Summary statistics and results at Venice and Lucca Marathon on 10.24.2010

Two marathons have been run this 24.10.10 week-end in Italy.
As expected, the 25^th edition of the Venice Marathon, with live direct in TV, Satellite and internet delivered the highest performance. 298 athletes completed the 26.2 miles before 3h, this includes one of the contributors to this blog, Margantonio. The Kenian Mukun Simon Kamama completed the Venice Marathon in 2h09:35 minutes. As you might know, there was a cap of 6000 runners this year (plus 1000 for charity), and 6289 completed the marathon, which represents 89.8% of the total enrolled runners arriving at the finish line.

At the Lucca Marathon, we have noticed a reduction of runners from the first edition, since we observed only 689 runners at the finish line. Another Kenian, Metto Kipkering arrived first, completing the marathon in 2h17:39. Only 4 international runners arrived in the first 100 places. This looks pretty low compared to the expectations. Only 17 runners were international.

Since few readers are interested to see the full results, you can find below the 24.10.2010 rankings.
Venice Marathon 10.24.2010 Ranking
Lucca Marathon 10.24.2010 Ranking

25th Venice Marathon on Internet

At 9:20 am this Sunday 24th of October, the most sought Italian marathon will depart. If you are not one of the luckiest 6000 runners that will participate to the competition, you still have a chance at least to see what you missed. Indeed for the first time the Venice Marathon will arrive in Piazza San Marco. It is most likely the case that the 25th Edition of the Venice Marathon can be watched on Internet through the Broadcasting from the Italian Television. The Venice Marathon will be available in at the Venice Marathon Live Internet link. Hopefully, the link will still be visible this Sunday.

Results at the Italian 10.10.10 marathons: Carpi, Garda Lake Marathon and Cagliari

Three marathons have been run this 10.10.10 week-end in Italy.

In term of ranking, the main competition was among 2 marathons: Carpi and Lake Garda Marathon, one of the oldest and the youngest in Italy. Interesting enough, the two marathons are pretty closed from each other. The 2 starting lines are indeed far less than 125 miles (see distance from Limone to Maranello) and the arrival lines are only 87 miles far away (see distance from Malcesine to Carpi).

As already clear from last year results, where the calendar did not overlap, Carpi Marathon got the highest technical result, with the Kenian Malakwen Paul Kosgei completing the 26.2 miles in 2h09:00 minutes, and the coverage from the television and the internet. The full marathon was available at Rai Sport website. However, this year, there was a 16.7% reduction in attendance from runners: only 877 completed the full marathon. 116 foreign runners completed the full marathon, representing 31 countries (31 from Finland, 15 from the UK, 11 from Kenia of which Gladys Jebet, the last Kenian, arrived 18th, 8 from France, 5 from Switzerland and Germany).

At the Lake Garda marathon, the reduction was only of 10.6% compared to last year, with 1383 runners at the finish line. Pietro Colnaghi from Italy was 1000 euro, completing the marathon in 2h28:20. 30 of the top 100 runners were international, proving that the Lake Garda is considered a great place to run.

Finally, in Sardinia, there was the first edition of Cagliari Marathon, with 135 runners completing the race. This is an amazing result, taking into account that the first press release on the marathon was available only on the 9th of August 2010. Filippo Lo Piccolo, already 7th in Treviso in March in 2h19, won the marathon in 2h32:55 and got 3000 euro from the jackpot, very high to target higher level of runners. Cagliari will for sure be in a position to compete with larger marathon, thanks to its nice location and with some international marketing.

Since few readers are interested to see the full results, you can find below the 10.10.2010 rankings.
Lake Garda Marathon 10.10.2010 Ranking
Carpi Italian Marathon 10.10.2010 Ranking
Cagliari Marathon 10.10.2010 Ranking

2010 Brianza Marathon: a live experience

This post describes a live experience for March 21st 2010 Brianza Marathon and gives you insight of what it is really look like. Below you can find a translation from the original Brianza Marathon live experience. The Brianza Marathon is in the top 50 of the Italian ranking (number 31) from the number of participants, and it is included into the Seregno 100 kilometers competition. The site is not yet translated in English, since the large majority of Runners is local. 2010 Brianza Marathon winner's was the Kenian Weldon Kirui in 2h33:34. 221 runners reached the finish line, and another 170 completed the 100km competition. This is 21% less than previous year, mainly due to overlapping race the same day.

