Venice Marathon - Race Reviews

Overall, probably the best organized marathon I've ever run. From sign-up and submission of medical forms, to packet pickup, to race execution, everything went incredibly smoothly. The bus to the start got me there early but I appreciated the large tent with benches to rest and stay warm. With my previous PR of 4:34:00 I was placed in the last corral. I wasn't running to set a PR (I was on vacation, after all) even though I did. I loved the support of the spectators, the support of the volunteers, and I especially liked how organized things were at the end of the race, with the medal, the goody bag, drop bag pickup and changing area. I plan to run this one again. I know that there was a change in sponsors for the 2017 race and hopefully that hasn't taken away from the race experience.

This was my 5th marathon and my 4th foreign marathon. The course was flat and relatively fast (a few inclines and some bridges in Venice being the only slight difficulties). It is a point to point race starting in Stra in the Italian countrside and finishing in Venice itself. Only the last 6k is in Venice but the countryside part is quite scenic and relatively well supported through the towns. The thing that let this race down for me was the organisation.Buses are supplied from Venice to the start. I took the latest bus and still arrived more than 2 hours before the race started. The queues for toilets at the start were 45 minutes long and there was no toilet roll or sanitiser in them (fortunately I brought my own). I was hoping to finish in around 4 hours and had stated this during the application process, this was an ambitious but realistic target as my previous best was 4:11. However I was unable to follow the 4 hour pacer as I was in the 4th corral and the 4 hour pacers were in corrals 2/3. I asked to move but was quite rudely told no (I expected the answer to be no but politeness costs nothing). As it happens I paced myself relatively well up to 20 miles, getting to 20 at 2:59, 10k in 1 hours is no problem right? my legs had other ideas, I cramped up and finished in 4:09:40. However my official time was over 4:11 with my first split being 30 minutes. The difference between my gun time and start time was only 30 seconds which was incorrect as I was as mentioned in corral 4, so it was around 3 minutes. My watch has autopause on it but Strava has the elapsed time on it which was 4:09:40 (with pauses it was 4:09:03 so I know that the elapsed time was correct). I know that 2 minutes difference between times is not a lot, but it was the difference between being a PB and not being a PB, so was quite annoying. I emailed the organisers to ask if they could check this result but received no response. Finally after the finish, I asked a marshall where the free water bus to Tronchetto departed from, she corrected my pronunciation of Tronchetto but neglected to tell me where the boat departed, again I felt this was unnecessarily rude. I can't say any of this ruined my enjoyment of the race, but it would put me off doing it again. Venice is well worth visiting and if you are looking for a flat marathon abroad in beautiful surroundings then this could be an option. I hope for the sake of competitors that next year is better organised.

Registration (for 2016) was in the Guiliano Park, with a free bus from Mestre train station. Lots of stands at the registration, a nice t shirt, and well organized, enthusiastic officials. The marathon itself starts in Stra, a suburban village way out of town. I took the free bus to the start, leaving from 7am from Mestre. The start is next to a beautiful old building and everyone was wandering around the gardens warming up. Then it heads east along a nice flat road, alongside a river. In this sleepy neighbourhood I was surprised to hear a band covering a Led Zep song after only 1km. In fact there was a band, mostly rock or heavier, nearly every km all the way to Venice! Fabulous! And the locals in every village along the way were out in numbers and making a lot of noise, cheering on _everyone_ not just the people they knew. Drink stations every 5km, and km markers every km. After about 20km we came to Mestre, then on to the park, and then the long straight bridge (4km?) between the mainland and Venice. This was the toughest bit, but the reward was about 4km around the South side of Venice, over numerous bridges (all ramped, which helped), with tremendous support, and a joyful finish. A nice goody bag with a beer in it!, a chunky medal, and a quick free ferry back to the bus terminal. I finished at 13:20 and by 14:45 I was in the airport. The route is really good, and mostly flat. The finish is spectacular (including a loop in St Mark's Square in the last km), and the Italian crowd were SUPERB!

those looking for a mega-well organised, very fast marathon will be disappointed. That being said, I had a fabulous time, great weather, good support, fantastic views. I normally get grumpy at the end and want my bag NOW, and for once I got that (relief sight), and lost of yummy food too. It's a human-sized marathon and volunteers were very helpful. Also I didnt actually use it but there were changing rooms and shower facilities. I booked the whole trip with Oltrex who organised the bus pick up in the morning which is a must because I would have never in the world found the place. I think it's also easier if you can understand at least a bit of italian, I clearly wouldnt have as much fun if I had missed all of the pacers jokes through out. And the bridges at the end are a killer, but hey, it's Venice.

