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

10.10.10 Marathon(s) in Italy

On Sunday 10.10.2010 many runners around the world will participate to their local marathon with the hope to beat their personal best. If you are a global runners, there is a lot of choice. In Europe, you could go to Munich in Germany (25th anniversary, expected: 1200 runners for the Marathon, registration closed), to Eindhoven in the Netherlands (27th edition, expected 1500 runners for the main event), to Brussels in Belgium (expected 2000 runners for the main event).

In Italy the choice is between tradition and novelty, Carpi Italian Marathon vs. Garda Lake Marathon. Ironically, those 2 marathons are ranking 10th in the Italian Marathon League, with around 1000 participants each.

2009 Carpi Italian Marathon: a live experience

This post describes a live experience for the November 2009 Carpi Italian Marathon and gives you insight of what it is really look like. Below you can find a translation from the original Carpi Marathon live experience.
Carpi is one of the historical Italian marathons and it is in the top 10 of the Italian ranking (number 10).

It was 6 years ago when I have run my last Milan Marathon, which ended up with my best personal record. In the last 6 years many things have happened, including my waist measure, which now is approximately 9 additional kg. In all that time there were long periods when the race certainly did not occupy the most important part of my day ..... but the first love is never forgotten. 

This spring at the end of the half marathon Trial Run I made up my mind. I arrived exhausted, my friends the twins Wolf and Supergigik made full of me before and after the race. That day I made a commitment to myself: this year I will run once more a marathon! 

To do so, however, I asked, without insisting too much, the support of my workout friend Paul Budroni. And so since June 2009 we have made plans to go to Carpi Marathon. At first, given the elapsed time (6 years for myself 3 for Paul), we started with the idea of completing the race, setting a hypothetical rate of 4'30"/ km. As the preparations progressed we realized that we could set bolder targets. We were fast during the long courses; we easily managed hills in the last 10 km. In medium distances in the same way we ran smoothly even just under 4'20"/ km. Last week we have decided the strategy: a quiet start at 4'25"/ km and then see where we are at half marathon. Far from it! On October 10, we landed at Bologna airport from Cagliari. In the airport a taxi driver was waiting for us and he took us to Piazza Martiri in Carpi, the Marathon arrival. We found there lodging at a boarding house. This was clearly an excellent logistical choice.

We enter rooms and then go for a drive into the square where we can see exposure from local sport equipment retailers and much more interesting, local delicacies: Parmesan cheese, mortadella, pork (including fried scraps of pork fat). We wait to pick my wife's cousin to spend some time with her, her brother and parents who live in Maranello, 400 meters from the start of the marathon. Have lunch together and then in the afternoon we return to Carpi. We choose to go to a restaurant self-service arrangement with the marathon; this is excellent logistics and good quality. We load ourselves of carbohydrates and then go to room. Needless to hide the tension starts to rise! Carefully we prepare the equipment for the next day going over several times in order to avoid unpleasant incidents. The night runs more or less quiet.

The next morning the wake-up is before 6, we got breakfast. Then we go out to the meeting point from where the buses will lead us to start in Maranello. The trip takes just over half an hour. On arrival we enjoyed a ride "free" inside the Ferrari museum. At the end we dedicate ourselves to the usual ritual before the race. We did some stretching and warm up and then off in the start area. Now here we are! We worked several months to get to this point. But we are well motivated and determined. 

The start is given at 9.15am! As I said before the plans were completely distorted. Apart from the first kilometer course all the others we were on the pace of 4'20"/ mile. But we knew that we are not venturing too, since our legs are responding well. We know both the path and we know that the first part is slightly downhill, so we are very cautious despite feeling that we are applying brakes. The location is great; the day is perfect.... now we only need to spin the legs. During the first part we will be overtaken by several athletes but we are aware that we are doing well. The rhythm is regular, respiration and the sensations are very good.

We arrive in Modena and we cross the Carabinieri Academy. Inside the square we are greeted with applause of the cadets arranged on both sides of the track. This was a wonderful surprise! Just outside Modena we overcome the half marathon: 1h32' was the chrono! Well, the duke said, we are already beginning to dance! And so it just after a flyover that we tested our strength. Paolo goes before me, as usual in these circumstances I am one step back! I cannot stand any roughness; it's always been that way since I was a kid! We went back together and continue our efforts in a hurry. We begin to feel the fatigue but we continue regularly.


At the 30 km mark Mr Budron got confused at the refreshment stop, and we separate from each other by some ten meters. I hear him behind me always at the same distance and I decided to slow down a bit to run together once more. We try to force a bit to see if we can give something more. However, we figured out that we are better off returning to our pace. At the 35 km mark, Paul quietly reduced his speed. I try to put him back with me but nothing. It was a moment where he lost stamina and not able to move. He then resumed at his regular pace, but now we pulled away.


Now I'm alone! The worst is over. It would be absurd to give up. In the last km I overtake countless athletes exhausted by fatigue. Many are not able to return even to walk and stop for good. Unfortunately, the marathon does not live the chance for improvisation. I continue my action to target whoever is ahead of me and that I can overtake before the finish line. At the 40 km mark I do a quick calculation and I realize I could stay under the 3h05'.

I set my teeth and I try to keep the pace that I want to keep till the end of the marathon. We are now close to the finish line. The last effort would be an underpass: poor legs. I managed the last kilometers to 4'16" and here is the finish line. The finish line time indicates 3h04'26", which differs very little from the real time. I just wait very little and here comes even Paul: 3h07'. However the timing at this stage is not important.


I completed my ninth marathon, strongly desired and prepared with many sacrifices. Those sacrifices required to exercise before 6 am in calm and balanced way, with our family members. As true CorSardi we have held out and we went forward in the months to prepare this return on the distance of 42.195 kilometers! We succeeded and we are very satisfied! Thanks to Paul, a friend of workouts and adventures and friend, especially in the true sense of the word! Now that we've broken the ice is up to us to continue on this road.