Study Abroad Blog: It’s Not Every Day You Run a Half Marathon in Italy!

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Living abroad has proven to be an exhilarating journey filled with all sorts of new encounters. From trying new foods to exploring all sorts of places, every moment has been a discovery. Just recently, I even completed my first half marathon! I never thought I would be running a race while abroad, but about 14 weeks ago I decided to start training for a half marathon. Realizing I would be studying in Italy at the end of those 14 weeks, I searched for races near Florence and decided to sign up for the Bologna Half Marathon on March 3rd. 

Training for the Half Marathon

I started my guided training program with the Nike Run Club app, a great way to keep me structured and motivated. Coach Bennett, the Nike Run Club Head Coach, has been there in my headphones every step of the way guiding me through the journey. 

The beginning of my training started in Amherst, and I would go on runs after class around my neighborhood or head to the Recreation Center for a treadmill workout. Most of these runs consisted of sprint circuits and short to mid-distance runs. Doing this training program during the semester was a great way to maintain structure throughout my day, and also a good stress reliever when finals began. 

After the semester concluded, I had to transition to training only at the gym, because it was often too cold outside for my liking. Over winter break, I trained five days a week at my local gym and this was when the distance started to increase – my longest run being 10 miles. 

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This brought me to the end of January when I moved to Florence! I initially was excited to try city running, but quickly realized that crowds and cobblestone streets were not suitable for running long distances. So I joined a gym a few minutes away from my apartment, Palestra Ricciardi. I wasn’t sure if it was common for study abroad students to join a gym, but every time I go there are a bunch of students there as well. Joining a gym while abroad has been a great way to once again maintain structure in my schedule and relieve stress. 

Race Day

After arriving in Bologna, a 40-minute train ride from Florence, we were excited to run! On the day of the race, my friend and running partner Zoe and I headed to the starting point, which was in a large and historic plaza, Piazza Maggiore. Thousands of racers were gathered in the piazza, most warming up with a quick jog and stretching. The excited energy of all the racers was palpable, and fueled a burst of adrenaline in me as I approached the start line. 

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Me and Zoe at the starting line before the race

The half marathon race began at 8:45 a.m., and was then followed by the full marathon at 9:15 a.m. At the start of the half marathon, the crowd took a while to dissipate, but nearly every racer had a smile on their face and was filled with excitement for the miles to come. The first three miles were the easiest for me, as the exhaustion had not yet settled in. Zoe and I were cruising at a comfortable pace, and being cheered on by the surrounding crowd and the jazz bands that lined the sides of the road! Throughout the duration of the race, about five different jazz bands were set up along the way, which boosted spirits and kept the energy alive. Every time I saw the jazz bands in the distance I took off my headphones to hear their music, which was one of my favorite aspects of the race. 

The middle of the half marathon was definitely harder than the beginning – as you might have assumed. My feet began to ache and my legs were certainly tired, but the people racing along with Zoe and I encouraged us to keep on going, cheering “Andiamo! Andiamo!” Some of the Italian racers would even turn around when they heard Zoe and I talking, and ask where we were from. Although most of the time I could not understand what other racers or people in the crowd were saying, just the energy and excitement in everyone’s voices gave me a boost of adrenaline. 

As we neared the end of the race, with about four miles to go, I began to feel the fatigue. I had never run farther than 10 miles before, so the next leg of the race was all new territory for me. At this point, I did pause a few times to walk and indulge in the refreshments provided along the way, but I was still so excited to have gone as far as I did! I won’t lie and say the last miles were easy, because they certainly were not, but they were the most rewarding ones. Once Zoe and I reached the last mile, a large hill stood in front of us… and at that point, it felt like Mount Everest! In all honesty, I did have to take a quick walking break after trekking up the hill. After that, there were only a few more turns left and the finish line was in sight. As we inched closer to the finish line, Zoe and I grabbed hands and ran as fast as we could over the line with smiles on our faces. 

Crossing the finish line with Zoe

Crossing the finish line and having the medal placed over my neck was one of the best feelings. I felt accomplished, empowered, and most importantly, relieved… I could finally sit down! Overall, the race was a great experience and one I will never forget. It’s not every day you can run a half marathon in Italy!