 One of the biggest sporting events held on the island is the Malta Marathon . Held every year in late February or early March , the race attracts a number of international competitors and has been sponsored by Land Rover since 2009 , BMW from 2003 to 2008 , <unk> in 2002 and Flora Malta in 2001 and prior . In 2009 , the full marathon winner , a Belgian , recorded a time of 2 : 25 : 59 . In 2010 , approximately 1 @,@ 400 entrants participated . 