This was my first Venice marathon and given the weather from last year I was worried. But it was lovely and I think it made everything else better. I stayed on Giudecca island so I had no wait in the morning for the vaporetto. The shuttle was easy to find. The wait at the start in Stra was fine. Well supported by the Venitians. Water stations had food-water and Gatorade. Bottled water too. The neverending bridge was a bear but entering Venice was worth it. The bridges... Not too keen on, but San Marco was fabulous . Would do it again!

The race itself would have been wonderful if it were not for the 40 degree weather with rain, sleet, wind, etc.... The 'free' vaporetto ride back to the bus back to the start had a 40 minute line, so we hopped on one right next to the free one. It saved time, but even that was a nightmare given how cold we were. Vicious shakes for 2 hours due to no heat/shelter at the end of the race.

Venice is one of my favourite cities but having to catch a bus at 6.45 to get to the marathon start shows some commitment or do I mean that I should be committed? The majority of the race especially if you're near the back isn't a good experience as clearing up seems to take precedent over the slower runners especially if you pull a muscle in the first mile due to being so cold waiting for the Italian TV company to say it's okay to go! Having said this, I've now completed this course twice and may try it again, it's not my favourite of my 24 marathon courses but I do love running across The Grand Canal although I did miss our on St Mark's Square due to flooding. I hope everyone enjoyed today, I will admit that the 25th T-shirt and medal are just brilliant.

Given the 7000 entry cap, I had quite low expectations of the expo. However, I was pleasantly surprised despite the lack of any gels available. The event t-shirt was the nicest I've ever had! Good quality, technical Asics, and most importantly, nice colours! The timing chip was very odd, it was attached to the race number by an elastic band! It didn't feel especially secure, although that said, it stayed in place throughout the race. To get to start on the morning of the race was a bit of a palaver. I was staying in Venice itself and had to set my alarm at 5am to get the boat to Piazzale Roma, then walk to Tronchetto (one of the 2 pick- up points) where the free bus took you to start. After the 20 minute bus ride to Stra, the hot tea and tents in the runners' village were a welcome relief from cold. The queues for the toilets were very long (not enough loos provided) and resulted in me rushing to the bag lorries and nearly missing them! The route is predominantly flat and well supported when you run through the villages every 5km or so, but pretty quiet in between. The first 20km of the route is very pleasant countryside, much of which is along a very pretty river. Around the half way point, you run through an industrial area which is obviously the least scenic part of the course. Around 30km you do a loop through San Guiliano Park (where the expo is held) and then head towards the long bridge which takes you into Venice itself. There are ample water stations (every 5km) and Gatorade is provided at certain points. In the second half of the race there is also fruit and biscuits if your stomach is up to it! The last 4km is the reason for doing this marathon, when you hit Venice itself. The 14 bridges you cross have all been ramped so are not too much of a concern. One bridge which crosses the Grand Canal is actually constructed on the eve of the race and dismantled the next day! This year was apparently the first time the course got to run through St Mark's Square which was great. The weather had been perfect all day, apart from first thing when it was pretty cold. But throughout the race, the sun shone but it never got too warm. My partner, who had to withdraw from the race at the last minute, did his best to support me on the route, although this proved to be somewhat difficult due to road closures and subsequent lack of accessibility to the course. The end of the race is really well organised. First you're given your medal and a goody bag (fruit, water, Gatorade and biscuit). Then you get a space blanket and follow the route through to the bag collection area. Gender specific changing tents are available if you require them and then there is a massage area. There were about 6 masseurs available, free of charge. I decided to avail myself of this but due to the fact that they spend a good 15-20 minutes on each athlete, I had to wait over an hour for the service. The massage was a little deep considering the 26 miles I had just run, although I felt great after it, but maybe that was because of the PB I'd just achieved!! I loved Venice before coming to the city to run its marathon. Having knocked 12 minutes off my previous PB, I now have another reason to feel a special affinity to the place. Would I do it again? Definitely. It was only 60 Euros when I joined last New Year's Eve in a drunken stupor whilst skiing in Andorra and was given a 20 Euro discount coupon for next year in my goody bag!

