Roberto Gualtieri: ‘Already announced a large participation of athletes also from abroad’
Alessandro Onorato: ‘It will be the most beautiful half marathon in the world’
Rome, 25 September 2024 – A unique scenario for a unique race in the world. The route has been defined for the first Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon, organised by RomaOstia and RCS Sports & Events together with the Institutions of Roma Capitale, which will be staged next 20 October and to which 15,000 runners have already registered.
The start is confirmed at 8.30 a.m. from Via del Circo Massimo. Up to five waves of runners are expected, with the last estimated at 9.10 a.m.
From the start, after turning towards the Lungotevere Aventino, the runners will run downhill, towards Testaccio, via Marmorata, via Galvani and via Zabaglia, to continue southwards in the Ostiense district, until reaching the Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura.
Running around Schuster Park, the runners will return to the start area, passing the Pyramid 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 to Largo delle Terme di Caracalla and then take Viale delle Terme di Caracalla downhill to Porta Capena.
At kilometre 10, we will ride along Via dei Cerchi, the parallel to the start. Then the Lungotevere up to Ponte Umberto I, to enter the Prati district with Piazza Cavour, Via Cicerone, Via Cola di Rienzo up to Ponte Regina Margherita, which the runners will cross up to kilometre 15, at the Passeggiata di Ripetta.
Here is another spectacular section of the route: Piazza Augusto Imperatore, Via del Corso, Piazza del Popolo, Via del Babuino, Piazza di Spagna with Trinità dei Monti, Via Due Macelli, Via del Tritone, and then back to Via del Corso, arriving at Largo Goldoni at kilometre 18.
It will continue through Fontanella Borghese, Via del Clementino and Via Zanardelli until it reaches Piazza Navona, one of the most famous squares in Rome. 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.
Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome: ‘Although it is only the first edition, the Rome Half Marathon, which will take place amidst the wonders of Rome’s artistic heritage, will see over 15,000 athletes run a unique route of over 20 kilometres from the Circus Maximus to Via dei Fori Imperiali, passing through the wonders of the Eternal City. A large number of athletes, including from abroad, has already been announced, demonstrating how the combination of sport and beauty, which we are increasingly relaunching, is an added value for the capital’.
Alessandro Onorato, Councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion of Roma Capitale: ‘We were convinced that holding a single half marathon in Rome would have enormous commercial value in the world, and the numbers have proved us right. The fact that there are already over 15,000 registered participants, 70% of whom are foreigners, shows how major sporting events generate enormous economic and employment benefits. It was really complicated to manage to guarantee a 21-kilometre route in the historic centre of Rome just a few weeks before the Jubilee, with so many construction sites open. Instead, we did it and we are proud of it. It will be the most beautiful half marathon in the world’.
Registration for the Rome Half Marathon 2024 will remain open until 7 October!
The 21 kilometres will be enriched by many initiatives involving an ever-growing public.
The ROME HALF MARATHON RELAY – The relay race open to teams of three runners, whose registration is exclusively through the official ONP (non-profit organisation) represented by Sport Senza Frontiere (Relay Marathon – Rome Half Marathon 2024)
The LONGEVITY RUN – a 5-kilometre non-competitive run with which the Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS coordinated by Francesco Landi, who is also deploying his own doctors, wants to raise awareness of the importance of sport as an indispensable element for staying healthy and as a form of prevention for successful longevity. The 5-kilometre race will start from Viale del Circo Massimo (at approximately 9.30 a.m.) with a route that will wind around the Aventino and Ostiense districts. The finish will be at the Nando Martellini Stadium at the Terme di Caracalla. Registration open until 19 October.
