. Twice a week I pick up my grandchildren from school and do some house maintenance where necessary. Obviously I watch football every Wednesday and weekends. At the moment I watch quite a few Olympic games which interest me.

I told you he was my go to for any of the latest Sporting Events! He is also one of the reasons why I am now able to engage in long football discussions with my boyfriend ;)

4) Did you always picture yourself in this role? Or did you have different plans as a child?

No, I never pictured myself in this role. As a child I always thought I would become a teacher.

Reggie is someone very calm so I could really imagine him being good with kids.

5) What are 3 things that you consider essential in your life?

The 3 essential things in my life are: (a) Health, (b) Family, (c) Religion.

You forgot the wine.... just kidding, he definitely has his priorities right!

6) Mention the thing you most like and least like about your job.

I’m happiest when a publication is appreciated by authors and the public and receives good feedback. The thing that I dislike is when I have a publication which has not been edited properly and I have to check it again to avoid certain mistakes and inconsistencies.

7) What are your thoughts on the new craze: Pokemon Go ?

In my opinion, I think it is a big craze especially when you see adult people playing this game.

hehe he probably thought this was really random and out of place but i was hoping he would mention his recent shock when he took his wife to Mdina one night and got hounded by overly keen Poke-hunters. It had me in stitches listening to him describe this at the office!

As you can see Reggie is quite the character and despite the age gap, he is definitely someone who I enjoy meeting almost every day and listening to what he has to say. He adds colour to my days at work and the office always feels a little empty when he isn’t there. 

[universitysportsandleisure-blog]

THE LIFECYCLE CHALLENGE - I’ll Eat To That.

If you’ve never heard of the LifeCycle Challenge then you’re probably wondering what my latest entry is all about. If you are familiar with this brutal cycling event that is organised yearly then you’re probably just as lost.

Here’s a picture of some of this year’s brave participants en route in Zambia to make you feel even more baffled. But fear not, because it’s all about to make complete sense as I present our latest Event : A Taste of Italy.

I first learned about the LifeCycle Challenge when I was about 12 years old. Back then my mum’s company used to sponsor the activity and I still remember being dragged out to one of the spinning sessions which they had held outside at the Valletta Waterfront to raise awareness and collect funds. I say dragged because at the time I had never heard of the word spinning and with it being a Saturday I was not looking forward to joining my mum on what I thought would be one of her usual work events. Little did I know that this memory would stick with me my entire life.

 I can still picture my face when I first caught sight of about 20 people riding these stationary bikes and really having a blast. My mum told me that they would be cycling on these bikes for a good number of hours. Being the competitive child that I was, I hopped onto one of the bikes (ok I was helped up) and had already planned to spend my entire afternoon there - I was convinced I would be the last one standing. Safe to say I lasted 90 minutes and paid the price for a number of days later. When you are a child you have no concept of pacing yourself - let’s just say I amazed quite a number of the participants that day. Although I felt like I had failed miserably and sulked for a while, that day I gained a huge amount of respect for these cyclists and for the Challenge as a whole. 

The LifeCycle Challenge has come a long way since then with participants riding over 2000km in 10 days across the most remote countries you can imagine. Being a cyclist myself and knowing a good number of previous participants, I can say that this requires hours and hours in the saddle and is definitely not for the faint hearted. This year the challenge is being held in Zambia. Cyclists put their body to the ultimate test as they deal with extreme weather conditions, fatigue, lack of sleep and varied terrain, alongside other external factors. Sounds extreme - here’s why each year people take up the challenge :

To raise awareness about Renal Disease.

To raise funds for the high tech equipment necessary to upgrade the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital.

To increase the quality of life of Renal Patients by allowing them access to cutting edge levels of care.

To support research in paediatric Renal Disease. 

With this said, it’s no secret that they need all the support they can get. Here at Malta University Sports and Leisure we are all about helping others  and what better way than by bringing friends and families together in an al fresco dining experience? 

I give you our first ever PIZZA/ PASTA Buffet ! Join us on Sunday the 7th of August at 19:30 hrs, at Surfside in Sliema and help raise funds for the Renal Unit. Apart from donating a portion of the proceeds to this cause we shall also be holding a raffle on the night with some great prizes to be won. Tickets cost €20 for adults and €12 for children under 10 and we have a menu that’s worth bragging about:

Don’t worry we aren’t asking you to cycle hundreds of kilometres; you can still show your support for this worthy cause. Good food, great company and a relaxed environment by the sea with live background music – what more could you ask for ? NOT TO BE MISSED !

Follow THIS LINK to purchase your tickets today. Bookings will be accepted until Wednesday the 3rd of August. 