Overal this is a great marathon experience but there are a few negatives with the organisation. The expo is basic and the offical merchandise isn't worth buying. The race T shirt in the goody bag is technical and quite nice but is a mans fit so it's not the best for women. The lack of toilets at the start is the worst thing. I counted 14 portaloos for the 7000 runners! The queues were horrendous and of course the men were just lining up by the wall to go. By the time runners were dropped off by the start there was only about 1/2 hour to put the bags in lorries to be ferried to the finish so lots of people missed this and lost their stuff. On the offical map there showed toilets along the route every 5k but I did not see any. However the race itself was very good for a small field it had a big race feel and lots of support. There were 26 bands of all genres along the route. The first 10 miles or so followed the river from stra and was pretty running past some grand homes. It was mainly flat and fast. There is a killer hill at about mile 18 going through san gullino park. The road bridge into venice itself is quite a tough 5k as there is nothing to see apart from road and sea. The last 5k are the best - running through venice itself is unforgettable. There are 14 bridges to cross in the last 2 miles but the organisers put ramps on them for the marathon so they are fine - they have signs on them counting them down which is a nice touch. The markers are only in km so as I'm used to miles I was trying to gauge my time every 5k. The water & gatorade stations are good & efficent and the medal is nice. Overall it is great - the best marathon finish ever!

See the previous comments re: this race. I love Venice and when I decided to give marathon running a try, this had to be the first one. Only the last 4K or so are actually in Venice, but the preceding 36 are mostly in pleasant Italian countryside, apart from an unavoidable couple of kilometers through the industrial area of Maghera. The crowds along the route are enthusiastic and vocal and everyone seemed to enjoy the spectacle, runners and spectators alike. Organization is top-notch, and I had only a couple of quibbles: For those staying in Venice, there is a 20-minute walk from the bus station to the shuttle bus pick-up point to the race start. The new People Mover cable-car covers that route but doesn't open until an hour after the shuttle buses are gone. The race organizers have promised to ask the Venice Authority if they can open up the People Mover early next year. At the race start, it was quite cold this year, so a lot of runners elected to wait or even start in cover-ups, but the official manning the corral entrance wouldn't let them through, thinking they still had to change. For the Italian speakers, they could explain and that was ok, but for some of the foreign competitors, it got a bit confused. This year's race (the 25th) was scheduled to take a loop through St. Mark's Square for this year only, but at the last minute the organizers had to change the course due to a flood forecast. I was right at the back of the start corral and I missed the announcement, so the route change came as a bit of a surprise. Minor quibbles aside, the race was a total delight for me and I can't wait for next year. Typical of the entire experience was when I was sitting at the vaporetto stop post-race, waiting for the boat back to my apartment and munching through the contents of my goody-bag: an old lady came in and I got up to offer my seat. Seeing my track suit and finishers medal, she smilingly insisted that I stay seated and rest my weary legs.

We stayed in Mestre, which made it much much easier to get to the race start on the day and for getting to the expo and airports. On the morning of the race, it was a bit chaotic getting to the race start town, more so from Venice itself. Once you got there, there wasn't a lot of time to get ready. The queues to the toilets (too few) were very long. There wasn't much time to drop bags at the lorries, so that people had to strip off while waiting to go to the toilets while others volunteered to go to the bag-drop/lorries (which left half an hour before race start) People were in a panic trying to get their bags on before they drove off. Then you had to join back in line for the loos. The route was lovely and there was plenty of space to be able to run smoothly at your own pace. Lots of pace balloons, which were easy to follow for those who wanted them. Great crowd support through the towns with traditional drumming and flag throwing as well as rock bands every 5 miles or so. If you have a dislike of bridges, this is not for you. I have a bridge phobia and had a nightmare time. I had asked a previous poster about this and he said I would be fine. But the bridge across the grand canal is like scaffolding and fireman's ladders and it moves a lot. The smaller bridges were ramped, and as it was raining at the end, it got quite slippery, so you need to be careful. The race leader slipped on the third to last bridge and ended up coming second overall as a result. We didn't get through St. Marks Square because it was flooded but the course had been adjusted through the park earlier in the route. Medal was huge metal piece shaped in a "25" for the anniversary. Well organized at end of race. Hot tea and hot pasta and drink available after the clothing changing area. Bring money or a travel card and pay to go on the usual vaporetto to your destination. There is free transportation but there were quite a number of people queueing for the free boat and many of them were shivering severely with cold in the wind and rain for over 20 minutes before they got on. Get on far more quickly on the regular service and get back to somewhere warm promptly. My finishing time was texted promptly to my phone. Overall, the crowds were very supportive and all aspects of organization - from well stocked expo to any questions - were promptly answered. My medical form did not arrive so I just signed a form when picking up my number. NO problem. Very good marathon overall.

