Firenze (Florence) Marathon - Race Reviews

I ran Firenze Marathon on the last Sunday of November, the weekend after Verona HM & a holiday at Cinque Terre. The Expo Village was located in Viale Malta 10, near Campo di Marte metro station. The taxi greenhorn dropped me at the back gate but thankfully, a very helpful Expo staff Mateo allowed me in & guided me to collect my running bib. The full marathon started at 8.30am under clear blue skies & Temp12°C. The start & finish was at Piazza Duomo. The course brought us through a spectacular city full of history, beauty & art, and four river crossings. We passed by Florence Eye (ferris wheel) along Fortezza da Basso (5km), then into Parco delle Cascine (Florence's biggest public park) the historical city park lined by tall trees (8-12km). We crossed River Arno over Ponte della Vittoria (16km), the oldest & most strategic of wartime bridges in Florence. We ran along the river & across Ponte Vecchio (19km), a medieval stone arch bridge lined by souvenir & jewellery shops. Shortly after, we turned back over Ponte alle Grazie (20km) & Ponte San Nicollo (21km) Water stations were at regular intervals of 5km. Distance markers were clearly displayed. Isotonic drinks, warm sweet tea, fruits & pastries were also served after 17km. At 32km, we ran into Athletica Firenze Marathon (stadium) , before looping back into the city. The last 5km of the marathon brought runners back to the Old Town with its quaint, narrow streets & cobblestones avenues that graced the majestic Piazza Signoria, Piazza Duomo and Piazza di San Giovanni. Runners were greeted by strings of spectators shouting, ' Dia! Dia! Dia! ' for the last 3km to the finish line. The icing on the cake was an attractive, specially designed finisher medal. The Theme of this year's Firenze Marathon was 'We run in Art'. Firenze is one marathon that I'll be most happy to run again.

With a course that looks like it was drawn by a child scribbling with a crayon (full of twists and turns), I figured this course would be slow and well over 26.2 miles. Instead, it was flat and fast and 26.2 exactly! There was a diversity of sites: some of the famous 'standards' but also the lovely Cascine park and a soft, speedy track. One note: it drizzled in 2018 and some of the surfaces were slippery in the rain. I was focused so I don't really remember the spectator situation. I wanted a tour of Florence and ended up with a 5+ minute PR, which counts for Boston (some are unsure about international races, so thought I'd add that).

I thought it was a well organised marathon. Just too bad it was a rainy day for about 3 hours of my run. I enjoyed passing the Ponte Vecchio and all the piazza's and the duomo. The part in the park and around the stadium was a bit boring, but the last 5 km are really fun!

Florence is a stunning city and the course is designed to pass over a hundred of its landmark piazzas, churches, buildings and monuments. The race loops through the center several times to ensure max exposure to its treasures. Beyond the heart of Florence, the longish loop through the Parco delle Cascine (Cascine Park) is lovely and the inner artery roads are not bad. Only a relatively short stretch around the Stadium is rather dull. Cobblestones have long been a complaint for this race. For 2017, however, three landmarks were knocked off the route, which was a blessing. These landmarks included the worst of the cobblestone streets. The rain got pretty hard and the replacement roads were reasonably smooth asphalt that avoided slippery stones. There were still kilometers of stone, but these were mostly even blocks that were seldom a foot challenge. In all events, I found it highly valuable to have toured Florence before the race. Passing the familiar monuments made them welcome inspiration during the race instead of frustrating distractions. Importantly, the field was crowded, though rarely congested, through most of the first half and parts of the second half is run on narrow streets. The crowd, tight streets and rain made it tough to play tourist and race at the same time. Organization was excellent during the race. There were only four corrals, but these were well marked and the lines to enter were short 30 mins before the race. Water stations were well manned and, for me, sufficiently frequent. I avoided the famous 'the' until kilometer 40 when I was running on fumes. The warm tea was an immediate energy shot. The Expo was rather dull and several lines were rather long, but nothing exceptional. Getting to the Expo site at the Marathon Stadium was a bit of a pain. My thanks to all the heplful race staff! Crowd support was still pretty good when I ran through at a 3:55 pace, especially considering the rain. In sum, this was a thrilling race that I recommend highly!