[universitysportsandleisure-blog]

WORK HARD PLAY HARDER

As I’ve said in the past, my blog entries tend to come through inspiration from my current affairs. So it’s no surprise that just over a week after the annual music concert ‘Isle of MTV’, I’ve based the title on one of the headliners’ lyrics. But before you start thinking this is going to be all about ‘partying hard, etc. etc. (you all know the song ;) ) ’..., I’ll throw in another quote to explain exactly where I’m going with this:

 “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life”

Hehe, this is kind of ironic giving that I’m writing this from my work account but I really do value these words. I see too many people who get so wrapped up in their jobs that they end up with no actual life outside of their work. I understand that deadlines are important and that often it is difficult to get things done on time and yes there are occassions where working overtime isn’t a choice but a necessity but try not to let it take over. Even if it means taking a 15 minute pause to just be one with your thoughts, although ideally you do give yourself a longer break now and again. You’d be surprised how much more efficient you can be when you give your mind some sort of distraction for a while.

This is starting to sound too negative towards the aspect of work and people who work hard or rather long hours in general. On the contrary I have huge respect for these people as I do understand that this is often brought on by their extreme passion for their job or rather their company. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m no slacker; in fact I like to think that I do work hard to achieve certain targets in my job and yes I’ll admit it there have been times where I have been victim to the ‘curious case of the workaholic’ but only temporarily because of an important event. This said, as I’m made clear in numerous pieces I’ve written in the past - It’s all about BALANCE ! You have to find time for everything - your job, your hobbies, your family and friends and most importantly YOURSELF. 

What’s my secret ? I once told my coach that I was invincible  (he saved the message and reminds me of it now and then) but joking apart its all about time management and keeping an open mind. If you believe you can do everything you set out to then most likely you will. If you don’t, then the battle has been lost before it’s even started.

I don’t want to make this too long as I like to give enough to get people thinking however I will say this: make sure you do get time to actually live your life in some way or another. If you have a passion/ a hobby - find time to take it up and experience it even if its only short lived. Otherwise time will pass, it will be too late and all you’ll be able to do is look back in regret.

[universitysportsandleisure-blog]

Video killed the Radio Star

I guess this is quite a random title for my latest post but it’s somewhat radio related plus I really like the song :). So what has the radio got to do with my recent work antics anyway ? Well here’s something you probably didn’t know - my office is actually based at a radio station, Campus FM 103.7, forming part of my company MUHC. This is the University of Malta’s radio station and it boasts educational programmes involving both students and lecturers alike on numerous occasions. Although my work rarely entails anything related to the radio station since I fall under a separate sector, these past 6 months I have gotten to know the Campus FM Team. They have been extremely welcoming and overall they create a great  and relaxed ambience to work in.

Campus FM has been around for quite a number of years now and over time has won some credible awards. Apart from offering listeners in-depth programmes dealing with a vast variety of topics including culture and research, the radio station offers companies numerous opportunities to raise brand awareness through spot advertising and sponsorship opportunities. I don’t usually do this in my blogs but I am extremely passionate about local education. I am thus reaching out to companies since there is also a strong corporate social responsibility justification to support this.  Today’s a short one; as I’ve mentioned in the past this blog is very much unplanned and this has just been something that’s been on my mind for some time. So on that note, I’ll leave you with a flyer:

[universitysportsandleisure-blog]

MEET THE TEAM MONDAYS - Hannah Pace

I had just started writing that I really like this photo of Hannah and then realised that you’re probably wondering why she’s writing that about herself. But of course this time it’s not Hannah writing!

So in our first Meet the Team Mondays post when Hannah interviewed me, she also wrote the story of how we met at a swim-run in Ta’ Qali in 2010. To tell the story from my point of view, I remember being really impressed by how strong this young athlete was not just in the run, but also in the swim. And we chatted afterwards and I remember telling her that I was sure one day she’d become a really strong triathlete.

And what an understatement that was! Hannah has gone on to become the first Maltese female triathlete to qualify for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Australia. She’s won more races than I can possibly mention here, including being crowned European Age Group Champion the first time she took part in the European Triathlon Championships in Turkey a few years ago!

While we were in Turkey, she ended up packing my bike because I had a terrible migraine and wasn’t able to do it myself. In fact, notwithstanding all her success as a triathlete, it always amazes me how down to earth and caring Hannah is. 

Having joined MUHC as Marketing Assistant six months ago, Hannah showed her caring side once again when my health was all over the place. But in six short months she’s also brought loads of great ideas and creativity on board and her enthusiasm is definitely infectious, as you’ll see from the way she answered my questions below:

1) What’s it like balancing a full-time job with semi-professional training and racing? 