Flat course in a nice environment. This was my second marathon, so I'm not experienced, but what I liked more is that the number of runners is limited to 6,000, so everyone can easily get his pace from the beginning. I ran with the pacer for the entire course, and they brought me just below the target time (3:50). The end in Venice in the last 2 KM is spectacular, and pays back all of the pain. The 14 small bridges at the end are not an issue, as you are at the end inside Venice, which will give you the extra energy you need. Also, the final 2 KM are on a narrow path, and also the bridges are very narrow, which brings you very close to the supporting crowd. If you have accommodations in Venice and aren't staying with family, be sure that your credit card is fully loaded - it's very expensive (but worth it).

Venice 2009 was a point-to-point race, starting in Stra on the mainland and finishing on the islands of Venice. Only the last 5 KM or so are in Venice itself, which is probably for the best, Venice being what it is! The course was beautiful and mostly flat, the spectator support was intermittent but enthusiastic, and the organization was excellent. Overall, this is a race well worth running. I managed a PR despite not running my race as planned, so I was very happy with the experience. Some details: The race expo was held in an inflatable building at Parco San Giuliano in Mestre, right at the foot of the Ponte della Liberta (the causeway to Venice). It included a smoothly run race-kit pickup with excellent goody bag and various vendors and advertisers for other upcoming races. The park is easy to reach by bus from either Venice or Mestre and there seemed to be plenty of parking. On race day there were buses to the start from the Troncheto area of Venice and from Mestre. If you're staying in Venice, you'll want to make sure you have a good water-bus connection to Tronchetto or you could be facing quite a pre-race walk. Then there's the wait for the bus, about a 70% chance that you'll end up standing on the 30-minute bus ride, and the usual standing around at the start. In total, I was on my feet for almost three hours before the gun which made for tired legs; however, I'm not sure how it could have been organized differently. The starting area was very well structured - get off of the bus, use the change room if necessary, go through the toilet line (plentiful toilets), drop off your bag at the trucks, and enter the (controlled access) race corrals. There were lots of signs and continuous announcements in Italian, English, German and at least one or two other languages in case you weren't sure what to do next. The start itself was about 20 minutes late. Apparently the entire race is broadcast on Italian television and the start is at the mercy of the TV crews; this was explicitly mentioned in the race info packet, so it wasn't a surprise. The first 28 KM or so ran through a succession of towns and semi-rural areas, mostly along the Brenta River. This part of the course is almost completely flat. There were plenty of spectators in the towns, but few between. There were bands playing every kilometer or two - mostly rock oldies, but also some punk, some rap, and some high-school brass. Refreshment stations were as advertised: every 5 KM, bottled water and cups of PowerAde, plus fruit and cookies at later stations. At around 29 KM, the course did a loop through Parco San Guiliano, and then navigated the on-ramps to the Ponte della Liberta. This section includes some mild hills and was where I fell completely off my planned time; however, seeing the Venice skyline in the distance did give a big boost and made it easier to struggle across the causeway. Once into Venice itself, the course wound initially through a near-deserted industrial area (which was a bit disconcerting) before eventually coming out onto Venice's southern waterfront. There's nothing like this in the world, and even through the pain in my legs I could really appreciate the unique and beautiful place I was running through. As advertised, there were 14 bridges to cross in the last three kilometers. All of these had been fitted with ramps at an eight-degree (or less) incline, so they weren't too difficult to navigate. Most impressive was the enormous pontoon bridge that had been put in over the end of the Grand Canal just for the marathon. The "N bridges to go" signs in front of each bridge were either helpful or maddening, depending how your legs were doing by that point. The finishers' area was also very well run with minimal congestion. The medal was a bit disappointing; an interesting, uniquely Venetian design, but a bit on the lightweight side with a very skinny ribbon. One thing I did particularly like about the finish was the feeding approach: rather than scrounging in boxes or having to queue, every finisher was handed a plastic bag with a bottle of water, a bottle of PowerAde, a small carton of chocolate soy drink, and several pieces of fruit. There was also hot sweet tea and pasta available just past the finish area. Would I do it again? You bet!

