Rome-Ostia Half Marathon

Rome-Ostia Half Marathon (Italian: Roma-Ostia Mezza Maratona) is an international road running event held annually at the beginning of March in Rome, the capital of Italy. Covering the classic half marathon distance of 21.097 kilometers, the race starts from the EUR (Esposizione Universale di Roma) district and finishes on the western coast at Ostia Beach. First organized in 1974, it is among the most popular half marathon events in Italy.

The race was first held on March 31, 1974, initially covering a distance of 28 kilometers. In its early years, it was organized under the name "Campionato Italiano Interbancario di Maratonina" as a competition for the banking sector. During the first five editions, 313 general participants and 212 bank employee runners took part. Over time, the event opened to the general public and adopted the standard half marathon distance of 21.097 kilometers. The race is organized by Gruppo Sportivo Bancari Romani and holds a Label Race status on the World Athletics calendar. It is also supported by FIDAL (Italian Athletics Federation) and the Municipality of Rome.

The course begins near Palalottomatica in Rome and follows Via Cristoforo Colombo, ending at Piazzale Cristoforo Colombo in Ostia. Approximately 17 kilometers of the course are run on a straight line. As of 2025, the course layout was updated by removing the previously challenging U-turn section and adding new streets in the EUR district. The added streets, such as Viale dell’Umanesimo, Via del Ciclismo, and Viale della Tecnica, are wide and flat. The total elevation gain is about 155 meters. Runners start from a slightly retracted starting point and complete a single-loop, fast course. A detailed map is available via the official link.

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• Participants must be at least 18 years old. Italian citizens must have a valid FIDAL or EPS license and provide a current health certificate. International participants can either present an athletics license valid in their home country or enter under a "touristic-sportive" category by submitting an identity document and a waiver form. In this case, they are not eligible for official rankings or prizes.
• For the 2025 event, early registration fees started at €30, gradually increasing to €55. Registration is conducted online via the official website or by bank transfer. Fees are non-refundable, but registered participants may transfer their entry to another runner or defer it to the following year.
• Participants are assigned to six starting grids (griglie) based on their declared best times, with staggered starting times. General rankings are based on real time, while elite athletes' rankings are determined by gun time. The wheelchair race starts at 8:50 AM, followed by the elite runners at 9:00 AM, and the remaining groups at 15-minute intervals.
• The maximum time limit is 3 hours and 30 minutes. Time cut-offs are set at 1 hour 40 minutes for the 10 km mark and 2 hours 30 minutes for the 15 km mark. Participants exceeding these limits are removed from the course. There are three water and drink stations along the route and one sponge station. Runners are given numbered bags transported from the start to the finish. Shuttle services are also available.

Timing is recorded via disposable electronic chips integrated into race bibs. Split times are recorded at the 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km marks. Finishers receive a medal. Cash prizes are awarded in both the overall and Italian citizen categories. Additionally, the top 100 male and top 50 female non-elite finishers receive sports equipment prizes. Rankings are also provided for different age group categories.

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As of April 21, 2025, approximately 13,000 participants had registered for the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon. Of these, 38% were international runners, and 33% were women, reflecting the event’s broad international appeal.

Historical Records

• Men’s Course Record: Sebastian Sawe (Kenya), 58:02 – March 6, 2022
• Women’s Course Record: Joyce Chepkemoi (Kenya), 1:06:35 – 2023
• Notable Italian Record: Stefano Baldini’s 1:00:56 in 1997.

The Rome-Ostia Half Marathon is organized by A.S.D. Gruppo Sportivo Bancari Romani. Full information about the race is available on the official website: www.romaostia.it.