If you had asked me this a year ago, I would have said that it wasn’t possible to do both successfully. In retrospect, I now realise how much time I used to waste – knowing that I had all the time in the world. My job has made me realize that time is precious so I really try to make the most of it – somehow I also find time for a chat and coffee most mornings at the pool. It’s all about balance and time management – I usually plan my entire week on a Sunday afternoon (this also includes fitting in time for my family and friends too as I love going out ;)). It’s a strict schedule and I try to stick to it – the fact that people at work are so understanding and supportive has made things much easier for me too. Having said this, I’m not invincible and I do have my moments when I crash but I guess I’ve learnt to listen to my body more.

2) If you could choose to have been born in any country apart from Malta, which country would you choose and why? 

Hmm tough one, I like Malta don’t get me wrong but I guess I would have chosen somewhere with more mountains, lakes and just generally more open space to ‘run free’. Every year I spend a couple of weeks at a training camp and I really do feel like I’m living the dream so yeah France would be ideal :). The food, the wine, the countryside and the beaches – they have it all. Hehe they also have really long lunch breaks during work – i.e. more time to train.

3) What would friends describe as your best quality? And your worst one? Do you agree with both? If not, why? 

I’ll start with my worst because it’s always easier to criticise yourself. I would say that it’s definitely impatience, I tend to act rashly and often regret it afterwards. This is the same in sports, especially races, I tend to get hot-headed easily (much to the frustration of my extremely patient coach…). I’m getting better at this though (I promise).

My best quality hmm this is tougher. I’m not sure my friends would always see this as a good thing haha but I am extremely honest.  Actually I just don’t know how to lie (when I try I always get caught out) and I guess the truth hurts sometimes, oh well…

4) When you’re not working or training, what do you usually get up to?

Erm sleep and eat… No I actually do have a life outside of work and triathlon. I’m someone who has always been very close to my mother – we are almost best friends, so I tend to spend a lot of time with her and my boyfriend. We just got a kitten so he is taking up a lot of our time and energy too hehe. I also enjoy my food (if it isn’t obvious by now) so we tend to eat out quite a bit. I also go out a lot with friends at weekends as it’s my way of relaxing. 

Throughout the year, I tend to travel a lot because of triathlon and this is something that I really look forward to. I’ve visited some pretty sweet countries over the years and it’s always great to learn about new cultures, oh and the food, don’t forget the food ;)

5) What things do you not like to do? 

If you asked my mum or boyfriend they would both answer the same – I HATE BUYING PACKS OF WATER. It’s a family joke because it’s just something that really ticks me off and I always manage to get out of it.

Joking apart, I would say that the thing I dislike most is walking. Oh the irony, I’ll run 25km any day but 15 minutes of walking is my idea of a nightmare.

- - - I always find it funny that top athletes can be so lazy when it comes to day-to-day things like walking! I guess they’re conserving their energy for their next session or race ;)

6) What was the best day of your life so far?

You’re making them hard JOHANNA!!! I’ve had so many good days (including that time we were in Turkey together).  I guess I’ll go with a recent one since it’s harder to think back to things that happened a long time ago. I would say a day which has really stuck in my head was just less than a year ago when I crossed the finish line at Ironman Budapest 70.3. It was my first try at this distance and I had never expected to do so well. My boyfriend was waiting for me at the line. Knowing I had so much support from home too, it was just an incredible day and it really left a mark on me. That day something clicked and it really changed me as an athlete, it’s difficult to explain but I managed to tap into a whole new level of suffering and it was actually ok.

- - - I had to make them hard HANNAH to get my own back - the questions you asked me weren’t exactly easy ;)

7) What song best describes your life?

Now this is an easy one because it’s one of my favourite songs at the moment. “No Worries” by Disciples and David Guetta – I’ve changed a lot in the last couple of years and this really does mimic my laidback attitude to things.

I think Hannah’s answers sum her up really well: hard-working both in her work at MUHC and in her training, but always up for a fun time. She’s a great asset to our team and also a really great friend.  

[universitysportsandleisure-blog]

5 WAYS WORKING WITH MUHC HAS CHANGED MY LIFE

I know I’ve been a bit quiet lately but writing a blog isn’t something you can do to command (or at least not for me). An idea tends to just pop into your head, you start writing and boom before you know it you’re figuring out how to conclude. So there I was sitting at my desk, when it hit me that I’ve been working with the company for 6 months now. Although half a year is a long period, it seems like way more and not because I’ve sat there counting away the hours but rather on the contrary. A lot has happened since last December and more importantly I’ve really changed as a person. 

