Race previews

01 July 2014, 7am

Distance Running 2014 Edition 3 > Race previews > Turin Marathon

Visiting Turin means plunging into Italian culture, history and traditions – and running the Turin Marathon lets you live these. Runners can get a good look around and enjoy the warm welcome of Turin’s people, who support and encourage them for the entire length of the course.

Turin Marathon

by Alessandra Ramella Pairin

Turin Marathon
Sun 16 November 2014

The autumn date is when the climate is most favourable to run a marathon. The autumn colours cover the artistic splendours of Turin, Thousands of runners meet in Piazza San Carlo, Turin’s cultural ‘salon’ where, among historical cafés and prestigious brand name shops, the Marathon starts. A Bronze Horse (Caval ëd Brons) stands in the middle of this piazza and behind it two of Turin’s richest baroque churches stand before the starters as if they were in an open-air museum.

After the start, striking views open up to both right and the left. The Mole Antonelliana, the symbol of the city, houses the National Cinema Museum – the only one of its kind in Italy. Then comes the Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Europe’s biggest colonnaded square, that leads to the river banks along the streets next to the Gran Madre Church. Tradition says that the secret of the Holy Grail is hidden here.

Once in Moncalieri the runners will see the first Savoy residence, the Castle of Moncalieri. After a few kilometres they will encounter “Juve World”, where Juventus holds its training sessions – a very cool place for football supporters. Then jump back into the magnificence of the past with a view of the Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi, where the Savoy family spent time hunting.

Runners then turn back towards the city, with the course following long, straight boulevards; the running is easy and the course flows fast under the feet. You get a glance of the FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) before plunging into one of the greenest areas and returning to the city centre by way of the slightly downhill Corso Francia, welcomed by the applauding crowd that awaits the arrival of the marathon runners after having taken part in the Stratorino race (7.5km open to all) and the Junior Marathon (the kids’ race).

And so to the coveted finish line in Piazza Castello, under Palazzo Madama, the historical place where the unification of Italy was proclaimed in 1861.

The Turin Marathon course is a single loop and this helps the race organisers to provide the changing rooms, bag drop, showers and sumptuous post-race refreshment very close to the start and finish areas. Everyone who finishes receives a celebration medal and a certificate of participation.

In the days before the marathon, or the night after it, runners and their friends can enjoy Turin’s nightlife in the Quadrilatero area or in the city centre. Music, gastronomical specialties and wine provide the right background for a visit to the city and participation in the Turin Marathon.