Expo was decent but a bit of a cluster. Beautiful and dramatic finish area. Course was flat and fast. Course nutrition was the best I've ever had! Hot, sweet tea was served along with delicious pastries that were quick and easy to eat on the go. They also served a very nice electrolyte drink and fruit. This is the first marathon that I didn't have to ingest gels and salt tabs! The pastries and sweet tea are a genius idea! The volunteers were amazing. For 75% of the marathon, it was pouring rain, windy and in the mid-40s, yet there were plenty of volunteers to pass out refreshments. The course was well-marked and there were volunteers at key turns to ensure you stay on the right path. Bathrooms seemed to be on the conservative side; however, volunteers were keeping them clean. As you approach the finish, the course loops you back out and then back in several times. Also, there were several arches positioned that were a bit of a mind game, it suggested you were almost finished and could go all out but you still had a ways to go. Crowd was severely lacking, but this could have been due to the inclement weather. Music was a bit sparse, but maybe that was due to the rain as well. Medal and finisher's shirt were both beautiful. Overall, I enjoyed this marathon and would recommend it to fellow runners.

The course is quite fast and the race full of good runners. I have run my PB (2h48'). Water stations were well organized as well as the luggage storage. Spectators are missing on some parts of the course, but generally the support was very nice. Long sleeve shirt was one of the best I ever had from a race and the medal was very nice as well! For sure a nice marathon to take part!

The reason that you run this is that it is in one of the world's most beautiful cities dripping with art treasures and the unusual experience of architectural turbo charging. It is impossible not to get an adrenaline surge as you run pass the Duomo or through the piazza Signore. The course is flat, scenic and well marked and marshalled and though some amorphous suburban street will leave you drab the centre of town does its work on the last 5 Km. The organisation works really well until the finish. registration is good and as you would expect in Italy the t shirt is stylish, excellent exhibition and good marshalling at the start. If only the sparse population density of the crowds lining the pavement of the route could be brought to the finish. Cross the line and prepare for Oxford Circus tube station at rush hour. Processing is painfully slow and when you are out of the finish area you realise that the luggage vans are miles away., I just abandoned my kit bag and the few items of little value and headed back to my hotel rather than face the long walk through jammed streets to reclaim it. Pity.

Upside: - Well organized! - Communication in multiple languages - Along all the sites of the city - Lots of spectators in the city centre - Nice shirt in goodie bag - Not expensive Downside: - Not fast. First part is fast, but surface in old city center is not smooth and lots of curves - Outside city centre not much spectators.

For sure one of the most spectacular city marathons I have ever done (+270). The entry on race day was chaotic and the Italiens very pushy, shouting and rude in a non-charming manner. Beside from this everything else was top class, only the race was very short of spectators and cheering along the route. But to be and run in the streets of this historical city creates a memory for life ! REMEMBER to see the David statue ! See the entire race here: http://www.temperance.dk/blog/stories/Firenze_Marathon_2013_Tor_Ronnow.htm

The organisation at the start was poor but that was the only fault that I saw. The course is fast and flat. Refreshments did not run out and there was a good selection. Support was good.best of all you get to run through Florence.

Hot tea and Gluten free snacks at a water stop? Mileage markers in kilometers? Italian runners yelling 'Mario', 'Lorenzo','Aldo'? Tight medieval streets? Fit and fast runners everywhere? This is not your American marathon. Try Florence for a fun memorable marathon with a touch of class. Very much worth the trip despite a crazy start line and a crazier finish line. I'll be back.

