Maratona di Reggio Emilia

Location: Reggio Emilia
Country: Italy
Website: https://www.maratonadireggioemilia.it/
2025 Marathon Date: 14/12/2025
2026 Marathon Date: TBC
Winning Time 2025: 2:14:37
% Sub-3s: 5-10% # Sub-3s: 50-99 Total Finishers: 1-3k

The Maratona di Reggio Emilia, officially known as the Maratona di Reggio Emilia – Città del Tricolore, is an established annual road marathon held in Reggio Emilia, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. Taking place in December, it combines a runnable course profile with strong historical identity, rooted in a city that played a defining role in the formation of modern Italy.

Reggio Emilia sits between Parma and Modena, on the flat plains of northern Italy, with gentle hills rising to the south. The marathon reflects this geography. Both the start and finish are typically located in the city centre at Piazza della Vittoria, creating a compact, spectator-friendly focal point. From there, the 42.195 km route moves out through urban streets before opening into the surrounding countryside, offering a quieter, more rural running experience in the middle stages.

The course is classified as mostly flat, with some mild undulations rather than sustained climbs. While the net elevation change is effectively zero - with start and finish at roughly the same altitude, around 60 metres above sea level - runners encounter a total elevation gain and loss of approximately 140 metres across the full distance. The highest point of the course reaches around 150 metres, particularly as the route approaches the area near Quattro Castella. These slopes are gradual and short, rewarding steady pacing rather than aggressive surges, and keeping the course accessible to runners targeting consistent marathon rhythm.

The combination of paved city roads and open countryside sections makes the race feel varied without being technically demanding. December conditions in Emilia-Romagna are typically cool, which further supports sustained marathon efforts, provided runners are prepared for potentially damp or misty weather.

The marathon was first conceived in the mid-1990s, with the inaugural edition held in 1996. It quickly established itself as a regular fixture on the Italian marathon calendar, growing from just over a thousand participants in its early years to several thousand finishers at its peak. Its full name, “Città del Tricolore,” reflects Reggio Emilia’s historical significance as the birthplace of the Italian flag in 1797, a theme that runs quietly through the event’s identity.

Today, the Maratona di Reggio Emilia offers a balanced marathon experience: historically grounded, calmly organised, and physically honest. It suits runners who appreciate a largely flat profile with just enough variation to stay engaged, set within a city whose national importance extends far beyond sport.