XXIV Florence Marathon: Di Cecco, Caimmi and Sicari, the Italians prepare for Beijing – 8000 athletes on the starting line -(XXIV Florence Marathon, Sunday 25 November 2007, 9.15 a.m. Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence, Italy)

Everything is ready for the 24th Florence Marathon. At 9 a.m. on Sunday, 25 November a new record number of 8000 athletes will take to the road. On 15 November, the latest day to apply to participate, there were 7.927 entries, 4.960 Italian and 2.967 international athletes. All told, 6.715 men and 1.212 women, from 50 countries. This number exceeds last year\’s record of 7.600 and places this Florentine event among the great international marathons, in Italy second only to Rome.

In fact, once again this event, organized by the staff of the Florence Marathon, together with the sports division of the Town Council, the Tuscan Regional Council, FIDAL, CONI and AIMS, and thanks to the fundamental contribution made by 1.700 volunteers, is the confirmation that this is one of the favorite destinations of international athletes. There are more than 3000 athletes coming from outside Italy, French, American, German and Austrian numerically in that order. This is the merit of an event that combines a fast and very smooth flowing route to the artistic, cultural and historic attractions of a unique town. This is an extraordinary result from the point of view of tourist economy, and one that suggests that some 12.000 people may be staying in Florence for an average of 3 days.

The Top Runners

A springboard towards Beijing 2008. This is the primary interpretation of the 24th edition of the Florence Marathon and of Italian participation. In the category Men, Alberico Di Cecco (33 years old, Carabinieri Bologna PB 2h.08\’02\“, Rome 2005) and Daniele Caimmi (35 years old, Fiamme Gialle, .PB 2h08\’59\“, Milan 2002) and in the category Women Vincenza Sicari (28 years old, Cs Army, PB 2h30\’35\“, Padua 2007) who was the winner in Santa Croce last year. Luciano Gigliotti who selects athletes for the Italian teams might think a convincing victory in Florence could represent for them a candidature for the next Olympics. Also in category Men, Denis Curzi (32 years old, Carabinieri Bologna, PB 2h11\’17\“), Paul Ngeny Kipkemboi (Ken, 29 years old PB 1h01\’44\“ in the half marathon, Prato 2002), Kennedy Kemeli Kemei (Ken, 29 years old PB 2h13\’36\“, Florence 2006), Paul Lopio Lomol (Ken, 29 years old, PB 2h13\’16\“, Zurich 2007), and the two \“hares\“ from Kenya: Erik Chirchir (25 years old (pb 1h.02\’27\“ in the half marathon and Samson Cheboswony Kipruto (22 years old, PB 2h17\’58\“ Salonicco 2007). In the category Women, keep an eye out for the Ethiopian Hirut Legesse Abera (25 years old, PB 2h37\’21\“ Salonicco 2007) and the Estonian Sigrid Valdre (35 years old PB 2h43\’30\“).

The route

What makes the Florentine run unique is the route that goes through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, allowing glimpses of the countryside and monuments that have made the town famous. A route studied with the organizing staff of the Florence Marathon, the traffic sector of the Town Council of Florence, the Municipal Police, the Transport Authority of Florence and the Sports Division of the Town Council to allow speed and smoothness, and to reduce the inconvenience and impact of the event on traffic in town. The starting point from the marvelous panoramic terrace of Piazzale Michelangelo, with its unforgettable views over Florence, lends a first taste of the magic of the route awaiting the athletes. From there, the route winds down through the Cascine Park, the historic center with the Cathedral Square, Piazza Signoria and many other beautiful places before finishing in the majestic solemnity of Piazza S. Croce. The route is flat, except for the departure that goes very slightly downhill, and is always on asphalted roads, a characteristic appreciated by all athletes.

The Marathon televised

Again this year, the Marathon will be televised directly by the state TV service RAI from 9.15 to 12 a.m., courtesy of Tgs – Raisport (the sports sector of the state TV). It will also be broadcasted on the radio on the frequency of Lady Radio. A synthesis of the race will be transmitted on Tuesday 27 at 10.15 p.m. by Rete Oro for the Lazio Region and on SKY channel 905, while Wednesday 28 November at 10 p.m. on the same SKY channel, the programme Marathon will feature extensive coverage.

