The 49th Eurospin RomaOstia Half Marathon is dreaming big again
2500 foreigners are registered for Italy’s most famous half marathon
Ethiopian Tsegu Berehanu Wendemu and Kenyan Mary Wacera Ngugi confirmed
Rebecca Lonedo among the Italian runners in the race
Rome, February 7, 2024 – The Eurospin RomaOstia Half Marathon, the half marathon that takes you from Rome directly to the sea, is scheduled for March 3rd. This highly anticipated event, organized by GSBRun – Gruppo Sportivo Bancari Romani in partnership with RCS Sports & Events, is eagerly awaited by national and international runners.
REGISTRATIONS – There are 8,000 registered participants, with a projection of 10,000, which would bring the RomaOstia back to the significant pre-covid standards. Until February 19th, normal registrations are possible, while from February 20th, registration can be done by donating 5 euros to one of the official non-profit organizations of the event, including Komen Italia, Onlus Gemelli, and Never Give Up, as part of the “Heart Month” initiative that coincides with February.
FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS – The participation of foreign athletes is strongly increasing, with 2500 registered participants, representing over 30% of the total (compared to 20% in 2023). This confirms the growing attractiveness of Rome as a sports tourism destination. There are 800 athletes from France alone.
THE COURSE – The race will take place on the fast 21.0975-kilometer course, revised in 2021. The course reflects the technical and high-performance characteristics of this competition. Starting in front of the Palazzo dello Sport, crossing the wide and flowing avenues of the EUR district, reaching the Cristoforo Colombo, the main road connecting Rome to the sea, with a spectacular finish directly on the roundabout in Ostia.
ELITE ATHLETES – At the RomaOstia, athletes come to run strong, to raise the bar of their performance, to take the stage of running. This is the sentiment that unites amateur and elite runners. Among the elite athletes at the starting line will be Ethiopian Tsegu Berehanu Wendemu, ready to run again under 60 minutes, Kenyan Shadrack Koech, eager to compete on the fast Roman course after his 61.12 in Trento last October, and Kimakal Kipsambu, returning to the capital after pacing with a time of 61.37 in 2023.
The women’s elite field has high expectations as well, with Mary Wacera Ngugi (Ken), strong with a PB of 66’29” in the half marathon and 2h20’22” in the marathon. She finished second in the 2021 Boston Marathon, third in 2022, and fifth in the NYCM in 2023. She will compete against her compatriot Nelly Jeptoo, the young Ethiopian Wariyo Bekelech Teku (fifth in the recent Ethiopian Cross Country Championships and rising star), and compatriot Anna Dibaba, the younger sister of the well-established Tirunesh and Genzebe.
A welcome return for the Italian team is Rebecca Lonedo, who is in great shape with a recent PB of 70.13 in Seville.
THE VILLAGE – The RomaOstia Village will be set up in piazzale Pier Luigi Nervi, near the race start, on Friday, March 1st, and Saturday, March 2nd, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. On Friday, March 1st, there will be a talk on “basic sports as a vehicle for well-being and prevention”, with contributions from associations such as Komen, Gemelli Onlus, and Never Give Up, as well as specialists and doctors, including nutritionists and physiotherapists.
On Saturday, March 2nd, there will be a presentation of the elite athletes and pacemakers.
TITLE SPONSOR – Eurospin is the new Title Sponsor for the 49th edition of RomaOstia.
THE NEW JERSEY – The RomaOstia Half Marathon inaugurates its 49th edition with a new and exceptional technical partner: adidas. The German sportswear company stands alongside Italy’s most famous and participated half marathon with a significant and wide-ranging four-year project. The new 2024 jersey was presented at the Campidoglio.
LONGEVITY CHECKUP BY THE GEMELLI FOUNDATION – The successful collaboration with the Gemelli Hospital continues, with Prof. Francesco Landi, Director of the Department of Aging Sciences and a passionate runner, emphasizing “the value of events like the RomaOstia in raising awareness among the population about the importance of physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and prevention. We at Gemelli will be there, alongside the people, offering free screenings for the 7 main risk factors (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, BMI, diet, exercise, and smoking). To set a good example, I myself will participate in the race on March 3rd.”
REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 49th EDITION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 3rd, 2024
- Possess a COMPETITIVE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE issued by a sports doctor. It is easy to find them online in your city. The certificate is also important to verify one’s health condition before undertaking a competitive effort.
- Activate a MEMBERSHIP. If you do not have a Runcard, it is necessary to activate membership with Fidal through a sports club. The membership is valid for one year (calendar year): from January 1st to December 31st. The organizing club, GSBRun, offers membership for 25 euros.
- REGISTER on the website www.romaostia.it. Registrations for the RomaOstia Half Marathon must be made exclusively through the organization’s portal.
Important! It is possible to register and then provide the medical certification and membership.
All updates will be announced and published on the official website www.romaostia.it and dedicated social media channels.
PARTNERS OF THE 49th EDITION
Rome Capital // Lazio Region // FIDAL // CONI.
// Eurospin Title Sponsor //// Enervit – Sport Nutrition Partner //
PRESS OFFICE ROMAOSTIA HALF MARATHON 2023 press@romaostia.it
Simone Corbetta + 39 333 2700055
Ivana Capozzi – RCS Sports & Events: Ivana.Capozzi@rcs.it +39 339 4728398
