Ascoli Piceno Half Marathon

The Piceno Half Marathon

The Ascoli Piceno Half Marathon, also known simply as the Ascoli Half, is one of the most beloved road running races in southern Marche. Organized by ASD Picchiorunning, a sports club from the Piceno capital, it takes place in autumn and offers a classic half marathon distance, 21.097 km, starting from Acquasanta Terme and finishing in the historic center of Ascoli Piceno, in the Province of Ascoli Piceno (Marche).

A Route Along the Vecchia Salaria

What makes this race special is its route: runners retrace the Vecchia Salaria, the ancient Roman consular road that connected the Adriatic Sea to Rome, passing through the salt routes of these valleys. The race starts from Via Buonamici in Acquasanta Terme and descends along the Tronto river valley to the finish line set up in Piazza Arringo, one of the most beautiful monumental squares in Italy, dominated by the Cathedral of Sant'Emidio and the Palazzo dell'Arengo. The altimetry profile is mostly a slight downhill, with a couple of short climbs at the beginning: a fast and scenic route, through villages, bridges, and the characteristic Ascoli travertine.

A Race That Unites

The event has always made the word "union" its motto: it unites two Municipalities in the Piceno territory, it unites running enthusiasts from all over Italy (and some foreigners), and above all, it is an inclusive race, also open to athletes with disabilities. Over the years, the Ascoli Half has grown to exceed 400 participants and, in the 2025 edition, hosted the Marche Regional Half Marathon Championship FIDAL, individual and club categories. The race is also part of the Criterium Piceni&Pretuzi circuit, which links the provinces of Ascoli Piceno and Teramo.

Services and Organization

The organization takes care of the typical details of a FIDAL race: refreshment points along the route approximately every five kilometers, chip timing, free shuttle bus service from Ascoli to the starting point, showers at the Squarcia sports field, and pacers for those aiming for specific finish times. Bib collection usually takes place the day before in Piazza Arringo.

Status of the 2026 Edition

The organizers have announced that, due to the unavailability of Piazza Arringo—the symbolic finish line location—the 2026 edition of the Ascoli Piceno Half Marathon is canceled. Those looking for a half marathon in Ascoli Piceno in 2026 can still find similar events in the Piceno area along the Ascoli–San Benedetto del Tronto axis.