I am part of a running group from Muscat Oman and every year we pick a marathon somewhere in the world.  This year was Rome Marathon.

The first thing about this race is the registration is the most difficult I have ever come accross in over 25 marathons.  There was a medical certificate to get signed by a doctor - not your usual are you fit/heart rate ect ect but a full diagnostic test. They wanted 2 ECGs one at rest and one while exercising, urine and a few others.  No running numbers were issued until you had submitted your medical form signed by the Doctor.  

The rest of registration was pretty standard.  You had to attend the expo to get your number and you had to walk the whole expo no cutting corners in order to get your pack. The packs were great a backpack and t-shirt included.  They did not have a t-shirt to try on for size and there was no swapping once you had taken possession.  They were very strict about this.  They pointed at people and said she’s got a medium on he’s got a large on and left you trying to judge from that what size you needed. 

The information about the race starting times and how to get to race pens was clear in the pack.  The baggage trucks very easy to find and very efficient at the end. 

Once the race started you were in beautiful Rome lots of sights to see but then it headed out rough areas of Rome lots of bends and turns.  The roads are cobbled and where they are concrete there were real big pot holes none of them spray painted or marked and I saw at least 3 people go down in them mainly towards the end when legs were tired.

in the middle it was back into tourist area lots to see and then back out into rough neck of the woods then back again to finish at the coleseum - absolultley beautiful to turn the corner with 200 metres to go and see this right in front of you.  

The medals were nice and big and heavy. The finisher area was very spacious and had plenty water and fruit ect. 

I did enjoy this marathon.  The profile doesn’t show up the hills as much as your legs feel them and the cobbles are hard going on the knees but sights to see and we got a beautiful day for it too. 

I would Recomend this run as long as you are able to get the medical taken care of.