Cinisello Balsamo Running Festival

Ultramarathon on the Outskirts of Milan

In Cinisello Balsamo, a municipality in the northern hinterland of Milan, the Gaetano Scirea Sports Centre becomes the heart of the Cinisello Balsamo Running Festival every spring, one of the key events for Italian and European ultramarathon running. The event, organized by IUTA, features three timed endurance races - 48 hours, 24 hours, and 12 hours - on a certified circuit where a challenge of resistance, strategy, and mental fortitude unfolds.

How an Endurance Race Works

In timed ultramarathons, the finish line isn't the goal; it's about how many kilometers you can cover in the allotted time. Athletes run laps on the circuit, accumulating distance, alternating between running, walking, and short breaks, in a test that pushes the body and mind far beyond the limits of a classic marathon. The festival brings together ultrarunning specialists, as well as enthusiasts and curious onlookers, in an atmosphere of strong community spirit supported by over 200 volunteers.

An International Event

Over the years, the event has gained an increasingly international scope, to the point of hosting races valid as world championships. Cinisello Balsamo, in the province of Milan, thus confirms itself as an Italian capital of ultramarathon running, capable of attracting athletes, technicians, and spectators from all over the world to Lombardy.