Rome Half Marathon
The Roma-Ostia Half Marathon begins in Rome's EUR district and proceeds towards the coast at Ostia, distinguishing it as a city-to-sea half marathon rather than a circuit within central Rome. This annual road race, typically held in early to mid-March, attracts Italy's largest half-marathon participation, with previous events seeing approximately 12,000 entries and over 9,000 finishers. The event caters to all levels, featuring a mass race for general participants and a Business Run, which serves as an Italian half-marathon championship for corporate teams. The course runs in a direct southeasterly direction from EUR to the coast, incorporating long sections along Via Cristoforo Colombo and concluding near Ostia's beaches. Originally, the event was a longer Rome-to-Ostia race of about 27 to 30 km before adapting to the official half-marathon distance of 21.1 km. Some editions benefited from downhill segments and tailwinds, leading to performances not being eligible for records or personal bests; however, subsequent course adjustments have made the race faster and record-eligible. Notable past winners include Olympic marathon champion Stefano Baldini, Boston Marathon winner Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, New York Marathon winner Franca Fiacconi, and Olympic marathon medalist Galen Rupp.
