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Are you looking for a half marathon PR? I have got you covered. The Padova Half Marathon is an amazing flat/downhill half marathon that takes place every April about an hour outside of Venice, Italy. The course starts in a nearby spa town before heading through rolling hills and a few village centers and dropping the runners in the center of Padova. 

The race is perfect for people looking for a nice spring half marathon that won’t be as crowded, but still offers a professional atmosphere with the expo, course, and supplies that would typically be found in a much larger race.

If you’re looking for someone to plan a vacation around the Padova Half or Full Marathon for you, look no further. I offer trip consultations, tailored travel itineraries, and end-to-end trip planning. I even support running clubs traveling in large groups.

Signing Up for the Padova Half Marathon

Signing up for the Padova Half or Full Marathon does include a few extra steps, however the website is very clear in how to walk through them as long as you can follow the instructions. The initial sign up process is very similar to any other race. The only thing I will say is that while they offer mens and womens sizing for shirts, the company they use runs very small. I typically wear a womens medium, and ended up with a womens large that was still too small. 

After signing up you will have a portal where you can upload several forms. 

The first thing you need is a medical certificate. These are typically found for races in France, but Padova does require one as well. If you have had a physical with your doctor in the last year, they should be more than willing to sign the form. If you haven’t this is a great time to make another appointment. Depending on your doctor, and how well they know you, they may be willing to just sign without a physical. 

The next item you will need is RunCard provided by the Federation of Italian Athletics. This is very easy to get, just follow the steps on their website and pay the small fee of a couple of bucks. 

Once you have done those two things and uploaded them to the Padova site you will be ready to go.

Travel to Padova

Padova is located very close to Venice and if you are traveling from the center of Venice you can take the train. However, if you are heading from Venice Marco Polo airport, the bus will be a better option, dropping you off at the Padova Train Station in just over an hour.

Where to Stay Near the Padova Marathon

The benefit of a race in such a small city is that you can really stay anywhere and be close to the finish line. If you’re running the half and need to catch the buses, they are located about 40 minutes from the finish line. The most ideal hotel would be half way between these two spots, but I always prefer to be closer to the finish line than the start.

Padova Marathon Expo

For a smaller race, this expo rivaled that of many of the largest races I have done. Lots of sponsors had booths set up and there were plenty of chances to get additional swag. I say additional because the bags handed out by the race itself were already full of swag. They had snacks, water bottles, a shoe horn, and other random items the year I raced. 

Most importantly the swag bag also included a coupon book for free and reduced entry to several museums around Padova. I was able to use some of these tickets during my trip, but not all.

Race Day

Getting to the Start

The race is a Point A to Point B style race that is mostly flat but technically downhill from start to finish. It’s definitely a great option to smash your PR. Since you start outside of the city, they also offer several shuttles to pick up runners in Padova and bring them to the start. I would recommend getting on the bus at the train station so that you are guaranteed a seat. The later stops ended up standing. 

The last bus to the starting line does leave very early. I spent a good hour hanging out at the start and walking around before the race started. Unfortunately, the bag drops were in trucks to travel to the finish and they left over 30 minutes before the race started. I found myself struggling to stay warm for this period and wished I had brought a plastic bag or a throw away sweater. 

They did have lots of porta-potties available for runners at the start which is great since they basically had us waiting for an hour.

Padova Half Marathon Course

As mentioned above, the course is mostly flat or downhill. The course also takes you through many beautiful small villages and rolling countryside. While it ends in the city of Padova, you only really enter in the last mile, which means you may not be able to appreciate the views depending on how much effort you are exerting. 

As you enter the city your poor feet will also struggle. The cobblestones at the finish were brutal and most runners started running single file to protect their feet on the small line of flat ground. Luckily this only lasted for a couple hundred meters.

Crowds During the Race

The crowds along the course of the Padova Half marathon were great for this region. I have found in general that races in Southern Europe do not have as many people cheering as races in Northern Europe (Scotland and the Netherlands are the best), but when compared to the Romeo and Juliet Half Marathon that takes place only an hour away in Verona, these crowds were huge. 

The race organizers also made an effort to bring crowds out, providing people along the course with flags to cheer for runners. I know that in years to come their efforts will continue to get more people out and cheering.

Water and Bathrooms

The water stations along the course were great. They offered snacks like bananas and bread, as well as water and an electrolyte option for runners. The only issue I had was that the water stations did not have enough trash cans. A few times the only trashcan was at the table or within five feet. As someone who doesn’t like to litter even when racing, this was a problem.

Along with the water stations there were plenty of bathrooms along the course. Most of the ones I passed did not have any line, or only one person was in line.

Finish Line

I really liked the finish line, as you get to head into a famous square in Padova. My only issue was that I almost missed the free food in the finish area, but that’s on me just being tired. I should have seen the giant crowd on my first pass. 

The finish also had lots of people cheering, as the runners in the shorter race earlier in the day stuck around to cheer home these runners.

Visiting Padova

Padova is such a cute small city to visit. When you visit I suggest making sure you book tickets for the Scrovegni Chapel in advance. The chapel is the most popular attraction and can quickly sell out. What makes the chapel notable is the frescos along the walls and ceilings that are still in amazing condition. 

You can also do the Botanical gardens. I really enjoyed them, however they weren’t my favorite in this region. If you have time after the race visit the Giusti Gardens in Verona for a truly gorgeous botanical garden. 

The final must-see in Padova is the tomb of Saint Anthony. The Patron Saint of lost things (and relationships in Portugal and former Portuguese colonies), the tomb is located in a gorgeous church. It is free to enter and visit, which is always a big plus in my book.

Traveling in Northern Italy

The best way to travel around Northern Italy is to follow along the train line between Venice and Milan and pick a base city. For me, I used the city of Brescia. This means I did a few nights in Padova for the race, then a large chunk in Brescia doing day trips to Verona, Sirmione, and Bergamo, and ending with a few nights in Venice. The region has so much to see, but I do not enjoy traveling to a new hotel every day. 

If you are ready to run the Padova Half or full marathon, sign up here. Additionally, if you are a female runner who is looking for running buddies, check out my group, Jet-Setting runners on facebook.