StraFrosinone

A classic of Lazio running

The StraFrosinone is much more than just a race: it is an event that the Municipality of Frosinone, capital of the province of the same name in southern Lazio, has looked forward to every autumn for over forty years. The first edition dates back to 1979, a year after the founding of Atletica Frosinone, the club that still organises the event today under the motto « Athletics in Ciociaria since 1978 ».

The route measures 13.5 kilometres and winds entirely through the city, with the start and finish at Parco Matusa, the large green lung created on the site of the former municipal stadium. It is considered a technical and demanding course, as it combines the fast straights of the lower part of Frosinone with the elevation changes leading towards the historic centre, perched on the hill.

History and Hall of Fame

Over the decades, the StraFrosinone has hosted events of national importance. In 1986, it hosted the Italian road running championships with a record participation of about 1,500 athletes, and subsequently welcomed the Italian youth championships four times. Important names in Italian athletics have run its streets, from Gianni Poli, winner of the 1986 New York Marathon, to Maria Guida, 2002 European marathon champion.

The race also holds a strong emotional significance for the city: it is dedicated to the memory of the journalist and professor Luciano Renna and awards the Maria Teresa Collalti Trophy, named after a beloved figure in the city's administration.

More than just a stopwatch

In recent years, the organisers have expanded the event beyond pure competition, transforming it into a weekend of widespread sport. Surrounding the main race are:

• events reserved for youth categories in athletics;
• health prevention initiatives with free screenings provided by local health facilities at Parco Matusa;
• a non-competitive walk open to everyone, designed for families, groups, and walkers;
• moments of environmental and civic awareness along the route.

The slogan chosen by the organisers, « Runners take over the City », captures the spirit of the event well: for a few hours, the streets of Frosinone are closed to traffic and returned to those running and walking, with the Local Police managing traffic and dozens of volunteers stationed along the route.

Who participates

The StraFrosinone is open to FIDAL-registered athletes and members of sports promotion bodies, attracting over three hundred participants every year from more than fifty clubs, mainly from Lazio and neighbouring regions. The event is part of the Opes In Corsa Libera running circuit and is sponsored by the Lazio Region, the Municipality of Frosinone, and the Province of Frosinone.

The race pack is one of the most appreciated elements: the official StraFrosinone bag contains a shoe bag, an LED headlamp with a strap, and kits from the event's partners. A flying finish line, set up in Piazza De Matthaeis in front of the Banca Popolare del Frusinate headquarters, awards the first man and woman to pass through.

Frosinone and Ciociaria

Running the StraFrosinone is also a way to discover the capital of Ciociaria, the territory that stretches between Rome and the border with Campania, filled with hilltop villages, abbeys, and a rustic, characterful cuisine. Frosinone is divided between the modern, commercial lower town and the historic centre that dominates the Sacco valley: the race route crosses both souls, offering participants an unusual and complete urban experience.

Those arriving from outside can easily combine the sporting trip with a day in the province, exploring the local charterhouses and abbeys, the villages of the Ernici Mountains, and the tables where typical Ciociarian dishes are served.