The expo was crowded, more booths than US expos. Maybe seemed more because booths were arranged in a loop, forcing people to pass thru all the booths before getting to the packet pickup. Then had to wind your way back out again...Race was fast, I am a slow runner (5:59) but spectators were still cheering, bystanders very supportive and moved out of the way when course opened. 'Scoop up' truck was behind us the last few miles, not obnoxious, cheering us on still :-) ran out of medals at the end but quick to respond to the problem. Great refreshments, warm sweet tea :-), bananas, 'salt' water(sports drink), water, mini tarts, and cookies. Even had separate sponge table, to wipe off sweat :-) Could have used a few more port-a-potties along the way. My first international marathon, was nervous at start, made a friend along the way and crossed the finish line with her :-) I loved the Asics zip up vest, nice addition to my marathon shirts. Only hard part was running on the old cobbled pavers the last few miles, tough on feet and ankles. Beautiful city with beautiful views.

Fantastic marathon. Wonderful scenery, well organized, great volunteers, flat and fast. Like another runner I have a Garmin and ran 26.91 miles which made my time a little bit slower than I was hoping for. The other complaint I have was, there were 4 4:30 pace leaders and I think they were racing each other for a 4 hour marathon!! I would thoroughly recommend this marathon and just enjoyed the experience of being in Florence

Florence is one of the most beautiful cities of Italy and the border of this country.Why do I mean by border?Simply,from Florence to the south is another 'country'... north italians call it 'Teronia'. Teronia has the nicest people you will ever meet,the most beautiful landscapes but almost everything is run by mafia.That leads to poverty,few jobs opportunities and a lot of bad things.Don't believe me?Just visit two average cities,one in the north,one in the south and you will see what I'm talking about(exNorth:Mantova,South:Naples). As i said,Florence is the invisible border. What does this have to do with the marathon? You will pay the entry fee,you will finish the marathon and you WON'T receive a medal(if your time is > 5:04hours). Sure is just a mistake,they forgot to make enough medals. They said we will receive the medals at home and we can participate for free next year(no way this was a method to save some money by ordering the right number of medals). P.S: Another problem was the distance, my gps recorded 27 miles.

After the first few km my garmin started to deviate from the marked distance. By the end the distance recorded was 43.06km. This garmin has recorded my last 2 marathons and a half marathon accurately. Did anyone else notice the same problem ?

Poor organization,really nice views, breathtaking Florence architecture compensate everything.

Good organisation although entering the starting boxes went slow because the entrance area is rather small. Very nice run in historic city, roads in the city center are not easy to run on. Refreshments every 5K with minerals, the, water, enery drinks,...Enthusiastic crowd in center areas, bands playingn... So all in all a great experience. No marathon though to set a new personal record.

Perfect weather, beautiful city to run through, delicious refreshments at water stops, good marshalling. Really enjoyed this race. Not many spectators, but it is a good, flat, fast course. Would highly recommend.

The course is spectacular, running through downtown Florence and by most of its major monuments. It's also very flat, the main 'hills' being a handful of bridges and a train overpass. The main problems were the narrow streets that created many bottlenecks, and the water stops being 5K apart, which was not enough towards the end even on a cool day. The crowd support was negligible. The pace groups were very large and got to start at the front, instead of in the appropriate corral (had I known, I'd have joined one), so they took a lot of energy to pass early on. Overall, a good marathon experience because of the beauty of the course and the effort of the volunteers, though improvements could easily be made.

Wonderful experience overall. I would note to international entrants that this race requires a medical approval form (something I didn't realize until two weeks before the race, since the instructions regarding what was necessary were not clearly communicated in any (English) correspondence I got after signing up. Other than that, I'd say the race was fast, the organization was good, and the course was beautiful. The quality of runners in the field was also very impressive. This was my first race in Europe and I was surprised that my sub 4 hour time didn't even make the top 50%. It was awesome running with such a strong field. I'd highly recommend this race.

Superbly organised, great crowd support, and breathtaking (!) historic city route. And the weather this year 2011 was fine, cool and windless.

This year's Firenze Marathon was cold, rainy and windy, but that didn't stop 8,000 marathoners from running. Where else can you run through such a historic, gorgeous city? The race starts up at Piazza Michelangelo and takes competitors through lush parks, past the Duomo and The Uffizi, across the Ponte Vecchio and along the Arno. It is well organized with power drinks, water, fruit and hot tea offered every 5K. Not too many spectators this year but who could blame them under these conditions? Great swag - especially the beautiful, quality medal featuring Dante Alighieri. The start and finish are conveniently close. I'd do this one again and again. It's especially recommended for art and history lovers!

