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

Italian pasta for the runners .... why of course!

Venue of the Expo

Welcome to the Expo!  Getting you in the mood!

Grazie Rome!

Europe vs. Australia. 7 things they do better in marathons (Hint: one is free beer!)

7 things Australian event organizers could learn from the Europeans...

I've just experienced my first ever European running event, the Swiss City Marathon in the beautiful city of Lucerne, Switzerland. Here's 7 things that were great that we don't do in Australia.   Event organizers please take note!

1.      Teach Australian crowds how to cheer!

We're awesome at the footy and cricket but Aussies have no idea how to cheer for runners - compared to our northern hemisphere friends. In Switzerland "Hopp" means "Go".   And its normally said "Hopp, hopp, hopp!". And its normally LOUD!!

And who would have thought cow bells could be cool!   As well as many fans even the cows in the fields cheered for us!

                                      

The Euro's really know how to make it a party. Please teach the Aussies how to do better than shouting "not far now" when you're passing the 5km mark :( 

2.    Give us these porta loos

3. Drink stations become a 3 course meal !!

Not just water, the Swiss served;

      -    water,

      -   not one but two types of electrolytes,

      -   bananas (cut into bite size pieces!), and the occassional

      -   gels,

      -    carb snack size bars.

4.     More food!

The Pasta Party at the Expo the night before is a fun part of northern-hemisphere races. For the price of a few packs of noodles it brings everyone together and sets a great atmosphere. C'mon Aussies - surely Coles or Woolies can help out here.

5.     Have commentators who call out your name

Maybe being from Australia I was a novelty in the event but having them call out my name (in Swiss I think ??!) because they were watching a screen and reading your details made ​​it exciting for the crowds ... and the runners.   I had very little idea what they said about me (maybe laughing at my funny style?) but I vaguely recognised  my name and "Australeeeeeea" -   and the nice cheer of encouragement from the crowd gave me a boost.

 6. Give us runners real running shirts

Compare the awesome long sleeve Asics top I got with the cheapest crappiest one I got from my last Australian event = no comparison!   I'll proudly wear this Euro one and run many more miles in it.   I'm actually kinda embarrassed with the un-branded cheap promo ones we got in Australia. (It's still in the plastic bag).

7.   Give us beer at the end of the race!

OK so I could not finish it: because I needed electrolyte (which they also gave us in a great drink bottle) but what a great way to celebrate! 

I could go on about the great organization (dare I say "like a Swiss watch") where the start was comfortable and not like WWF;   the wonderful history on the course (even though cobble stones should be renamed 'hobble stones'); and more, but this list is just a few of the things did made ​​this event very special. 

 Merci vilmal (thanks a lot)

RunTourism: A photo tour of Lucerne, Switzerland .... whilst in a Marathon!

RunTourism: 

noun: seeing the city sights whilst part of a running event.

This is 'RunTourism' - with camera in hand!

OK, so 'RunTourism "is not a real word I know, but it is a fun, if not slightly strange concept. You simply turn up, trust the event organizer to arrange the best way to show off the town .. then run through it, camera in hand. 

Here's my Runtourism view of Lucerne, Switzerland through the Swiss City Marathon.

30 hours travel from home and we've arrived in Lucerne!

OK, I know I'm really in Switzerland now.  

It helps when you wake up and outside your window are the Swiss Alps .....

It's a gray, cloudy, quiet Sunday morning in Lucerne.
The swans are the most active things around .... for now.

Pre-start nerves. And check out the urinals on the left ... yep, just stand there in public and let fly !!

Yep, I'm not lying ....... !!

Go!

At this stage I'm thinking the bloke on the motorbike is going to win! 

Oh look, there's Lake Lucerne .... (look the other way, not at the camera!)

.... And there's the 17th century Chapel Bridge ....
(Note the spectators are wearing scarves and beanies!)

Not your average marathon entertainment!

Then its off into the countryside.  

I did not know that 'Oomp-pa-pa' bands could play 'ABBA' tunes!

At this stage I could have been easily convinced to go to the little winery up the hill and sample the local produce instead ....

Always great to watch the fast guys coming back ..... even though you cant help thinking "already!"
(For this event the Half (one lap) and the full marathon (two laps) started out together.)

Back into the 'Old City'. Over bridges and through squares ... that's cool

                          

Spectators look at you funny when you're the one with the camera!

Cobble stones are hard to run on and really pound the feet! 

I have no idea what they were dressed up to be but they made me smile everytime we ran past them

Yay, now its my turn to loop around and start out again as the Half runners head to the finish.

2nd lap. Me thinks there might have been a few more entered in the Half  rather than the Full!

How good are these spectators ..... cow bells, mexican waves and
"Hopp, hopp, hopp" (means "Go, go, go")

How bad are these spectators. OK, you just sit there and drink beer and eat while watching us suffer!

Winner of the "Biggest Cowbell On Course" Award 2014

The famous "1km to go" sign. And as soon as we got to it the guy in front of me (in blue shirt) pulled off and started stretching his hammies on the sign!

Into the Transport Museum for the finish ....

Red carpet! But even a small ramp feels like Mt Everest by this stage .... 

Selfie gone wrong! But chance to plug this great Janji gear I'm wearing. Love it!

                                                  

Made it!

Free beers for runners! Great idea but the last thing I felt like drinking just then. Give me a few minutes guys!

And then the sun came out as the last-runners came home.
Thanks for a memorable weekend Lucerne. 

October, 2014th