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City of Rome Marathon 2009/2010
If you’re looking for the ideal combination of athletic challenges and a nice weekend
of sight-seeing, Rome Marathon is the place to go. Held annually in March, when
nice days exceed hot days and the herds of tourists haven’t arrived yet, Rome Marathon
attracts more and more runners each year. On March 16 2008, when the last version
of Rome Marathon – or to be exact Maratona della cittá di Roma – was taking place,
more than 11,000 runners showed up. Your next chance for a long run through this
romantic and historic city is March 22, 2009.
As a participant in the City of Rome Marathon, you get to drink in the city’s historic atmosphere
right from the beginning. The start line is placed in front of the 2,000 year
old Coliseum, and from here the course is a veritable festival of magnificent sights.
Among other things, you will run past the Saint Peter’s, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza
Navona, the Spanish Steps and through a lot of picturesque, narrow streets in the
old part of the city. So, remember your camera but leave your PB aspirations at
home – you need time to appreciate all the breathtaking landmarks and to conquer
the cobblestones, that cover about half the route. The course is surprisingly flat
for a city built on seven hills, but the sometimes uneven cobblestone streets, which
in the narrowest places can feel quite crowded, may add a few extra minutes to your
finish time.
Throughout the years, Rome Marathon has been making good use of its unique status
as the capital of the catholic church. For example, the milepost-year 2000 was celebrated
by moving the start area to Saint Peter’s Square and having the pope himself wish
all the runners good luck before the run. And even though the start line is now
back in the gladiatorial ambience of the Coliseum, the word has it that priest and
cardinals are among the cheering crowds when the runners pass Saint Peter’s Church.
And if you need more than spiritual nourishment for finishing a marathon, just arrive
a day or two early and feast on the many temptations in a city where it is almost
impossible not to carb load.
And the best news is that you – or maybe your less marathon-passionate travel partner
– don’t have to cover 42 km of narrow, Roman streets to experience the special atmosphere
on marathon day. According to tradition, 15 minutes after the bold marathoners are
sent on their way, 45,000 children, adults and seniors head out for the non-competitive
Stracittadina Fun Run. The 4 km course shares its start line at the Coliseum with
the marathon and cruises around the ancient city’s streets before finishing outside
of Domus Aurea – the ruins of emperor Nero’s Golden House.
For more info and registration please visit the Rome Marathon official website
here.
City of Rome Marathon Course
Check out a course that offers nice river views, ancient sights, maybe a close encounter
with the pope – and a few dull section as a break from all the fun –
here.
Find out much more at the next page:
Rome Marathon Results and Information