Set in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, this race did not disappoint. I combined the race with a few days of sightseeing and had a fabulous experience both in the city and in the Tuscan country side. The expo was organized and efficient - the information relaxed and accurate. The start was to die for - overlooking the city from Piazza Michelangelo, with clear blue skies and a really special, friendly atmosphere. The course was tight in a couple of places, and some of the cobbled streets meant you had to be a little careful. Plenty of well stocked refreshment areas with plenty of volunteers on hand. My only complaint about the course was the section that runs out and back again in the park at 30 to 38 KM - this felt like a bit of an add-on to make up the distance and there were no spectators to cheer you on just when you really need it. The finish was great, and if you are in a fit state to look around you in the square at Santa Crochem you will realize you have run in a very special place. Loved it!

A good marathon in so many ways, but what a pity that they cannot cater to the numbers. Online registration worked smoothly and the hotel booking scheme was a dream with a choice of hotels all geared up for runners (with early breakfast, late checkout and great prices). Thank you, Florence! One of the best starts ever as we looked over this historic city in the morning sun and then off we set. A crowded field of 10,000 took time to stretch out, and some of the streets were just too narrow to take it. My main gripe is about the drink stations. I still cannot understand why the world does not follow London and use bottles and pouches rather than cups; but given that everyone else seems to want runners to stop as they drink, at least you can make sure there is enough. The short stations just could not get enough water or electrolyte ready, so it was grab a cup and dunk away! Really irritating. On the positive side, the route was brilliant: flat, fascinating, and the sights of the Duomo and Piazza Signore were real heart-lifters. A bonus was the really stylish T-shirt (yes, Berlin - everywhere else gives them free). It was so stylish that it justifies running the race just to be able to wear one!

For runners wanting fascinating city locations, it surely doesn't get much better than running in the footsteps of the Medici and finishing in front of the final resting place of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. The race organizers say they will change the course in 2009 to reduce the elevation differential, but Florence is "una bellissima citta" and the good organization and infectious Italian spirit surely will remain. Italy has to be the easiest places in which to carbo load, and I recommend the Florence Marathon to anyone wanting to combine a marathon with a holiday with very enjoyable but potentially dangerous distractions (vino rosso, sambuca and climbing to the top of spectacular duomos).

Great organization - lots of energy drinks, bottled water, fruit, energy gels and tablets, although they could do with a few more refreshment points. The route is excellent - mainly flat, varied and you see all of Florence's sights. It's narrow at the beginning and in some streets in the center, but it's otherwise lovely. The crowds were the best part - the Italians really cheered you in the city center and spurred the runners on in the last couple of KM. Absolutely recommended, and good for a PB due to the relatively cool weather in which it is run.

This was a good marathon in a nice city. The course was very nice, but after KM 30, quite boring. Still, the start kit, organization and refreshments were great. I would recommend this marathon.

Great marathon with a very supportive crowd in a fantastic city. The organization of the race was excellent with plenty of support. The route was well planned with only a couple of bottlenecks due to the width of the streets, and finishing in the center was great, as the brilliant crowd and scenery spurred you on to finish on the red carpet!! Highly recommend this marathon - and have a great break at the same time as I did and enjoyed.

I would fully recommend this race. I have run in the London and Edinburgh Marathons; this event was well organized and the support was definitely there (and very respectful of the race and its competitors, no less). Highlights were running past the Duomo and the finish was beautiful, with red carpet laid out right by the Basilica of Sante Croce. The temperatures were also perfect, ranging from 14 to probably 16.

Despite a couple of congestion points, cobbled streets and uneven surfaces, this was a first-class event. I think this cost me a few minutes on my time, but still well worth it. The course was flat and took in the majority of the city sights. And the best bit, the first 2 KM's are downhill and you don't have to run back up!!