Records

The last edition of the Florence Marathon saw the young athlete from Kenya, James Kutto, triumph at record speed, 2h08\’40\“, thus cancelling the previous 2001 record of 2h10\’38\“ of his fellow countryman, Daniel Kirwa Too. In the category Women, a success of the Italian Vincenza Sicari in 2h34\’52\“, while the Women\’s record by the Slovenian Helena Javornik in 2002 is still unbeaten.

The Marathon Expo

Once again the Athletic Stadium \’Luigi Ridolfi\‘ in the Campo di Marte zone of town will host the Florence Marathon. This structure, in fact, will host FIDAL for the second time in its indoor space, and the Marathon Expo in the adjacent military gym. More than 5000 square meters to welcome athletes and to consign their numbers, and with the usual exhibition/fair, and lots of side events. The Marathon Expo will be open Friday 23 and Saturday 24 November from 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Family Run and Solidarity

There will be a Family Run, a non-competitive race for children, young people and families. A happy sport kermess open to everyone, that will take the place of the MiniRun of previous years, for students of primary and middle schools, and open also to families. The Family Run is about 2 km. and leaves, and arrives, in Piazza Santa Croce. Participation is free for children under 14 years of age, while for adults there is a small charge of 5 Euro that will be assigned to the Tuscan Association for Sufferers of Asma and Allergies and to Federasma, the Federation of Italian Associations of Patients. The Family Run, organized by the Florence Marathon and Asics Athletics Florence Marathon, together with the Education and Sport Divisions of the Florence Town Council and the Regional Council of Tuscany, will again this year be part of the calendar of events of the Annual Festivities of Tuscany, whose theme this year will be \“Young talents and magnificent excellence\“.

Info Point and Honda Italia

There will be an Info Point of the XXIV Florence Marathon (open every day from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and up until Saturday 24 November in Piazza San Giovanni) to give information about the race and the route, and about roads that will be closed to traffic. Honda Italy will be present in this space to exhibit their latest models.

Insure your time

\’Insure your time\‘ with the Groupama Insurance assistents. Once again this year there will be a \’pace-maker\‘ service with groups of three athletes, one every 15\‘ between 3 and 5 hours of the race, who will help to guide runners to achieve their timing objectives. It will also be possible to order a personal \’pace-maker\‘ (ask the organizers).

Marathon and the town bus service (ATAF)

A recent agreement between Florence Marathon and ATAF has produced an important novelty this year. All the participants in the Marathon who are wearing their Marathon numbers can travel free on ATAF buses on Sunday 25 November. During the day, there will be the usual shuttle service from Lungarno Pecori Giraldi to Piazzale Michelangelo, from 7 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. At the Marathon Expo, open Saturday 23 and Saturday 24 November, there will be an ATAF space where you can ask for information and hear about the new proposals of ATAF for transportation in Florence You can buy ATAF bus tickets, as well as tickets for the Florence Sightseeing red double-decker bus.

Florence Marathon for Ecology

The Marathon has renewed its agreement with Quadrifoglio (the company that deals with ecological services in the area of Florence), whose operators, together with volunteers will assure the collection of rubbish and the differentiated retrieval of plastic.

Sponsors and Partners

There are a number of sponsors whose help and support is fundamental to the success and growth of Florence Marathon:
Asics, Honda Cars Italy, Groupama Insurance, Enervit, Nature Valley, Suunto, Radio DeeJay, Fastum Gel, Banca Toscana, Bartolini Corriere Espresso, Mondo Convenienza, San Benedetto, InTempo, Qualyline, Ptd and Armatrading. Partners in the event whose commitment provides precious support on the organizational side are ATAF, Florence Promhotels, Lady Radio, Rdf 102.7, Quadrifoglio and Training Consultant.

Information

Florence Marathon, viale Fanti 2, c/o Stadio di Atletica \’Luigi Ridolfi\‘, Firenze, tel. (+39) 055 5522 957, www.firenzemarathon.it, info@firenzemarathon.it.