You are organizing Venicemaraton on the 25th of October 2015. Can you tell us where your event is located and how runners are able to travel there easily?
Our race takes place on a road between Stra and Venice. The start area can be easily reached thanks to our free shuttle service which will take runners from Venice or Mestre to Stra.
Are there different distances in your event?
On race day there is only the marathon distance.
Tell us something about the history of your event. Why was it created in the first place and how has it changed over the years?
The very first edition took place in 1986 when the President decided to organize a marathon in Venice to help the practicing of athletics in Italy. The race course has been changed many times but the last one is the nicest one as runners can feel the emotion of passing through St. Mark’s Sq.
Describe your route a bit. How’s the scenery? Is the route beginner friendly? Can runners expect PB’s?
Start is located in Stra (a small country town about 25 km west of Venice), at the beginning of “Riviera del Brenta”, the beautiful riverside area where rich and noble Venetians built their vacation mansions in the 18th century. The finish is in the historic centre of Venice, on the embankment named Riva Sette Martiri, in a scenic position facing the lagoon.
The first part of the route, along the Riviera del Brenta, lays in an environment rich with history, culture and beatiful landscapes, characterized by the numerous Venetian villas facing on the waters of the river.
The marathon goes through the centre of Marghera and Mestre, then runs for more than 2 kilometers inside San Giuliano’s Park and gets to Venice via the Liberty Bridge (a flat and straight bridge, length just a little less than 4 kilometers).
The race proceeds in Venice’s renovated port area and reaches the city centre for the last kilometers, which are simply unique and unforgettable. Marathoners run next to the Giudecca Canal to Punta della Dogana, where they cross the Grand Canal on a pontoon bridge, especially built for the race. Passing through Piazza San Marco (high tide permitting…), near the Campanile and the Palazzo Ducale, the marathon route reaches the finish line located in Riva Sette Martiri.
The race course is fast and flat and good for achieving a PB time.
How many runners do you expect to have in your event?
We have a cap of 8,000 runners due to physical limitations as Venice is very narrow.
What kind of weather conditions can runners prepare to face in your event?
Generally it is nice: the temperature is between 7 and 15 ° C.
What else should runners do in the city after/before the race? Any suggestions to newcomers?
You cannot miss a visit to the Brenta Riviera, its ancient mansions. And of course, charming Venice is a unique city!
How would you describe your event to people who haven’t yet participated in it? What makes your event unique?
The Venicemarathon is a marathon which is run through a very nice landscape which is simply unique. The first part of the race course follows the River Brenta and you can see beautiful mansions that allow you to admire their façades of the eighteenth century and after running through some city centres runners reach the Liberty Bridge (Ponte della Libertà) which connects the mainland to the old city. Venice and the parts of the course are simply amazing!
Anything else you want to tell about your event?
The course is completely closed from traffic. The race fee includes a finisher’s medal and a finisher’s certificate among other things!
