Several warnings: packet pick-up--a zoo taking hours, expo--generally lame (but lots of free Nutella for the persistent), staff attitude--sometimes unfriendly, start--when did the gun go off? I crossed the start line without realizing it, and there was a long skinny line leading to it with no attempt to group runners by speed. The veteran marathoner Brits I talked with said this is to be expected of Italy and will never change. The cobblestones add millenia of wear to your knees. Nonetheless, the fee is low, you get a nice bag, shirt and the coolest medal of any race I've run (it looks like an ancient Roman coin), and Rome is one of the most awesome cities on the planet.

Will never grow to be bigger and 'better' than it is now unless they get the organization under control. Expo was very far away from Rome central, and was totally lacking in anything for female runners. The marathon itself was unpleasant due to: being run on cobblestones, running out of water early on and having unstaffed aid stations, not clearing pedestrians off the course, lack of spectator support. But, if you want to go because it's Rome, it's historical, the people are otherwise wonderful, then go. Don't make it your first marathon but do make it part of a vacation package.

This is a really fun race. The race takes you through many of the major tourist attractions in Rome such as Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, City Hall, the Forum, the Coliseum (where it starts and ends), Place Navona, etc. This year they changed the route and the race didn't pass by St. Peter's, which was unfortunate. This year (2002) about 7,000 people ran the full marathon, and something like 30,000 participated in the 5K. A few things to watch out for: there are limited water stops, only every 5 miles! There are not enough volunteers at the water stops, so the runners were fighting for water from the one guy there with a water bottle. Also, some of the water stops supplied 'frizzante' water (seltzer water) which was very surprising. Some runners couldn't drink it and had to deal with some level of dehydration as a result. In between the water stops are sponge stops, where big blue sponges are handed out to help people cool down. There's about 8-10 miles of cobblestone roads, which require a lot of focus to run on as they can dip &/or be slippery. Also, there is very limited fan support, except for the few Americans on the course (the Team Diabetes supporters) and a few enthusiastic Italians. For the most part, the Italians watch the runners as though they are a strange curiosity! Very unlike the typical American fans. Also, the last 6 miles or so of the race take you down and back around Circus Maximus, and that final stretch seems like it lasts forever. And on that stretch there really are no fans, right when you need it most!
In general, this is a great race, but b/c of the things listed above, it can also be challenging. I ran this race with Team Diabetes, and overall, it was the experience of a lifetime.

Rome is the marathon to run. You'll run through history itself. The course was really entertaining except maybe for the last 6 miles where you don't have a lot of support. The cobblestones were not much of a problem either. The course is flat, fast and you can easily PR. Be aware that most of the good stuff to see are in the second half of the marathon. If you feel great, I would advise to make a move only after 31-32K.

Great start, with the largely Italian running mass making up for the fewer supporters that might be expected for a big city marathon. The route covers some beautiful parts of the city, and the dull suburbs in the north and out-and-back road in the south can be forgiven... Cobblestones are not a huge issue - the slowness of the start could be if you are aiming for a fast time, with the narrow streets bottlenecking the field until several miles have gone by. Otherwise organisation was good - the best two-footed way to see Rome!

If you want to see Rome, this is a great way to do it. But, beware of all the cobble stone roads and without the 'Team Lukemia' fans, don't expect too many spectators. If you're looking to run your first marathon, I would suggest another venue.

The course starts and finishes at the Coliseum. Along the way you pass the Trevi fountain, Pantheon, St Peters Basilica, Vatican City and many other incredible sights. The worst part of the course is the cobblestones. Your feet really start to feel them the last 6 miles - an out and back, on cobblestones, that seems to last FOREVER. I ran the marathon as a member of Team Diabetes. There were almost 500 of us running, and at least that many supporters along the way. There were not many additional spectators, other than at the start/finish. The organization was weak - H20 stations were every 3 miles, with sponge stations halfway between them. The 31K station was out of cups. Not many portalets, and not much support for the mid-late finishers.

Overall, it was a great experience. I would hope that they improve the support as the marathon grows.

How can you complain about a race that starts and ends in front of the Colosseum? The first few miles wind through the old center of Rome, and its so interesting that you don't notice the worn cobblestones you are running over. After passing the Vatican, however, the course for the next 13 miles becomes standard paved boulevard along the river, circling a park, and through residential (modern apartment buildings) areas. Around 30K you're back in the city center passing the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and other sights, but now you're back on cobblestones for the rest of the way. A long down and back stretch along another unscenic avenue brings you back to the Colosseum for the finish. The race organizers did some things well, such as the gear check, but how can you neglect to provide pins to attach race numbers to your shirt? Water was available every 5K, but there were not enough volunteers to hand out drinks, so you had to fight your way to a table to grab a cup of water or gatorade. It seemed the most enthusiastic spectators were the Americans present in the usual tourist sites. Outside of those areas, the crowds were sparse.