This is one to make sure all marathon runners tick off. I booked a small hotel in Mestre on the mainland just around the corner from the train station. Good place, as it is much cheaper and easier to get from the airport and where the expo is. On race morning, buses picked us up from the station and took us to the start in Stra (approximately 20 miles away). With a 6,000-participant cap and six starting corrals, it never was too crowed. Running back along the river Brenta is flat, and then a bit up and down through Parco San Giuliano. It all starts to happen when you hit the 3840 meter causeway bridge to Venice. Looking at Venice getting closer is exceptional, but it's not until you finally put a foot on the island that it really begins to happen and massive support starts. With the sea on your right, and ramps of eight degrees erected for runners over 14 canals and a pontoon bridge over the Grand Canal with people in gondolas giving support, this is not the atmosphere of other marathons. Phenomenal support is received past Piazza San Marco, the basilica and onto the finish at Riva Setta Martiri. At the end there was a free water bus and bus back to the station in Mestre. Well organized, and a finisher medal that is not like any other that I have, with a nautical Venetian theme.

This was an easy and beautiful marathon! I was delighted to run the '08 Venice Marathon for many reasons - especially because it's very flat, the organization is very good, and the Palladio Villas are great (even if I was too tired and concentrated to see them during the race). I also had the chance to spend a few days in the Venice area after the marathon. I was was lucky to sleep in the countryside, close to the race start. I'd like to improve my time (3:25), maybe in two years' time. Good luck, guys! Have fun! Viva Venezia!! - Rob

My advice to anyone considering this one is to pick a hotel in Mestre, and the closer to the station the better, as this is where the shuttle buses to the highly efficient expo and to the race start in Stra originate. The start was a little congested, but I was running at my own pace by the 1K mark. The first 28K are fast and flat, with very few sharp turns. It's reasonably scenic and well supported through the villages, with plenty of bands. There are a few gentle hills through the park in Mestre and some more as you negotiate the motorways that lead to the causeway. Once on the causeway you have Venice in your sights, which I found to be a tremendous lift just when I needed it most. Then you head into Venice itself, and 5K of cobbles and bridges with jelly legs. The biggest of the bridges is the temporary one that they build across the Grand Canal just for the day. Charging down it into St. Mark's Square in pursuit of a PB has to be one of my best marathon memories. I was dozy enough to lose my medal. I e-mailed the organizers and they sent a replacement straight away. It's a great marathon and a great weekend away.

There cannot be many greater finish areas than in Venice. Although you only get to run in Venice for the final 5K, it is worth all the effort. And the rest of the route is mainly pleasant. Apart from the chaotic scenes outside of Mestre Station at 7 a.m., where hundreds of runners tried to board the trickle of buses to get to the start at Stra, every other aspect of the organization was text-book. From number pick-up at the expo, to the chip removal at the finish, I experienced only good organization and friendly helpers.

Let me start by saying that this marathon has spoiled me forever. There are so many reasons that this is the best marathon I've ever run... but here are the five that I wish all other marathons would adopt. 1) Bottled water and sports drinks. You don't have to worry about drowning yourself while drinking from flimsy paper cups at race pace. Nobody enjoys drinking water through their mouth and nose at the same time. 2) Only marathon runners... no relays, 5K or half-marathon runners. You don't have to worry about people sprinting past you at mile 18 simply because their team handed off to them. Everyone around you is in for the long haul. 3) Fast course. Only a few hills and small bridges at the end. Go for a fast time! Everyone around you probably will be. 4) The race is capped at 7,000 people. Too many races invite too many people trying to be the biggest, but their logistics can't handle the load. Venice is setup to handle 7,000 people... so that's the total number of runners allowed. Bravo. 5) There is an honest-to-goodness chute. The importance of this cannot be underestimated. I'm not talking about some meaningless suggestion, ropes lying on the ground, or signs saying, "Pretty please, start here if you want to run sub-3:15" (only to have guys pulling kegs of beer push ahead of you). There are color-coordinated bibs and fences and volunteers steering people in the right direct. The result? I hit my stride early and by 800 meters was in with a group of peers. Try that at Frankfurt or Berlin. I don't want to sound elitist... but seriously, this marathon should be held as the example of how to organize a race and an event. Sure, the crowds should have been louder. Sure, only the last 5K really are in Venice. But I think that's unimportant compared to everything that this race gets right.

