In the Footsteps of Aeneas

A classic of the Lazio running scene

In the Footsteps of Aeneas is one of the longest-running road races in Lazio: the 34th edition took place in 2026, confirming a rare continuity in the regional running landscape. It is organized by A.S.D. Podistica Pomezia, a club deeply rooted in the area, with the patronage of the Municipality of Pomezia and inclusion in the regional FIDAL calendar. The name recalls the legend of the origins: according to tradition, it was on this stretch of the Lazio coast that Aeneas landed after fleeing Troy, founding Lavinium, now a district of the Municipality of Pomezia. Running here means moving through a landscape that the Latin imagination has rendered mythical.

The route: ten kilometers between asphalt and forest

The track measures 10.1 kilometers and has a unique profile that sets it apart from standard city 10k races. The first part takes place on the fast and smooth streets of Pomezia's center; then, the route enters the Sughereta Regional Nature Reserve, one of the most extensive cork oak forests on the Lazio coast, where the surface turns to dirt and the continuous ups and downs test even the most trained athletes. It is a section highly appreciated by participants precisely for the contrast with urban asphalt: shade, beaten earth, and a succession of short but sharp climbs.

The start and finish are located in Piazza San Benedetto da Norcia, in the heart of the city. The maximum time to complete the race is one hour and thirty minutes, a generous window that allows amateur runners to finish the course without excessive pressure.

A sporting and popular event

In addition to the overall men's and women's rankings, the event awards the City of Pomezia Trophy, reserved for the first man and woman residing in the Municipality: a recognition that gives the race a strong sense of local identity. The team ranking is also highly contested, featuring the most active clubs in Lazio every year, from Amatori Villa Pamphili to Podistica Solidarietà, and from Atletica La Sbarra to local coastal teams.

The atmosphere is typical of well-organized provincial races: meeting at dawn, picking up race bibs on-site, families and curious onlookers along the route, and award ceremonies in the square by mid-morning. The number of participants consistently hovers around two to three hundred, a size that allows for careful management and a friendly, convivial climate.

Pomezia and the Lazio of myth

Pomezia is located about thirty kilometers south of Rome, along the Via Pontina, in the Lazio Region. A city founded in the 1930s, it retains a recognizable rationalist urban layout, but its territory also houses the archaeological area of Lavinium, in Pratica di Mare, with the famous sanctuary of the Thirteen Altars and the Lavinium Civic Archaeological Museum. Those arriving for the race can easily combine their sporting Sunday with a visit to the site or a stop at the beach in Torvaianica, just a few minutes away by car.

Why participate

• A varied and technical route, rare for a ten-kilometer road race
• The natural setting of the Sughereta, a protected area a stone's throw from the capital
• An affordable entry fee and an organization refined over thirty years
• The connection to the myth of Aeneas and the archaeology of Lavinium
• The possibility to register on the morning of the race