There are only 4 weeks left to the annual beautiful Rome Marathon. Are you signed up and planning to run it? – Congrats, you are in for a treat! Rome Marathon, or Maratona di Roma, has a beautiful route that starts and finishes at the Colosseum, the atmosphere is friendly and the love for running is obvious.

All you need to know about Maratona di Roma:

Before the race day:

1. Collect your starting package at the Marathon Village in Eur. The easiest way to get here is to take the subway line B towards “Laurentina” and get off on the station “Eur Fermi”. From here you have about a 15 min walk to the congress hall where they hand out your starting package. While you hare here, take an extra look at the extraordinary architecture built by Mussolini.

Address: Palazzo dei Congressi – EUR Roma – Piazzale J.F. Kennedy, 1
Opening hours: March 20th, 21st, 22nd 2014 from 10 am to  8 pm

2. Marathon runners are eager to collect their starting package and if you prefer to not stand in the long cues, I recommend you to play it cool and go to the marathon village in the late afternoon before the race day. Don’t forget to bring your starting proof and signed health form!
3. Even though the Marathon Village has a lot of stands with new, fancy running gears, I strongly recommend you to not fall for your vanity and buy new clothes for the marathon. You should always train long distances in the same clothes you are planning to wear on the marathon. By doing that you will know if they are comfortable enough and not give you any wounds.
4. Drink a lot of water and eat “safe” food you know you can digest.
5. Cut your toe nails and prepare everything for the race day. Pack your backpack, that you got at the Marathon Village with some dry clothes.
6. Put your alarm, make sure it works and go to sleep early.

Race day:

1. Eat the same kind of breakfast as you usually eat before running. Remember that you will be served fruits andenergy drinks along the way and therefore do not need to stuff yourself.
2. Bring a package of tissues in your pocket. There are toilets along the way but never toilet paper.
3. The street in front of the Colosseum, Via Fori Imperiali, will be closed and you can only access the starting area from the back (entering from Circo Massimo) where you also will leave your backpack to the staff.
4. Your starting time will not be registered until you cross the starting line. Don’t stress and risk being run down! Enjoy the adrenaline atmosphere and take your first running steps, now it’s only 42k and 195 meters to the finish line.