This was my first marathon and it has been a great experience. the organization was superb, from the registration until the end. The course was fantastic, flat except 3 big ascensions at the end. The 13 bridges after the 40th KM are a great challenge. Overall, it's been great.

I ran this marathon for the first time in autumn 2006. Weather was fine, 7-12C, and the sun was shining. The route was beautiful for the first 25KM and unique after that to the end. San Giuliano Park was fine, then came the long, long, long bridge to the island, which is also a unique place. Last 2 kilometers were rough, but small bridges helped a little - at least mentally. Very nice competition - I recommend this race.

I ran Venice in 2005. It's the flattest marathon I've run, which for a 50 year-old part-time runner is a joy. There's not much atmosphere as you run towards Venice itself, but once over the pontoon, the fun starts. The organizers place huge wooden running boards over each of the bridges over the canals that really flatten them out, allowing the runners to really enjoy the sights. The sense of history crossing all the bridges as you run the final 2 miles into the center of Venice is fantastic. The finish itself just outside St. Mark's Square has got to be the best final 300 yards there are!

This was my ninth marathon, and my hotel was in Venice, which meant I had to leave at 5:45 a.m. to make it to the start on time. They had the usual long queues for the restrooms near the start and a half-mile walk to the holding pens. The route itself was quite boring until you reached Venice, which had 14 bridges in the last mile. Not the best marathon I have ever done but worth doing nonetheless. Venice is very expensive to stay/eat in, so take your credit cards....

How cool is this race? Two thumbs up. These Europeans can run fast. It was a race from the first mile to the last. The new course layout was wonderfully scenic. The small towns rang their church bells while the townspeople looked curiously at us. Here are some points as you consider this wonderful run: 1. PR - This is a great course for a flat and fast race because everyone else running alongside of you is moving. 2. Cost - You can go high end and stay in Venice for $$$ or go to just out of town for 50%-70% less. Either way, you can still easily get into Venice for some great pictures and romance before the race. It'll cost you about as much as the NYC Marathon. 3. Water Stops - Great aid stations but placed every 5K versus every 1-2 miles like in the USA. Adjust accordingly. 4. Mile markers - Throw them out; you are in Europe, so adjust to kilometer markers. It confused me for 20K-40K but I figured it out by using the force. 5. First-timers - Not a good first-time race because most of the runners finish in under 4:30. You may be left alone on the course if your first-time finish is later. 6. Runners - Mostly male (90%) and fast. Reminded me of my old cross-country days as a teenager. No purple TNT singlets here. Real fun to go back in time to my racing youth. 7. Pre-race - porta johns that flush with water. Cool. No-frills start area but with the feel of a bunch of running clubs gathering for a long run together. Hot tea before the race was unusual but welcomed. Weather was 60 F and overcast the whole race. 8. Apparel - I looked way too American with my white shirt and grey shorts. I never saw so many bright colors both in the clothing and shoes. 9. Post-race - Kind of like a Roman bath atmosphere, with the finishers just hanging out. 10. Bridges - Yup, 16 in all during the last 2 miles. Add 1-2 minutes per mile to your pace to get over all of them. You'll need it. 11. Pace Groups - Fun. I usually avoid them but this time I jumped into the 3:50 group because I couldn't pace myself with the kilometer markings. Well worth it. I was very entertained with the singing of Italian songs by the leader. Caution: They finished at 3:45. 12. Value - Depends. For me, yes, because my wife loves Venice. But I dropped some bucks so I'm unlikely to do it again anytime soon. But the race, the charming city of Venice and the great shops/resturants were well worth the trip. Try a long weekend to keep the overall cost low. This is a reward marathon.

The Venice Marathon was my 4th city marathon, and if I'm honest, my 4th in terms of preference. The expo is in Mestre, so if you have a hotel in Venice, it's a trek. Mestre is like Coventry or Dudley (pretty bleak, for those not familiar with Dudley or Coventry)!! The start itself is in Stra, about 26 miles from Venice!! But it is pretty enough. The route is well supported along the river Brenta, sadly back into bleak Mestre. Sadly on the day I ran fog had hit the lagoon so the run over the main bridge had no view of Venice. Once in Venice the run was good and the dreaded bridges were good fun (something a bit different). The finish was very well supported and the t-shirt was really good and actually one you could wear!!!