This is my third competition in 2010, but my first marathon. The first two races went very well, a 10k and half marathon closed with two Personal Best. I start therefore confident to win my third consecutive personal, which is 3 years old and is represented by 3h48 minutes. I want to run the first 30km in 5 minutes /km and then see what happens in the last 12km. During the week I checked the weather forecast, hoping to find a good day to run this marathon. But rain falling the same day of the marathon could have changed my hopes and dreams. I meet with 11 runners, including Maria Luisa, who will be running in the asphalt to prepare his travels in the deserts. Giancarlo, Dalba and Giorgio make a very long run to prepare for the marathon in Milan. Lele is at his first marathon. We warmed up with Clod running in circles at the kiosk. A light rain makes the air cool and damp, but the temperature of 9 degrees Celsius is ideal. Marathon starts at 9. Instead of running, David and Dalba started flying toward galactic time and we follow the pacer Lugi, which today is Lele’s pacer. During the first 5 km a small group of runners is formed around Lele who did not stop talking. It seems we are the pacers of 3h30.

At the 7th km, the group will unravel when Lugi increased his pace to 4'45 "/ km. I stay with them for less than a km and then greet them. The legs go round and even if I set to run more slowly, I decided to keep a 4.52/km step. I run then alone: just in front of me there is only one runner at 200 meters distance. At some point I do not see him anymore, and I start having the fear of getting lost in the streets of Brianza. Fortunately, the service is impeccable and every intersection is manned by volunteers. 

At the 24 km mark, I turn and I see Mac about 50 meters behind me, I urge him to join me but his face does not seem very convinced. Meanwhile, I keep the pace and enter inside the park of Monza. The roar of the engines on the famous Autodromo Nazionale Monza breaks the silence of this peaceful path, notwithstanding the ongoing roads used by cars. I got the impression that there is a complete difference between the Brianza Marathon and what happens at the same time at the half marathon at the Stramilano. Here, however, the drivers were calmly waiting at intersections, as if they were waiting for the elevation of the auction of a zero crossing.

At the 33 km mark, we are under via Tagliabue and we enter the city of Desio. Now I try hard to keep up and slow down a bit. I'm beginning to see the finish line of 3h30. Just doing maths, if I can turn going forward at 5' / km, I should close under the 3h28. At the 35 km mark, my forces are gone, my head begins to turn around, but I do not give up. To give relief, I swallow a handful of sugar cubes at the refreshment point; this hopefully gives me some more energy. I slow down a couple of seconds every kilometer that passes. We are in the end, I try to accelerate but I can not. I then meet Andrea who encourages me to keep up and he informed me that I am beating Vitto.

Then here is the finish line, and at this point I am driven by the cheering of my friends. I have made it. My friend and runner Ciaci, says that I finish in 3h27. I forgot to stop the Garmin. This was a good race, I am very satisfied, and indeed I believe that I can run in 3h25 next times.

I would like to give a round of applause to the organization that handled all flawlessly. Collect bags, showers, race packet and volunteers, just to frame a marathon. In addition to my PB, today also Lugi Dalbo, Titian, David, and Maria Luisa celebrated their personal best. It looks like that the Brianza Marathon allows to run faster, due to its flat race.

October Timex Global Trainer Giveaway

This is not core of Marathon Ranking, but I believe it is good information for the reader of this site.

A friendly site that I am following is giving away a super brand new Timex Global Trainer. Going to the  Timex Giveaway context, you can find more how you can get it. Based on former giveaway, you will have a possibility of 1 out of 500, i.e. 0.2%.

In November 2010, the giveaway is Garmin based: Garmin 210 Forerunner Giveaway.

2010 Florence Marathon: more than 11,000 runners?

According to the Organizers of the 27th Florence Marathon, runners around Europe have demonstrated a constant increase of interest for the event, year after year. In Mid September with more that 70 days to the marathon, which will take place on November 28th 2010, more than 6000 runners have already enrolled to the event. This figure represents an increase of more than 10% against last year on the same period, according to the organizers. Assuming a constant run rate, the organizers expect to see at the departing line in Piazzale Michelangelo more than 11 thousand participants. As matter of comparison, the largest marathon in Italy, Rome Marathon, had in March 15 thousand runners completing the marathon.

The organizers expect a spike in demand before October 15th where International runners can enroll at 65€. Enrollment closes on the 15th of November, at full fare of 75€.
France, the United Kingdom and Germany are the countries that will bring the highest number of runners. International runners are not only attracted by historical place like Florence, but also by the change in the course path, which became flatter compared to last year.

It is difficult to forecast additional personal best for international runners, however it is clear that Florence Marathon is becoming one of the biggest events in Italy and in few years time, if last 5 years trend continues, it will compete against the largest marathons in the world.

To get an idea on what you expect during the marathon, you can look at the 2008 Florence Marathon live experience and 2009 Florence Marathon live experience.