10K Club Vai - City of Santa Maria Capua Vetere
The late-December road race in the city of gladiators
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About 10K Club Vai
A road race in the heart of ancient Capua
The 10K Club Vai - City of Santa Maria Capua Vetere is a road running race held in the final days of December in the town of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, in the province of Caserta, Campania. Established as a year-end highlight for the Caserta running community, the event is part of the official FIDAL calendar and is supported by the Municipality, which clears the main city streets of traffic for the occasion.
The concept is simple and effective: to bring runners into the heart of the city, through avenues, past historic buildings and squares, with the start and finish located just steps from the Campanian Amphitheatre, the grand Roman arena that still defines the urban landscape today. The result is a fast, urban, and highly popular race that closes the Campanian running season with a festive spirit.
The course: a 9.9 km city loop
The route follows a single 9.9 km circuit, fully marshaled, winding through the center of Santa Maria Capua Vetere. It is a flat and fast course, suitable both for those chasing a personal best and those running for the sheer pleasure of participating. The maximum time allowed to complete the race is 90 minutes.
- Distance: 9.9 km road race
- Meeting point: Piazza Mazzini
- Start and finish: City center, near the Campanian Amphitheatre
- Time limit: 90 minutes
- Course: Single loop, fully marshaled
ASD Club Vai!, the heart of the event
Behind the race is ASD Club Vai!, a sports club from Santa Maria Capua Vetere with a long history. Affiliated with FIDAL and active for decades, the club has organized some of the most notable running events in Campania, starting with the numerous editions of the 100 km of the Gladiators, which brought thousands of athletes to the province of Caserta. Today, the 10K is the club's flagship event, designed to bring road running back to the city center.
Prizes, race packs, and awards
The event has built its reputation on attention to detail. The 2025 edition featured a race pack for all participants and a 3D medal dedicated to the Amphitheatre, in addition to awards for the top one hundred male finishers and all women who crossed the finish line. Prizes were also awarded to the top three athletes in the master categories (55+) and the top three clubs with at least twenty-five finishers: a concrete way to encourage participation from local running groups.
Ambassadors and the spirit of the race
The event's ambassadors have included Giorgio Calcaterra and Vincenzo Santillo, who served as the faces of the 2025 edition. Their presence perfectly captures the spirit of the event: genuine competition at the front of the pack, but above all, a great popular celebration for the hundreds of runners who choose to end their year on the move.
Santa Maria Capua Vetere, the city of gladiators
Running here is unlike running anywhere else. Santa Maria Capua Vetere stands on the site of ancient Capua, one of the most important cities of Roman Italy, and preserves a major archaeological heritage. The Campanian Amphitheatre, the landmark of the course, is tied to the memory of the gladiator schools that made the city famous. For many participants, the race becomes an opportunity for a stroll through the historic center and a visit to the town's archaeological sites.
A date between Christmas and New Year's
The timing, held on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's, has become part of the identity of the 10K Club Vai: a race that helps burn off the holiday feasts and symbolically closes the season. The streets are quieter than usual, the Campanian winter climate is mild, and the public turns out in large numbers along the circuit. A ritual that, edition after edition, is becoming a staple of the Caserta province's sporting calendar, attracting running clubs from all over Campania.
10K Club Vai — edition 2026
2026 Edition: what we know so far
Following the positive feedback from the first two editions, the 10K Club Vai - City of Santa Maria Capua Vetere is expected to return in 2026 during the usual late-December window, between Christmas and New Year's. Running calendar portals indicate the date of Sunday, December 27, 2026, consistent with the event's tradition.
However, this is an indication that still needs to be verified: at the moment, neither the official announcement from ASD Club Vai!, nor the regulations, nor the opening of registrations have been published. The schedule and participation fees will also be announced only with the official flyer, usually released a few weeks before the race.
If the format remains the same as in previous editions, the race will take place on a single city circuit of approximately 9.9 km in the center of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, with the meeting point in Piazza Mazzini and the start and finish near the Campanian Amphitheatre. We recommend following the organizers' channels and the FIDAL Campania calendar for final confirmation of the date and the opening of registrations.
Practical information — 10K Club Vai
Getting there
Santa Maria Capua Vetere is located a few kilometers from Caserta, in the heart of the Campanian plain. The city is served by its own train station, connected to regional lines via Caserta and Naples. By car, it is easily reached from the A1 Milan-Naples motorway and the network of provincial roads connecting Capua and Caserta.
Meeting point and start
The meeting point for athletes is Piazza Mazzini, in the city center; the start and finish are located a short distance from the Campanian Amphitheatre. Traffic restrictions are expected on race morning: it is advisable to arrive early and park in areas outside the circuit.
Registration
Registration is handled online via the timing portal indicated by the organizers. The number of bibs is limited, and registration closes in the days immediately preceding the race or upon reaching the participant limit. For information, please contact ASD Club Vai! in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
Tips
As this is a late-December race, it is useful to plan for layered clothing for warm-ups and a bag for the gear check. The flat, urban course is well-suited for lightweight running shoes. After the race, it is well worth dedicating a few hours to visiting the Campanian Amphitheatre and the historic center.
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Where does it take place — 10K Club Vai
Piazza Mazzini - centro cittadino (Anfiteatro Campano)