Just finished the marathon, my third, with my best time 3:26. This was also my first international marathon. Yes, the streets were narrow; it is not a new city. I would suggest that if you are looking for a running vacation, you would like this race.

Don't expect spectators, or much else but a race in Italy. Much wider streets than other Italian events and good water stops. Nice decline for the first 5K. The out-and-back at the end was killer only because you had to watch the fast guys fly. Unfortunately the race didn't go by any of the historic sites of Florence. Rome does this very well, but this one just moved you along the fringe. Well organized bus to the start.

It's quite a shame that such a beautiful city should have somewhat lackluster organization and support for its marathon. This was my first marathon, and as such, I ran a slower pace, and was near the back of the pack. After the second sponge station, there were no sponges left for those of us at the rear of the field. The spectators were often sparse, although the ones who were along the route were very supportive. The section of the course that ran through the park around mile 21 was awful. Don't get me wrong - the view was lovley and peaceful - but the were absolutely ZERO spectators and support, just when you begin to "hit the wall." Had I not been running alongside a friend, I'd have been less than enthused about my prospects for finnishing around this point. I do recommend running this marathon. The city is gorgeous, and running on those cobblestones (they only really become a factor towards the conclusion of the race) is worth the awkward feeling in exchange for the connection with the history of the city. The other people who have commented are correct about the port-a-potties - they are far too sparse. I managed to stop at one around the 15-mile point. But it was foul and disgusting. I can't imagine how a woman would have managed to use one. The one I used (the only one that didn't have a long line) was covered in feces. The weather was gorgeous, and I must give a thumbs up to the people who worked the refreshment stands. They were supportive of those of us who brought up the rear of the field, and were nearly the only ones there to offer encouragement to the folks who ran a slower pace. The medal was fantastic (given by the marathon president himself), and the course condtions were as described by everyone else. I don't know that I'll be back to Italy anytime soon, but I would run this again.

I loved running this mararthon. The course was easy to follow and well supported by the locals. I can't wait to do it again in 2007.

A beautiful course and perfect weather (65 degrees F) for my first marathon. Be aware, however, of somewhat uneven surface conditions; a severe shortage of port-o-potties (every 7.5 KMs, but only one per stop!), and the somehwat bemused demeanor of the Italian onlookers. Nevertheless, you can't beat the course for beauty and flatness (except for the beginning, which is downhill for about two KMs).

This marathon has a wide variety of roads and paths to run on. Many of the streets had tall buildings, so if it was a hot day, you had plenty of shade. Some narrow roads through the center of town had atmosphere, as you passed numerous piazzas (no, not pizzas!) with fine buildings and statues, etc. A few supporting cyclists were a nuisance here, but marshals were quick to usher them off the route. A park in the last quarter of the race appeared on the map to be out-and-back but it actually felt like a loop as you didn't view the returning runners. Big, chunky medal, and very stylish, quality, technical, long-sleeved T-shirt given at the pre-race expo (usual noisy, hot, and crowded affair). "Trouble desk" seemed chaotic here. No orderly queue - just a big scrum. Overall, a very good marathon. Never easy to deal with, say, 6,000 people from many different nations, but it was an enjoyable day.

A great marathon for a PB (although a knee injury after 15 miles ended my ambitions in that regard!). The course starts off with a slight incline for 2 KM, followed by 3 KMs downhill, where it then levels off and stays pretty much like that for the rest of the marathon. A lot has been said of the cobbles on this course, but they are not an issue until the end of the marathon, and even with that, are not that much of a hindrance. The crowds were not huge, but were very friendly and enthusiastic (their genuine friendliness did strike me). The organization (except for chaotic scenes trying to get on the bus to bring you to the start) was first-class. Even though I was very much at the rear of the pack, and even though it was an unseasonably warm day (over 20 Celsius), there was plenty of water for everyone. The only thing I would say is when you get hold of a sponge early on in the race, hold on to it. Overall, a very enjoyable marathon, well-organised, around a beautiful old city. Go Halainn!