The Venice Marathon 23 October 2016
The start of last year's Venice Marathon, outside the 18th century Villa Pisani.
The Venetian, patrician Pisani
family originating from Pisa, played an important role in the historic, political and economic events of the Venetian Republic between the 12th and the 18th centuries. The family built many villas and palaces in the region, including Palazzo Pisani a San Stefano, Palazzo Pisani Gritti and Palazzo Pisani Moretta all facing the Grand Canal in Venice.
I'm sure they would never have imagined the annual Venice Marathon starting outside their 18th century Villa Pisani in Stra a small town about 25 kilometres from Venice.
But what a wonderful start it makes, the entire route is spectacular of course in this fascinating, historic part of Italy.
The area around Stra is beautiful and the stunning riverside area along the Riviera del Brenta was where many rich and noble Venetians built their vacation mansions in the 18th century.
The marathon goes through the centre of Marghera and Mestre, then runs for more than two kilometres inside the San Giuliano Park and arrives in Venice via the Liberty Bridge (the causeway). The course is basically flat and fast with only three or four short inclines between the 25th and 35th kilometre marks.
In the final part of the route in Venice itself, runners face 14 little bridges in a short space of time over the city's canal system. Wooden ramps are put in place so that the athletes don't have to negotiate the steps on the bridges.
In the final three kilometres the running surface is made of large rectangular stone slabs.
Luckily there are no cobblestone on the course apart from the last 100 metres just before the finish line.
The race crosses the Grand Canal on a pontoon bridge specially built for the event, then completes a "lap of honour" in Piazza San Marco (high tide allowing!), past the bell tower and the Palazzo Ducale and on to the finish line in Riva Sette Martiri.
Venice Marathon is an international marathon which caters only for marathon runners and is globally recognized and certified by the IAAF Silver Label on the Olympic distance of 42.195 kilometres.
This year 8000 athletes are expected to take part with the main competition coming from African nations. Last year Kenya’s Julius Chepkwony won in 2:11:08, finishing ahead of his compatriots Robert Ndiwa and Emmanuel Sikuku - an all Kenyan podium.
Another 4000 runners are expected for the 10 kilometre race which covers the last part of the main marathon and there will also be three family runs.
