Threls x Run Gozo

Deliverables

Business Analysis, UX/UI Design, Backend, Website

Tech Used

Nuxt

Service

Develop Your Software Product,

Project Year

2023 - ongoing

Website

rungozo.org

Run Gozo, organised by the Xagħra Youth Centre, is best known for hosting 'Il-Ġirja t’Għawdex' (formerly the Gozo Half Marathon), Malta’s oldest road race, which began in 1977. Entirely volunteer-driven, the organisation has grown into a structured platform that promotes sports and community involvement on the island.

For Threls, Run Gozo holds special significance. It’s where our co-founders first met while volunteering, years before the company was formed. This event sparked not only a friendship, but a shared sense of purpose that continues to shape our work today. What started as a simple act of involvement, evolved into a long-term collaboration built on mutual values.

Run Gozo’s journey has been one of firsts: Malta’s first road race (1977), the first 3-star certified race (2017), the first 5-star certified race by European Athletics (2020), and the country’s first running expo (2020). This evolution reflects not only a commitment to excellence, but a deeper passion for community impact and connection — something we’re proud to be part of.

Initial challenge

Run Gozo aimed to create a refreshed digital presence that would honor Gozo’s cultural identity and growing event scope. They envisioned a rebranding exercise and a platform that would simplify race registration and applications, celebrate the local spirit, and serve as a lasting resource for the event’s 50th anniversary and beyond. Achieving this rebrand was no easy task; the balance between creating a modern, forward-looking brand identity and respecting the consistency and heritage of Malta’s oldest road race was essential. We were invited to help bring this vision to life.

Our solution

Working closely with the Run Gozo committee, we conducted collaborative workshops to guide the rebranding, with some participants serving as both Threls employees and members of the organizing committee. The rebranding included the name change from ‘Gozo Half Marathon’ to ‘Il-Ġirja t’Għawdex,’ capturing the local reference and the event’s expanded categories. We developed a new logo for both the committee and the event, featuring Gozo’s iconic three hills and running motifs, encapsulating the island’s landscape and sporting spirit.

The website was redesigned from the ground up, with a visually engaging layout that reflects Gozo’s natural beauty, integrating elements of the terrain alongside running themes to reinforce the connection between the event and its location. We streamlined race applications by integrating with the race result platform My Race Result, providing a smooth experience for participants.

The result

As a long-term partner, we continue to update the digital presence to meet the organization’s evolving needs, including preparations for the 50th anniversary in 2025. Our relationship with Run Gozo extends beyond software services, as many Threls employees actively volunteer in the community and serve on the event’s organizing committee. Our ongoing collaboration with Run Gozo exemplifies the partnership approach we value—investing in projects that have both a lasting social impact and a meaningful connection to the community.