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Venicemarathon was born to find a "meeting point" between the
splendid city and the most ancient sport on earth. The event is
certainly a great occasion to see Venice from an unusual point of
view and take part to a Marathon.
After all, a marathon is not meant to be simply "run". It is meant
to be experienced, "lived". This is what Emil Zatopek, who won the
5.000, the 10.000 and the marathon at the Olympic Games in 1952,
suggests: "If you want to run, then run a mile. If you want to
experience another life, then run a marathon".
Since 1986, when it first started, Venicemarathon has come a
long long way. It has been growing both quantitatively and
qualitatively, beyond any expectations, thus building a prestigious
and consolidated international image due to the professionalism of
its staff.
The winning philosophy of Venicemarathon lies in that it presents
itself to partners, sponsors and athletes as a crossing event, able
to attract varied spectators and reach differentiated targets
simultaneously. The thrilling atmosphere of the race, the
breathtaking set of Venice and the pure passion of over 6.000
enthusiastic runners are the ingredients of the success that enables
Venicemarathon to enjoy a great level of visibility for an event of
this kind.
The Venicemarathon Club, with
FIDAL approval and Venice FIDAL cooperation, organizes the 17th
edition of the Venicemarathon, international marathon to be run on
the classic distance of 42.195 Km, as certified by AIMS/IAAF on
September 28, 2001.
The minimum participant age is 18, at the date of October 27, 2002.
Italian residents must provide a certificate, released by an Italian
Center of Sport Medicine, which proves that the athlete is fit for
sporting activity.
Non Italian residents must provide documentation which certifies to
be in order with the sanitary rules of their country, or sign a
specific waiver of liability module prepared by the organizers.
Waiver of liability
I understand that participating in this event is potentially
hazardous, and that I should not enter and participate unless I am
medically able and properly trained. In consideration of the
acceptance of this entry, I assume full and complete responsibility
for any injury or accident which may occur while I am travelling to
or from the event, during the event, or while I am on the premises
of the event. I also am aware of and assume all risks associated
with participating in this event, including but not limited to falls,
contact with other participants, effect of weather, traffic, and
conditions of the road.
I, for myself and my heirs and executors, hereby waive, release and
forever discharge the event organizers, sponsors, promoters,
Active.com and each of their agents, representatives, successors and
assigns, and all other persons associated with the event, for my all
liabilities, claims, actions, or damages that I may have against
them arising out of or in any way connected with my participation in
this event. I understand that this waiver includes any claims,
whether caused by negligence, the action or inaction of any of the
above parties, or otherwise.
I understand that the entry fee is non-refundable and
non-transferable. I hereby grant full permission to any and all of
the above parties to use any photographs, videotapes, motion
pictures, website images, recordings or any other record of this
event.
One word is
enough to describe Venicemarathon course: spectacular.
However, if you
are running the Venicemarathon not to gaze at the landscape, but to
improve your personal best, don't worry: the race track is flat
as a pancake and fast. Moreover, meteo conditions are usually
perfect to perform at high level.
Start takes place
in Stra, a small town a few kilometers east of Padova. At the
end of the long starting stretch, the road slowly bends on the left,
in front of the monumental façade of Villa Pisani, the first of the
beautiful mansions of the Brenta riverside.
Course follows
National Road N.11, leaving the river on the right, and running
through the small towns of the Riviera : Fiesso d'Artico,
Dolo, Mira (10th km) and Oriago. Then, the road
and the river turn right heading to Malcontenta (20th km).
Runners are now
near Marghera industrial area, which is quickly passed to
enter the center of Mestre (25th km). After running for 5
kilometers in the heart of the city, course makes its way towards
Venice, with long flat stretches, broken by only one short overpass.
Venice skyline,
with its countless bell towers, already appears on the horizon, at
the end of the never-ending five-kilometer-long Ponte della
Libertà (i.e. Bridge of Freedom). Probably, this is the most
challenging section of the entire race, where athletes'
psychological strenght is heavily tested, and where leading runners
usually make their moves to win.
At the end of the
bridge there are 2 kilometers inside the port-area, then begins the
most spectacular and exciting stage of the race. From here there is
no more tar: you'll be running over cobblestone, overpassing, one by
one, the 13 bridges which created the Venicemarathon legend.
You face the long
Zattere stretch, keeping the Giudecca Canal on the
right and taking advantage of the slope of the bridges - there are 5
of them in this section - to speed up your run. All of a sudden, the
course turns left, among the houses and in a moment you are in front
of the Grand Canal, while going round S. Maria della
Salute church. You head to Punta della Dogana and climb
the short ramp leading on the pontoon bridge.
On the other side
of the Grand Canal, new energy pushes you between two wings of
crowd, as you take a quick look at St. Mark's Square, on your
left. At the end of Palazzo Ducale is time to climb the large
steps of Ponte della Paglia - the only bridge without ramps -
always spurred by the fans' cheers.
There are only 5
bridges left, but nothing can stop you now. You follow the gentle
bend rightwards of the Gran Canal, leaving Riva degli Schiavoni,
Riva Ca' di Dio - where the finish line was between 1991 and
1995 -, and Riva San Biagio behind you...
...then you run
downhill the last bridge, trying to increase the pace, asking an
ultimate effort to your body, your eyes stuck on the time under the
finish banner, at the center of Riva dei Sette Martiri.
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