Florence, Italy Marathon – Race Review

I think it’s a tendency for most runners to hop online and search for the next local race when they have the itch to get out and compete. Usually the goal is to find something within a short drive’s reach to avoid excess travel, hotel costs, and the hassle that comes with planning a trip in general.

If you’ve ever thought about running a race in a foreign place though, I recommend going as far away as possible. Don’t look for a race in your neighboring state. Don’t look for a race two states over. Go big. Get crazy! I want you to look in a completely different country. Do you want to know why? Here’s why:

Florence, Italy – Arno River

Last year I ran the 24th annual Florence, Italy Marathon. I started the race overlooking all of Florence from the top of Michelangelo’s Plaza and finished the marathon 26.2 miles later at the steps of the Duomo. It was an incredible trip. I ran the city and saw Italy by foot. I experienced their culture by embracing another culture through mimicry of the ancient feat that become known as the Marathon. It was, for lack of a more fitting term, amazing.

See, here I am at the expo the day before the race. The map is of the entire city of Florence with the blue line obviously being the race course:

florence italy marathon race map

The race itself was well organized with plenty of refreshment stations. But I must warn you! The race nutrition expertise we are familiar with in the United States does not necessarily apply to other countries. American’s believe in Gatorade and Gu Packs at aid stations. In Florence I encountered lemon wedges and ice tea at the refreshment stops. Seriously, lemon and ice tea. With that being said you should be prepared to bring your own goodies to an international race. Do your research ahead of time to find out what they’ll provide.

Another thing to note is the type of running surfaces you’ll be on in foreign races. In Florence’s marathon we traversed several miles of cobble stone. Ouch. Extra blister treatment and icing is needed after running on ancient cobble stone.

Overall the race was fantastic. The crowd’s were warm and encouraging and their cheers made it easier to trudge on with each bellow of “prego, prego!” Being side by side with runners from over 30 countries was pretty remarkable. You’ll learn that the racing conventions are much different from locale to locale with some runners bundled up for the cold, others completely bare, and some even shoeless!

In the end I truly think that running teaches you a lot about yourself. You find out what you’ve got inside of you and define the fringes of your potential. I can’t think of a better way to expand those fringes of personal potential than by immersing yourself in a foreign place, with foreign runners. See the world by foot. Find yourself in stride. Go big! Get out the map and call your travel agency the next time you decide to sign up for a race.

Happy running

Feel free to check out other race reviews on MadeToRun such as the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon or the Fresno Two Cities Marathon.