Rome Half Marathon (Roma-Ostia)
Début March 2026 Rome, Province of Rome, Lazio, Italy 21km Road runningRoma Ostia – The Rome Half Marathon: All roads lead to it
The Rome Half Marathon has established itself as Italy’s must-attend event. Also known as the “Roma-Ostia,” it is a European race icon, rich in history and grandeur.
Born in March 1974, the Rome Half Marathon originally covered 28 kilometers. The essence of this event lies in its course, which runs by landmarks like the Roman Forum and the Piazza Navona. The race kicks off in the EUR district, south of Rome. Less familiar to tourists, this area, built in the late 1930s by Mussolini, is historically insightful. Mussolini intended to showcase fascist ideology by designing modern and futuristic buildings there. Runners will then continue to Ostia, the closest seaside resort to Rome, via the “Via Cristoforo Colombo,” a straight 17km line. Although seemingly straightforward, this road has earned the nickname “the 15th-kilometer wall,” a grim test due to its deceptive incline that turns into a true challenge for runners.
The Rome Half Marathon was the brainchild of Luciano Duchi, an athletics enthusiast and an integral member of the Italian Athletics Federation. His goal was to popularize road racing in a country where Italians were then passionate about track racing. Over the years, the Roma-Ostia has grown into a full-fledged institution for road racing in Europe. This half marathon combines historical heritage with sporting challenge, offering a unique course that traverses iconic Roman sites before culminating at the Tyrrhenian Sea.
With a route designed to challenge both amateurs and elite runners, the event has become a staple in the running calendar, attracting up to 12,000 registrants each March. It is also an ideal race for international “elite” runners seeking to deliver strong performances and qualify for other races like the Boston or New York Marathons.
KEY POINTS
- The “Roma Ostia” Half Marathon was born on March 31, 1974, initially covering a 28-kilometer distance. Back then, 313 athletes participated, including 212 members from the Gruppo Sportivo Bancari Romani. Today, over 12,000 entrants stride through the Roman streets.
- Since 2001 for men with Giuliano Battocletti and since 2011 for women with Anna Incerti, no Italian has won the Roma-Ostia. Records were set in the same year, 2022, by Kenyan Sebastian Sawe with a time of 58 minutes and 2 seconds, and Kenyan Irene Kimais with a time of 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 3 seconds.
- The Roma Ostia is famed for its diversity and equality in the peloton: there’s a strong female presence at this event. Unlike other races, an equal number of women and men have won this half marathon!
©️ Semi-Marathon de Rome
