Starting from 8:15 am until 10:15 it will be possible to follow the race in live streaming on romehalfmarathon.it
The three-day Village at Eataly Roma Ostiense was a great success.
Rome, 19 October 2024 – Everything is ready for the first edition of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon, the half marathon organised by RomaOstia and RCS Sports & Events, scheduled for tomorrow 20 October. The race follows the three days at the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon Village at Eataly Roma Ostiense, a great success with the public from all over the world.
Over 17,000 runners registered, making the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon the most attended half marathon in Italy. Tomorrow’s race will be an immersion in the history of Rome, a journey through its beauty and charms, from cinema to architecture, from the most iconic places to the unique atmosphere of the Italian capital. It could not be otherwise for an event that boasts the start from Via del Circo Massimo (at 8.30 am) and the finish line in Via degli Annibaldi in front of the Colosseum.
The target group of participants consists of 34% Italians and 66% foreigners. Women make up 42% (7,140) and men 66% (9,860). 49% of the registered participants are aged between 18 and 34. For the first Rome Half Marathon, a profile of participants aligned with that of the most important international races.
THE ROUTE
A unique setting for a unique race. This is how the route of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon, with its canonical length of 21.0975 km, has been defined. It is certainly one of the reasons for the great success of the event among the public of runners, especially those from abroad.
From the start, after turning towards the Lungotevere Aventino, the runners will run downhill, towards Testaccio, to continue southwards in the Ostiense district, until reaching the Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura. Going around Schuster Park, the runners will return to the start area, passing the Piramide at around kilometre 7, from where they will take on the most challenging part of the race: the climb up Via di Porta Ardeatina, with the Roman walls on the left. They will continue as far as Largo delle Terme di Caracalla and then take Viale delle Terme di Caracalla downhill to Porta Capena. Then the Lungotevere to Ponte Umberto I, to enter the Prati district as far as Ponte Regina Margherita, which the runners will run along until kilometre 15, at the Passeggiata di Ripetta. The show continues with Piazza Augusto Imperatore, Via del Corso, Piazza del Popolo, Via del Babuino, Piazza di Spagna with Trinità dei Monti, Via del Tritone. Then Fontanella Borghese, via del Clementino and via Zanardelli until reaching Piazza Navona. This will be followed first by the passage through Corso Rinascimento and then Corso Vittorio, as far as Largo Argentina and Via del Plebiscito, then kilometre 20 to Piazza Venezia. The last kilometre will allow participants to enter history: via dei Fori Imperiali to largo Corrado Ricci, then via Cavour and finally the finish line in via degli Annibaldi in front of the Colosseum. A scenario never before proposed by a major international event, which will thrill all participants.
THE TRAFFIC
From midnight on Sunday 20 October, via del Circo Massimo, via dei Cerchi, via Cavour, via degli Annibaldi will be closed. From 5.00 a.m. the closure of Via di San Gregorio, Piazza Porta Capena, Viale Aventino. From 7.30 a.m. the entire route will be closed to traffic.
OTHER EVENTS ON SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER
RELAY ROME HALF MARATHON
There will also be the Relay Rome Half Marathon, the relay race open to teams of three runners, whose registration is exclusively through the official ONP represented by Sport Senza Frontiere. An initiative that allows the less trained to take part in the event and be in solidarity at the same time.
The following are the POINTS OF CHANGE:
- Section: from Circus Maximus to Viale Terme di Caracalla
- Section: from Viale Terme di Caracalla to Piazza del Popolo. The change will take place at the end of the avenue, beginning of Piazza di Porta Capena.
- Section: from Piazza del Popolo to Via degli Annibali (same finish line as the 21 km).
LONGEVITY RUN – 5 KILOMETRES NON-COMPETITIVE
The Policlinico Gemelli will be present with its Longevity Run Team, a staff of experts offering free check-ups and screenings to runners registered for the 5 kilometres (and 21 kilometres). An initiative that, for some years now, has made participation in the event also an opportunity for prevention.
DEPARTURE TIME: 9.15 a.m. from Via del Circo Massimo and arrival at Stadio Nando Martellini.
INTIMISSIMI MEN’S RUNDERWEAR
Also enriching the format of this event is the RUNDERWEAR by Intimissimi Uomo, which will see a ‘wave’ of runners in underwear at the start of the half and 5 km races.
THE ELITE RUNNERS OF THE WIZZ AIR ROME HALF MARATHON
The Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon also begins its adventure under the best auspices with regard to the elite athletes in the race. The technical level is decidedly high and gives hope for a significant chronometric result.
In the men’s field, fresh from his success at RomaOstia last spring, Emmanuel Wafula (Ken) returns to Rome with the intention of confirming and improving his personal best of 1h01.10. Training partner Gideon Rop (Ken) seems to be his main antagonist, with a credited time of 1h00.28 and announced to be in excellent condition after the probing 25 km pacemaking test at the recent BerlinMarathon.
Compatriot Anthony Kimtai will have the task of launching the race by keeping the pace high from the early stages.
Among the luxury outsiders is the always fearsome Evans Kipkorir (Ken), credited with 1h00.00. The Italian colours will be represented in the men’s race by Daniele D’Onofrio (FFOO), who will have to contend with the many athletes from Lazio in the race, including Freedom Amaniel and Luca Parisi.
There is great interest and expectation for the women’s race, where the Italian Sofiia Yaremchuk (Esercito), Italian marathon record holder with 2h23.16 and also Italian co-record holder on the half marathon with 1h08.27, brings absolute prestige to the starting field.
Fantu Worku (Eth), who after a brilliant track career, has chosen Rome and the WizzAir Rome Halfmarathon to compete over longer distances on the road. Her personal bests of 8.30.76 over 3000m and 14.26.80 over 5000m attest to the indisputable talent of this athlete from the highlands.
In the kermesse there are many other highly-rated names, starting with Evaline Chirchir (Ken) with a PB of 1h06.01, 19-year-old Debash Desta (Eth), who could give us big surprises at junior level, the emerging Nancy Sang and Salome Otiso, both Kenyan, and the returning Brillian Kipkoech (Ken), who, with a PB of 1h06.56 before her pregnancy, wants to resume her path of successes in Rome.
A truly interesting and high-level cast for a first edition of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon that promises to be very fast.