My fifth marathon. Excellent course, flat, scenic and well marshaled, well supported all along the course with local villages out in force and a series of rock bands blasting out a variety of music. Well organized with shuttle buses to the start and from the finish back to the start; buses were a little chaotic on occasions but this is Italy and it adds flavor to the day. The bridges over the small canals at the finish were painful, but the scenery and atmosphere made up for it. Good course and organization, and in a city like no other. A wonderful experience, worth the pain and long training runs.

As a beginner to marathon running - what an excellent venue. The organization, crowd support along the route and the encouragement at the end were all tremendous. All the pain suffered along the route was worth it just to see beautiful Venice at the end. Thank you to everyone for their support along the route.

Just came back from Venice and really enjoyed the run. The whole weekend was great. The expo was a bit far out, but ok to find and very well organized (I forgot to bring my letter of confirmation but this was not a problem). Goody bag was good. Getting the buses at the flower market was a bit unorganised but when we got to the starting area it was all fine. The course was very supported with local people out offering cakes, sweets, apples, and oranges. Some were banging saucepans with wooden spoons to keep us going! It was a great atmosphere along the route. When we got into Venice and ran over the first bridge with Venice all to my left and the Grand Canal to my right, it was the best feeling. I just soaked up the feeling and having Nessun Dorma on my MP3 player made it perfect. This was my fourth marathon and usually at this stage I am struggling a bit, but with a great place like Venice it took the sting out of those last few hundred meters.

What a wonderful place to run my first marathon. I had no problems with the organization and was able to register on Friday evening and enjoy a day sightseeing on the Saturday. The race is as described, mostly flat and fast with a good atmosphere along most of the course. But watch out for the 'never-ending' bridge into Venice, it really is as bad as everyone says. However, once you're in Venice itself, just enjoy the sights, every bridge you cross is one nearer the finish line and each of them gives a unique view of the city. Overall, a wonderful experience that was well worth all the months of training and pain. Highly recommended.

I ran this race in 2004. The race itself starts 26 miles outside of Venice in a village called Stra. If you have accommodation in Venice, make sure you get a seat on the bus from Venice to Stra, as it's a good half-hour drive. Support in the villages along the Brenta River, Marghera & the finish was very good, but I expected better support in Mestre. The rock bands along the course were also very good. I didn't expect to hear Black Sabbath on a marathon course, what a bonus!

This was my first and I now realize it was a good choice. I took the "My First Marathon" option which was excellent if a little expensive. In addition to the training plan (in English or Italian) this gave me access to a reserved area at the start and at the finish - well worth the money for a newbie with no idea. I also chose a hotel in Mestre with a bus transfer to the start. This turned out to be good idea because that's where all the pre-race stuff takes place and its easy enough to get in and out of Venice for some tourism. The course is great at the beginning, a bit dull in the middle and then with 10k to go, you see Venice at the far end of the Liberty Bridge. It gives you the lift you need to get to the end of that endless bridge, and then running through the streets of Venice is (almost) a pleasure. I would recommend it to anyone, and if it's your first then the Julia Jones training plan really works.

This was my first marathon and I have to say that VENICE is the place to do it. This course is mostly flat but the little bridges with ramps are killers! They are close together and at the end of the race... your legs are cramping. DON'T DRINK DOUBLE-ESPRESSO COFFEE before the race! Big mistake!! I signed up for the MY FIRST MARATHON and it was wonderful... Organization of bib pick-up was terrible!!! The instructions to get there were wrong and if you don't speak Italian... you waste a lot of energy. The bib pickup and pasta party is really far (1 1/2h) from VENEZIA (you have to take the water-bus, the bus and walk until you guess where they are hiding the tent!). But the pacers: GREAT WORK GUYS! The support from the team for My1stMarathon -- WONDERFUL!!! But there were no medals waiting for us slow people... someone stole them!! ;(! Would I do it again... absolutely if I was still in Europe next year!!!

The course was beautiful, the weather gorgeous, the crowds noisy and everything went very smoothly!! I could not wait to get to the Venice proper in the end, but was too tired to really enjoy anything except the thought of finishing soon... Information received online was adequate and I had no problems finding everything. Just make sure you get a seat on the bus in the morning (no problem if you go on bus arranged by travel office). Also, there was a very long queue to the vaporetto after the finish line - find an alternative stop if you can. I would recommend this to anyone interested in beautiful scenery and friendly locals!

