10 Top City Marathons (Preview)

The globetrotters' guide to the world's finest urban 26.2-milers (non-subscriber preview)

Posted: 30 March 2010
by Matt Gilbert

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Rome Marathon (Italy, March)

It's no wonder that foreign runners make up more than a third of the field for this race, which is effectively a 26.2-mile sightseeing tour around the Eternal City. The race is held on a Sunday in March, and takes in the ancient splendours of the Colosseum, St Peter's Square, the Trevi Fountain, the Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps.

And can there be a better destination for pre-race carb-loading than a city that lives on pasta, and has a trattoria on just about every corner?

THE COURSE Starting and finishing in the shadow of the 2,000-year-old Colosseum, the course is fairly flat for a city built on seven hills. But you're unlikely to improve your PB: conquering the cobbled streets that cover half the route will add minutes to your finish time.

FAST FACT For the first marathon of the millennium, organisers moved the start line to St Peter's Square, where Pope John Paul II blessed the runners.

CONTACT maratonadiroma.it

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Discuss this article

Karen Samuel

Race Director(s),This was supposed to be my favourite marathon

Please read carefully all of May 2010 Runners World event ratings to help improve Edinburgh Marathon for 2011. There are vast areas that still need plenty of improvement.With these improvements your races may be Runners World Winner

Best of luck for 2011.
Posted: 25/05/2010 at 15:09

Karen Samuel

The Edinburgh Marathon organisers have sent me a questionnaire to help improve their future Edinburgh half and full marathon races . My message to the Edinburgh organisers, is just save yourself time and money and just read Runners World Edinburgh ratings for 2010. I might just rate your marathon if it would help.

Posted: 26/06/2010 at 23:30

Karen Samuel

I just got an email from Edinburgh Marathon orgainsers. The 2011 Edinburgh will be held on 22 May 2011. A great race but they need to work on their finish!!!

http://www.edinburgh-marathon.com/?edinburghmarathon