XXIII FIRENZE MARATHON – 26th November 2006 – Running in Florence

It\’s the fascination of centuries of arts, history and culture which accompanies you step by step along the 42,195 km of the Florence Marathon. A unique event for thousands of sportsmen and of running fans coming from all over the world which takes place every year punctually at the end of november.
Last year the marathon has been transmitted live for the first time on Italian TV RAI 3.The successful last edition was concluded with a participation record of 6050 marathoners coming from 54 nations.

The Florence Marathon is the most important athletic event in Tuscany and together with the marathons of Venice, Rome and Milan, one of the most important marathon races of Italy. With more than 6.000 participants it is placed in the 20 top list of the international marathons.

The Florence Marathon was inaugurated by the victory of Orlando Pizzolato,two times winner of the New York City Marathon, and had during its history many other internationally known runners. The course record was set in 2001 by Daniel Kirwa Too, who crossed the finish line in 2.10.38. This shows that the route of the Florence Marathon is not only one of the most beautiful in the world, but it is also fast.
The women\’s course record was set by Helena Javornik, who won the Florence Marathon 2002 in a time of 2.28.15.

The Florence Marathon takes place in one of the most fascinating cities in the world and its route takes the runners through the heart of it, filled with monuments and artistic sights. The race starts off at Piazzale Michelangiolo, leaving the breathtaking Ponte Vecchio behind. Half course runs within the historical town centre and a great part across the Cascine Monument and National Park and the Florentine\‘ districts.
Besides the first 3 km which are lightely downhill, the route is entirely flat and lies along tarmac roads, characteristics which the marathoners appreciate.
Weather conditions are usually good, so that they contribute to achieve the best performance.

Once again the heart of the Florence Marathon will be the athletic stadium “Luigi Ridolfi”, at Campo di Marte. The stadium in fact will contain for the second time the Firenze Marathon Expo’. More than two thousand square meters devoted to welcome the athletes, where they can collect the start numbers, as well as the usual fair with its many related events as the technical convention. The Firenze Marathon Expo\‘ represent itself as an enjoyable rendezvous for sportsmen, athletes and people interessted in fitness and sport tourism,with more than 15.000 visitors in the last editions.

Firenze Marathon will give the opportunity to many athletes to enjoy not only a big sport event, remember that the whole of Florence will be all around the runners; a city unique in the world together with its marathon united for an unforgettable feeling: to lose oneself in a place where art, culture and history will accompany the athletes step by step.The Florence Marathon is the ideal occasion to visit the town in a period like the Christmas season in which the city isn\’t logistically occupied by other events and can offer more service at best prices.
The event welcomes always more participants from all over the world (2200 coming from 54 different nations).

The Firenze Marathon is inserted in the official international marathon calendar of AIMS and IAAF and has obtained the IAAF permit 2006.
The Firenze Marathon is Qualifier for the IAAF World Championship 2007 in Osaka (JPN).