Cardio Race

A race that beats for the heart

Cardio Race is much more than just a running event: it is a powerful engine for prevention, research, and community that brings the Ippodromo delle Capannelle in Rome to life every autumn. Located in the capital's Tuscolano district, the event was created to combat cardiovascular diseases—which account for over 4.3 million deaths annually in Europe, nearly half of all deaths. Over the years, the event has established a successful formula: three days where popular sport and preventive medicine coexist under the slogan Every step is a heartbeat.

The Health Village

The heart of the event is not just the starting line. Throughout the festival, the racecourse transforms into a large, completely free Health Village open to everyone, including non-runners. In the medical areas set up under the tents, visitors can access screenings and consultations that often require months of waiting elsewhere.

• Cardiovascular ECGs and ultrasounds
• Free specialist visits (cardiology, physiotherapy, osteopathy, dentistry, and more)
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and life-saving training, open to schools
• Educational sessions with doctors, researchers, and patient associations
• Over 60 exhibitors including companies, institutions, and non-profit organizations

The scientific direction is led by the INRC (National Institute for Cardiovascular Research), which coordinates cardiologists, researchers, and sports medicine specialists. Race registration fees directly fund the village's free services and research projects on sudden cardiac death.

Three courses for everyone

Sunday morning is race time. The program includes a certified 12.4 km competitive race that winds from the racecourse along the Via Appia Nuova, skirting the Parco degli Acquedotti and the Circonvallazione Tuscolana before returning to the track—one of the most scenic urban routes in southern Rome. Alongside this, the 5.23 km non-competitive walk or run takes place entirely within the racecourse grounds. No competitive medical certificate is required, making it perfect for families, casual walkers, and beginners. The event is rounded off by the Kids Run, a one-kilometer race reserved for the little ones.

Sport, wellness, and community

Between medical check-ups, the program offers activities for all ages: gentle gymnastics for seniors, Tai Ji Quan and Qi Gong sessions, open fields for soccer, volleyball, basketball, and tennis, plus workshops on movement and nutrition. One day is traditionally dedicated to Roman schools, where students learn first-aid maneuvers on-site. The event also attracts well-known figures from the Italian sports scene, who have participated over the years to help raise awareness for the cause of prevention.

The Ippodromo delle Capannelle, a historic setting

The Ippodromo delle Capannelle, inaugurated in 1881, is one of Italy's oldest and most fascinating horse racing venues. With its vast lawns, Art Nouveau grandstands, and expansive grounds, it is perfectly suited to host thousands of people safely. Its location along the Via Appia Nuova, just minutes from the Grande Raccordo Anulare and served by regional trains, makes it one of the few spaces in Rome capable of simultaneously hosting a health village, an exhibition area, and a race start line.

Why participate

Cardio Race is aimed at both the registered athlete and the family looking to spend a Sunday in the open air. It is a practical opportunity to get a check-up you have been putting off, to learn how diet and physical activity affect longevity, and simply to run or walk through the greenery of southern Rome, knowing your registration fee supports research. A sober and useful appointment, it has become a permanent fixture in the capital's sporting and social calendar.