1) I’ve become an insane multi-tasker

Anyone who knew me a year ago could vouch for the fact that I could only concentrate on one thing at one go. I mean it actually became a joke at home about not being able to text and talk. 6 months later and I am a changed person! Well ok I still have my moments but I’ve been known to answer emails about one thing whilst on the phone figuring out something completely unrelated. Yeah I’m bragging but you would too if you knew how far I’d come ;)

2) I’m the first one in the pool in the morning.

Before I started working, a lot of people ‘scared’ me into thinking that it is impossible to keep up a serious training regime and do your job successfully. Half a year in, I beg to differ, it is really all about how you manage your time and also about being realistic that you might not always feel fresh during a workout.

So now I can brag about being one of the first to jump in our swimming lanes most mornings. I used to be the type to just sit on the edge and dwell about the hard session we had ahead of us. Well why not? I had all the time in the world - so what if I didn’t make that 8 am lecture....  These days I just dive straight in and even manage to get a run in too some mornings. It’s all about commitment - if you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way; if not, you’ll find an excuse.

3) I have a whole new meaning to the term comfort zone.

If you read one of my older posts, you’ll know that I am a great lover of comfort zones in most things I do because let’s face it, they are just more well ‘comfy’. In the last few months this has changed immensely; it’s probably been the most challenging part of the job so far but thanks to my manager Johanna in particular I have learnt that it’s actually ok to take risks sometimes and just let go of that fear of the unknown. It’s all a game of pitch and toss and this is not just work related. 

4) I have learnt more in 6 months than any teacher/ professor could teach me in a lifespan

You can have the most outstanding cv and qualifications going but nothing will prepare you for a job more than the actual experience itself. I really feel that I have grown as a person being faced with so many different scenarios and figuring out how to overcome hurdles. I tend to be an observer so over time I’ve also learnt a lot from the people around me.

5) I feel more myself than ever.

I’m going to be honest here and say that I decided to go to university a few years back just because it felt the ‘done thing’, you know, the next step up the ladder. I was never a great lover of school or anything related to studying; I was more one who just got by, I did enough and that was it. In retrospect I feel that it’s because I was never challenged enough. This attitude meant that I ended up with a mismatch of a levels rather than ones specifically targeted towards a career path. So when it came to choosing a degree, again it was more a question of what fit in with my qualifications, my schedule and whether it actually seemed doable. i actually started off in law (yeah really!); luckily it took me a week to realise that it was definitely not the course for me.

I guess you could say I ended up in marketing by default but you know what it turned out to be the best thing that happened to me. I really do enjoy my job, of course there are certain parts I dislike but overall I love it most days. I never dread a Monday morning and it always feels great to get back to the office after some time off. Since starting my job with MUHC I’ve embarked on a journey; I finally have a direction and am enjoying every minute of it!

[universitysportsandleisure-blog]

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”

I’m not usually one to comment about public affairs and I promise this will not be turning  into that type of blogger but I really think that this is becoming a huge issue in Malta. Google “Malta Obesity” and the amount of articles that pop up is overwhelming. The fact that our country’s obesity crisis caught the eye of the New York Times last year is even more worrying when you consider that America is constantly being criticised for its unhealthy diet. What are we doing about this? Apart from numerous articles on local newspapers and the occasional post on facebook groups such as ‘the salott’ or ‘are you being served’ which usually get out of hand, turn to mud-slinging and end up being closed by the page admin - not much. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m an athlete, but I also love my food so I’m not saying we need to start eating salads all the time. I started this blog post with a quote which at this stage probably seems quite random but it’s actually extremely apt. It’s a very important phrase to me as it defines the way I live my life. I learnt from an extremely young age that it’s all about balance - and you can apply it to everything you do. So back to the obesity issue, here’s my take on how we should be dealing with things. Many take the ‘cold turkey’ approach and turn to extreme dieting but let’s face it unless you are the most disciplined person in the world this is never going to work. Opt for a balance, eat healthier but also exercise. Don’t dread it - learn to enjoy it!

Here at MUHC we organise a great deal of fun events throughout the year and I can assure that everyone has a blast. What better way to get yourself healthy than by participating in our annual Ring Road Races or by joining us at our first ever Dragon Boat Race event this summer? It’s also possible to book 1 hour slots for the University 5-a-side football pitches throughout the year with some pretty sweet rates and offers. Get your kids into the spirit of living a healthy lifestyle and bring them along. This summer we have the perfect workshop for them too  FOOTBALL SKILLS-4-KIDS  (click on the captions for more information) to get them exercising throughout the summer months whilst enjoying their holidays with friends. You’d better get cracking with this one as registrations close this Friday (10th June) - we guarantee your kids will love it. 

You see? There are a huge amount of options on how to keep healthy - it doesn’t have to be all about sacrifice, you can actually have a lot of fun too! What are you waiting for? Take on the challenge today - get fit this summer 2016!