Venice was my 3rd marathon, and probably my least favorite. The first 15k were quite wonderful - the landscape, the crowds, everything. The next 15k, until Mestre, were not so wonderful. The course runs through a rather bleak industrial area with absolutely no spectators. Mestre could have been fun to run through, but I’m a slowpoke (5-hour marathon) and by the time I arrived, the bands had stopped playing and I could count the number of people cheering on one hand. After arriving in Venice, we are run through the port - not the scenery I expected and again no spectators. Eventually you do make it to the more beautiful parts of Venice really for only about 3K - the bridges weren't so bad. After 5 hours of running and a few bruised toes later, I cross the finish line only to discover that they had ran out of medals!! It may not seem like a big deal now, but at the time - after the emotional and physical exhaustion of a difficult race - I was completely crushed. They said they would mail it to me, but I’ll believe it when I see it. As for other aspects of race organization, I found the bib pickup to smooth and convenient, as well as the transport to the start of the race. There are no potties along the course, which is kind of a hassle for women - but there were always ample supplies of water and Gatorade at each station (every 5k). In the end, it was good race - but definitely not my favorite and I would not do it again or recommend it to my friends.

The 2003 Venice Marathon is definitely the most beautiful marathon I've run. Most of the initial 30K of this point-to-point wind alongside the water from Stra to Mestre. There you spend a short time in the city before crossing the 4-kilometer bridge into Venice itself. The final 6 kilometers are every bit as exceptional as you expect, both in terms of the scenery as of the many bridges you hop over. The organization is good but just that little bit... Italian. The expo to pick up your bib is remote and a bit chaotic, however the volunteers are very friendly. Don't be shy, smile, talk to everybody and you'll be fine. The shuttle buses to the start are OK if you can sit down for the 30 minute ride, which only 1/3 of the people can do. Supply of refreshments was impeccable (the water comes in little bottles, which I like). The spectators are very friendly in the towns you pass early on, and some of the bands along the course will really pump you up. In Venice itself people seem to care less, but that can perhaps be expected as most of them are tourists. Overall I recommend Venice for the marathon adventurer looking for a fun and well organised race in an ideal place to add a couple of days vacation. A final warning to the tourist: Venice IS an expensive place...

Venice 2002 was my 6th marathon -- my fastest time and my favorite marathon. Beautiful, flat course -- along the scenic Brenta Canal the first 20K. The first 15 miles or so are along narrow roads, so I was running in a steamy pack of Italians (Was I the only one who'd showered that morning?) for the first half. It was delightful to be cheered on by the middle-aged, church going Italians in the small towns about mid-way through the race. Few women runners, so when they yelled, 'Bravissima!' I knew they were cheering ME on! Crossing the pontoon bridge into Venice proper was a thrill. The 12 little bridges, however, turned out to be much tougher (all in the last 1.5 miles) than I'd expected. Save a little energy for those short, steep uphills. Fabulous crowd of locals and tourists lining the Grand Canal the entire way to the finish line. Chaos at the finish line. Your friends can't get up there to see you cross the line, and there are no fixed spots where you can find people afterwards. What a fabulous race, though. I had gone out fast, so I was dragging the last few miles. Several times, when I'd, regrettably, stopped to walk, other runners would say, 'Vai! Vai!' (Come on, you're almost there.) Encouraging me to keep going. Very friendly, supportive group of runners. Would I run it again? In a heartbeat!

Organization has improved a lot, and this year the race was nearly perfect. No confusion at the expo like last year. And the start was smoother because runners were allocated in the right corrals. I'll give a ***** rating to the organizers. This race is simply magical. Marc.

Of the three marathons I have run (Athens, Venice, and Paris) this one was the most fun. I loved the enthusiasm of Italians, Venice is beautiful, the snacks and drinks were plentiful, the route was flat and mostly pretty, fan support and dj's were encouraging. The ramps on the canals would not have been bad if not for the people who came to a dead stop on them in front of me. The prices of the Expo were great, only place I've been to with discounts for runners. I never received my pictures from the race (three requests later) and that is my only complaint. Well, ok, maybe my pasta party expectations were high since this is Italy, after all. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this race, especially if you don't enjoy huge crowds.