Running helps me help others: Andrew's blog: When in Rome ..... run their Marathon!

When in Rome ……. run their marathon!

Ten things that make the ‘Maratona di Roma’ a special event

… and my Event Rating!

1. History

Rome makes Australia looks like a new born! The well-designed course shows off the historic sights of Rome which unfurl before your eyes at every corner. The Forum, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo …. they’re all there.

This is Piazza Navona... no time to stop for pizza!

2. History

This is not a mistake, an intentional repeat. The atmosphere of the event is all about being uniquely Rome. This marathon is a celebration of a city more than most – and the history lesson is the key to its success. For example, running through the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica is unique - and that’s what makes this event so special.

I wonder if The Pope was watching?

3. The start

The Coliseum is one of those “wow” buildings. For me, up there with the Taj Mahal and Red Square. It’s the starting chute and backdrop for all the great photos. It’s also pretty chaotic getting to the start line. Once there, the corral system is excellent (and fast corrals are awesome!)

4. Italian passion!

Roma’s love their running, and 15,000+ turned out for the event. Passion abounded! Runners cheered in Italian at weird times for no apparent reason. The crowds, similarly, cheered and cheered (but not as noisy as American crowds). All of them just passionate energised Italians.

Rain ... not sweat!

5. Gladiators!

The Romans run like they drive! Its constantly aggressive, with runners cutting in front and not ashamed to push you along or out of the way. Literally gladiators! Drink stations were like a Coliseum battle! Its also where I lost a lot of time given the chaos. Taking the very last possible drinking cup became the solution.

Speaking of gladiators, Roman soldiers line the finish and grant you welcome to the end.

6. Cobblestones smash your feet

If the Gladiators haven’t beaten you up then the cobblestones will! Cobblestones punish. Wet ones are slippery (it rained most of the day). Could have been worse ..... I could have been wearing roman sandals!

7. Ferrari

All Italians love Ferrari – and they run the same way; on the ‘racing line’.

On the many windy crowded streets it made most corners look like the first lap of a Formula One Grand Prix! I actually learnt that you lost too much time trying to hug the inside line and, in the second half, I went wide, avoided the chaos, and picked up time.

Not a Ferrari .... but so Italian cool!

8. Post race

Surprisingly there were little celebrations after the event (Unlike US events where runners wear their medals for days). The barriers came down and Roman life went on.

(You could easily spot the few Americans in Rome … they were the ones saying “well done” to runners after the event.)

Sweet medal

9. Special people

Each marathon has some special stories … for Rome 2015 I particularly liked;

* Sigrid Eichner, 74 year old runner of 1,850 marathons!

* Giorgio Calcaterra, Italy’s most famous ultra-runner who ran the marathon, came 9^th, did the drug testing, then ran it again …. Catching the last runner 2km from the end and bringing him over the line!

Giorgio celebrated with a selfie!

One-handed wheelchair. Over the line in under 7 hours. Wow. Inspiring.

10. Legends

Abebe Bikila won the Rome Olympic marathon in 1960. Bare foot.

A late entrant for the Ethiopian team, the shoe sponsor had no shoes for him so he decided to run as he had trained. And won. Ethiopian’s have made a proud tradition of taking their shoes off before the finish line to repeat Abebe’s statement of "I wanted the world to know that my country, Ethiopia, has always won with determination and heroism".

(Abebe would go on and win gold again in Tokyo in 1964, but later became a paraplegic.)

2 hr 12.

Not 2 hr 12!!

My event ranking:

Organisation	7	Overall, very good. Not Disney standard but good
Course	8	Always interesting
Atmosphere	7	Passion!
Crowds	6	OK, patchy but it was raining (& they’re not Americans)
Expo	7	Bonus point for the free Italian pasta
Runner’s pack	8	New Balance tshirt & backpack
Number of black toe nails!	1