Rome now, today as two thousand years ago. The forever invincible and eternal Rome. A city where you fall in love at each and every step, where every step will make you feel a glorious marathoner.

Rome awaits you, glorious, colorful and loud. Rome is unique. With it’s thrilling romantic sunset on the Gianicolo and the quiet sunrise on Lungotevere. 42.195 km rich of art and history, cobblestones stepped by the crumpled sandals of roman gladiators in the past and by hundreds of thousands of marathoners in the last 25 years.

Runners in Rome became real marathoners. Eternal. Runners who’s tears started at the Colosseum and along the Fori Imperial, during the first kilometer of a long journey called Marathon. Whom cried again at the finish line, because the joy of achieving a medal is always unbearable.

Alongside the journey, each marathoner has encountered monuments and places that only Rome, in the whole world can offer, emotions that only the eternal city can give.  The road strolls by, asphalt and cobblestones, maritime pines and applauses oh thousands of fans along the streets embrace this unique open-air museum, one can find only here.

Who runs in Rome, makes history, runs in history, retraces the history.

The marathon in the Italian capital has a strong tradition. We could go back over a century to 2 April 1906, when the Emilian Dorando Pietri won the marathon, crossing the finishing line in Piazza di Siena. We could go back 60 years, to that magical night of the 1960 Olympics in Rome, when Ethiopian Abebe Bikila opened the season of African marathon runners, running the whole race barefoot. He became a legend, his stride along Appia Antica illuminated by torches is pure athletics history, as is the photo of him winning on arrival at the Arch of Constantine.

More gold medals again, this time at the World Championships on 6 September 1987 with the success of Kenyan-Japanese Douglas Wakiihuri, a great icon of world running.

The marathon we all know today originated in 1995 with the Italia Marathon Club and in 2011 was awarded the prestigious IAAF Gold Label recognition. In 2019 the organisation was entrusted to FIDAL, and since 2020 there has been a new organising committee formed by Infront, Corriere dello Sport – Stadio, Italia Marathon Club and Atielle Roma. Unfortunately, due to coronavirus, the edition of 29 March 2020 could not take place; with just weeks to go the start, it had to be halted for a global lockdown that stopped it being held. New energies and a new edition scheduled for Sunday 19 September 2021 already called Alba Edition Special Race, the marathon of recovery, of comeback, of a great international event in the Eternal City. Departure at dawn, with the sun’s rays illuminating the monuments, a unique and unrepeatable opportunity to experience an exciting page of history.

Recent editions have attracted over 115 participating countries, while in the men’s roll of honour there have been 7 successes for Ethiopia, 13 for Kenya, and 3 for Italy with Stefano Baldini, Ruggero Pertile and Alberico Di Cecco. For women we find victories flying the flag of Russia, Estonia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Algeria. There is also a significant Italian presence thanks to the victories of Franca Fiacconi, Maura Viceconte, Maria Guida, Maria Cocchetti, Gloria Marconi and Ornella Ferrara.

The race record is held by Benjamin Kiptoo Kolum (Kenya) who reached the Imperial Forum in 2009 in 2:07:18, while the fastest woman ever was Kebede Megertu Alemu (Ethiopia) who clocked 2:22:52 in 2019.