The course started at the Coliseum and went through the historic parts of town. Absolutely beautiful and gorgeous. The weather was great - not too hot and not too cold. The only bad part about this marathon was that the water they served was way too salty. Even running on the cobblestones was not bad - I really enjoyed it.

Unlike most others in the comments, we had no problem finding regular water and Gatorade at every aid station, which were available every 5K. You just had to say something in english and the station aids would point toward the end tables and say 'sensa gas'. The scenery is awesome, the cobblestones are a bear, and the slow folks will find some angry Italian drivers growing impatient with their closed streets. Overall it was a fantastic experience.

Nice run but the cobblestones made sure I got an appointment with my podiatrist when I got home. My wife hated the fizzy water, but I carried my own Gatorade and refilled the bottle with the local stuff. I got a little warm near the finish, and I still have tan marks from the sun. Fans were great, especially at the Spanish Steps. No blue line like NYC, but the course is taped off. Pasta Party? Skip it and go to a trattoria in the city. Photos are hit or miss, but make sure your number is visible when you near the finish (don't cross your arms if you want to get at least one photo). The goody bags are cool, and practical.

The course was OK, but didn´t love the surface. Only about 50% asphalt.
Expo was far from city and pasta party in another place. Expo was OK, but pasta party was a bad one - a plate of pasta and a glass of soft drink. Worth travelling 2 hours for that?
Spectators were OK, but in most places there were none.
Still a marathon worth to run.

It is a beautiful course that includes the city and running by the Tiber river. Not many hills, but the cobblestones are wearing. BRING MONEY! I had to jump off the course 3 times to buy still water. Fizzy water made me feel nauseous. The frequent sponge stations were great and refreshing on a sunny day. The official marathon photo company, doesn't take everyone's photo. So if you expect to get that memento, take one yourself just in case. I will definitely do again since I love Rome.

The race is very hard, with continous climbing and roads paved with stones and bends everywhere. But the race is astonishing for beauty: not a single important Rome monument is forgotten.
Some additional refreshment and more food is advisable.
At least Italians are becoming to be more accustomed to marathons and fans support is warm.
A number distribution closer to the city centre will be fantastic.

This was my first ever marathon, so other than being a spectator of NY's, I don't have much to compare it to. The cobblestones were tough, but I knew they would be. Other than that, and the limited fan support, it was a great time. Passing by the fountain Trevi at about mile 19 was breathtaking & worth ever blister I got. Definitely a must, but make sure you do all you sightseeing before the marathon, as I found walking on the cobblestones afterward torture. The 'fizzy' water was not as fizzy as I had expected, but did cause me to have to stop to drink it.

This was my fourth marathon and was a fantastic race. Running through some of the most famous historic building in the world and finishing at the Roman Coliseum is truly phenominal. The finishers medal is a work of art. A few notes, The race splits are in kilometers, not miles and Italian is spoken over the PA, not English. (After all you are in Italy) There is also cobblestone and the spectators are not as prevelant as they would be in the NYC marathon (Then again, few if any race, can make that claim at least in my marathon experience.) Also it would help if you ran with a belt that carries water, etc so you are not as dependent on water stops that serve water 'fizzante'. The expo is also in the EUR section which a good deal away from the start. The organization overall, I thought was OK. Deal with these things and you will have a race that you will truly never forget!! The pros far outweigh the cons on this one.

This was my first European marathon, and I absolutely loved it. I was prepared for the water stops to be 5k apart, but I wasn't prepared for the water to be fizzy! This upset my stomach for the last 7k, but all in all, a great race. How can you beat running past St. Peter's, Trevi fountain, Piazza Navona with those stylish Italian fans cheering you on? The finish at the Colesseum is spectacular. More cobblestone than I expected, but I still ran a great time for me.

I absolutely loved this race. The course winds throughout the city and hits all the great spots- including finishing next to the Coliseum. The expo is far and a bit disappointing but certainly adequate and they're very helpful if you don't speak or understand Italian. Slightly hilly course but not too bad, temperature ranged so be prepared for anything. Support along the course was good, and everything seemed well organized. This may not be a great PR marathon or first marathon, but it's unbeatable for scenery. Great excuse to go to Rome and eat lots of pasta!!!