Rome's classic half marathon, from the EUR district to the sea of Ostia
The RomaOstia Half Marathon is one of Europe's most prestigious half marathons and the most famous road race in the Capital. Every year, on the first Sunday of March, tens of thousands of runners gather in Rome's EUR district to tackle the 21.097 kilometers that lead to the sea in Ostia. The course, which is almost entirely flat with a slight downhill gradient, is considered one of the fastest in the world, which is why it attracts the best international specialists in the distance every year.
The start is located in front of the Palazzo dello Sport in EUR, in the heart of the rationalist district commissioned in the 1930s within the Municipality of Rome. From here, athletes take the long Via Cristoforo Colombo, the straight artery that gently descends toward the Roman coast, to finish the race at the Rotonda di Ostia, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. The start is staggered in waves, divided into grids based on the time declared during registration, to ensure fluidity and safety for such a large group.
Included in the World Athletics international calendar and the FIDAL national calendar, the RomaOstia has grown to exceed 13,000 registrants from over one hundred nations. In recent years, the presence of foreign participants has nearly tripled, turning the race into an important tourism and economic driver for Rome, the Ostia coastline, and the entire Lazio Region.
Organized by GSBRun-RomaOstia in partnership with RCS Sports & Events, the RomaOstia Half Marathon represents much more than a competition: it is a spring ritual that unites the center of Rome with its sea, involving thousands of people in a Sunday of outdoor sport.
The 51st RomaOstia Half Marathon was held on Sunday, March 1, 2026, starting from Rome's EUR district and finishing at the Rotonda di Ostia. Over 13,500 participants from more than one hundred nations were at the start, confirming the race's international appeal.
The great protagonist was Kenyan Michael Temoi, who crossed the finish line in 58:00, setting a new event record and one of the best world performances of the season. In the women's field, Kenyan Janet Mutungi Nyiva won in 1:08:11. Among the Italians, Giuseppe Gerratana and Laura Biagetti performed best.
The start is located in Rome's EUR district: accessible via the Metro Line B (EUR Palasport or EUR Fermi stops) and numerous bus lines. By car, take the exit from the Grande Raccordo Anulare towards EUR. The finish at the Rotonda di Ostia is served by the Roma-Lido railway.
Registration is done online via the official website and timing partner platforms. Bib collection takes place at the event village in the days leading up to the race.
On race day, road closures and diversions are planned along Via Cristoforo Colombo and in the start and finish areas: it is recommended to check the notices from the Municipality of Rome and use public transport.
No photos yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Share your experience with the community.
Palazzo dello Sport (EUR) — partenza / Rotonda di Ostia — arrivo
Piazzale dello Sport, 00144 Roma