Preview: 11th Custoza Marathon 2010
Sommacampagna (ITA), Sunday 9 May 2010
Participants run through Borghetto on the River Mincio.
The Custoza Marathon, held on the second Sunday in May, features a beautiful, scenic and interesting route through a wine-growing region near Verona in northern Italy.
The course is very hilly, however, and you shouldn't expect to break your personal record. You run mostly on asphalt roads but some sections are on trails or dirt roads.
The event is named after the hilltop village of Custoza, which you pass after about 8 kilometres. During the Italian Independence Wars, two fierce battles were fought in Custoza against the Austrian Empire (in 1848 and 1866).
The start and the finish of the marathon are in a shady park in the village of Sommacampagna, half-way between Verona and Lake Garda.
The first 15 kilometres go through vineyards, where the Bianco di Custoza is produced. All finishers are awarded with three bottles of this fresh dry white wine.
After about 16 kilometres, participants run across the 650-metre-long Visconti Bridge (Ponte Visconteo), an over 600-year-old fortified dam.
The next highlight is running through the village of Borghetto with its picturesque watermills and narrow streets. The race then travels along the lovely River Mincio, which is highly popular with anglers. The last 15 kilometres are hilly again.
With an entry fee of 25 Euros the event is great value, and you can stay the night before the race for free in the sports hall next to the start.
In 2009, the winners were Antonio Armuzzi (2:25:19) and Monica Carlin (2:49:13).
The race travels across the Visconti Bridge.
Country: Italy
Venue (Map): Sommacampagna (Verona 13km, Lake Garda 15km, Venice 126km, Milano 145km)
Date: 9 May 2010 (Sunday)
Race distance: 42.2km; 42/21/11/6km (non-competitive)
Start time: 8.30
Start and finish: at Villa Venier in Sommacampagna
Entries: by e-mail or fax; entries close 2 May; payment by bank transfer or in cash on the day
Entry fees: 25 EUR; 40 EUR (for mixed couples who finish hand in hand)
Race centre: at the sports hall near the start (Saturday 14.00-18.00); at Villa Venier (on the day 7.00-8.00)
You get: timing chip rental, T-Shirt, cap, finisher medal, 3 bottles of wine, local products, pasta party after the race
Prizes: practical prizes to the first 8 men and 5 women and to the first 5 in each category (prizes are not cumulative); prizes to the first 15 mixed couples finishing hand in hand
Showers and changing facilities: in the sports hall near the start
Number of finishers 2009: 750 (42km)
Event website (in Italian; race information in four languages): www.maratonadelcustoza.it
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information on this page.