VENICE MARATHON FACTS

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2008 (start time: 9:20am)

Course type: Point to Point

Marathon start: in front of Villa Pisani, Stra, Italy

Marathon finish: Riva Sette Martiri, Venezia, Italy

Course overview: Start is located in Stra (a small country town about 25 km west of Venice), at the beginning of “Riviera
del Brenta”, the beautiful riverside area where rich and noble Venetians built their vacation mansions in
the 18th century.
The finish is in the historic centre of Venice, on the embankment named Riva Sette Martiri, in a scenic
position facing the lagoon.

The highlights of the course include Riviera del Brenta, with several 18th century mansions just next to the course (in particular the
impressive “Villa Pisani” next to the marathon start line).
Zattere, a 2-km-long embankment next to the Giudecca Canal, where athletes run close to the water.
Pontoon Bridge over Grand Canal, a 170-meters-long floating bridge which is built the night before
the marathon and dismantled the night after.
St. Mark’s Square and Palazzo Ducale, renowned Venice landmarks.
Finish line in Riva Sette Martiri, in the picturesque waterfront of St. Mark’s Basin.
The first half of the race develops in a typical countryside landscape, following the course of the river in
the “Riviera del Brenta”.

The marathon goes through the centre of Marghera and Mestre (i.e. the boroughs of the city of Venice
located on the mainland), runs for 3 kilometers inside San Giuliano’s Park (the largest urban green area
in Europe) and gets to Venice via the Liberty Bridge (a flat and straight bridge long just a little less
than 4 kilometers).
The race proceeds in the Venice port area and reaches the city centre for the last kilometers, which are
simply unique. Marathoners run next to the Giudecca Canal to Punta della Dogana, where they cross
the Grand Canal on a pontoon bridge, especially built for the race.
Passing by Piazza San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale, the marathon route gets to the finish line
located in Riva Sette Martiri.

Course difficulty: The Venicemarathon course is basically flat and fast. There are just a few difficulties, represented by 3-
4 short slopes (100 meters or so) between the 25th and 35th kilometre.
In the final part of the marathon route (last 3 kilometres), runners will face 14 little bridges over Venice’s
canals. Wooden ramps are put in place to prevent athletes from running on the steps.
There is no cobblestone on the course (apart from the last 100 meters before the finish line). In the final
3 kilometres the running surface will be mainly made of large rectangular stone slabs.
The course is entirely closed to traffic and marked every kilometer.

Weather:    average high: 15°C / 59°F  average low: 7°C / 44°F
Time limit: 6 hours
Participant cap: 6.500 entrants
Entry fee: 70,00 euros for international participants
Entry fee includes: • Results by SMS and e-mail
• Finisher’s commemorative medal
• Personal clothes transportation from start to finish area
• Pre-race transportation from Venice Tronchetto or Mestre to the start area
• Post-race transportation from the finish area to Venice Tronchetto, Mestre and start area

Race packet: Venicemarathon’s 2008 race packet will include a gadget from the technical sponsor and several gifts
from the sponsors.

Timing: Race timing will be managed by Timing Data Service using a revolutionary active transponder included
in the bib number.
Sensors along the course will record the actual time in which each athlete finishes the race.
Intermediate times will be also recorded at the kilometres: 5, 10, 15, 21.097 (half marathon), 25, 30, 35
and 40.

Exposport – Venicemarathon Village
The marathon’s expo (where athletes pick their bib numbers) is located in Venezia Mestre inside San
Giuliano’s Park (the largest urban green area in Europe). Exposport is open from Thursday until
Saturday.

Family Run
Family Run is a 4 km non-competitive run that takes place the day before the marathon. Family Run is
held inside San Giuliano’s Park in Venezia Mestre.
Anima la Maratona
Anima la Maratona is a music contest with more than 20 music bands located along the race course
that will entertain runners and spectators.

BASIC PACKAGE  2 NIGHTS VENICE OCT 24 to OCT 26, 2008

Novotel Hotel Venice Mestre

Large modern international 4 star hotel, 215 rooms, Novotel Venezia Mestre Castellana is the ideal hotel for
business and leisure alike. Ideal for families with rooms for 2 adults and 2 children.
Strategic location with easy access to Venice Airport 10 km away, city centre and Mestre railway station 2 km away. Free
hotel shuttle service to and from Piazzale Roma/Venice.
American buffet breakfast from 6 am. La Terrazza restaurant open until 12 a.m.

3 NIGHTS PACKAGE BB BASIS WITH SPECIAL PASTA DINNER
double room: 275 Euros per person
double room for single use: 445 Euros
Extra Night 85 Euros Double per person
Extra Night Single 142 Euros

Hotel Russott - Venice Mestre

Russott Hotel  - Near Expo
Strategically positioned, the Russott Hotel is ideal for those who want to combine a business visit with the chance to visit a
city which is unique: Venice.
Just a few kilometres away from Venice Marco Polo international airport is the first hotel on the mainland side of the bridge
which links Venice to the mainland. It is located in the new San Giuliano Park, the largest in Europe, which offers a wide range
of recreational activities from nature trails to jogging, cycling and walking tracks.
The Russott Hotel is the Venicemarathon head quarter, just a few minutes walk from the Marathon Expo, where all runners will
collect their bib number and race packet.
181 rooms equipped with every comfort, all rooms can be connected to internet as an alternative to the Internet point in the
hall.

3 NIGHTS PACKAGE
double room: 222 Euros per person
single room: 382 Euros per person

4 NIGHT PACKAGE
double room 297 Euros per person
Single Room 508 Euros
 

THE ABOVE PRICES INCLUDE!!!
Shuttle service from the hotel to the start area of the marathon, in Stra, on Sunday morning
Prices are per person, breakfast and taxes included.

Hotel Novotel : 2 children up to 16 years in double with parents are free of charge
Hotel Russot: children up to 6 years in double with parents or 2 adults are free of charge, from 7 to 16 years supplement 18 Euros

The free bus transfer on Sunday morning will leave from the bus station (Piazzale Roma) for the hotels located in Venice; for
the hotels in Mestre it will start directly from the hotels or nearby.

EXTENDED PACKAGES AVAILABLE

Reservations

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