Saint Valentino Marathon 2026

Ohhh, love is beautiful! ❤️ Are you an eternal romantic? 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 We have the perfect race for you! If each year you find yourself stuck on what to do for Valentine’s Day, we've discovered the ideal surprise for you! 🎁 For this gift, you'll need to travel to the land of love, Italy! 🇮🇹 And not just anywhere, of course. You'll head to Terni. If that doesn’t ring a bell, don’t worry, we’ll explain everything 💌.

The Valentine’s Marathon, or should we say the Maratona di San Valentino, offers several race formats in addition to its flagship distance, the 42 km marathon! 👑 For example, you can participate in the half marathon, or even take part in the family run 👩‍👦‍👦, which is an 8 km course. There's even a run organized with your favorite dog 🐶. It’s a short 2 km run but with someone dear to us, like a significant other. To really get into the spirit, you might even choose to run with your partner in the couple’s marathon together 👨‍❤️‍👨. Terni is the birthplace of the celebrated Valentine’s Day! 🎆 In a brief historical note, this tradition originated with Saint Valentine of Terni 👴, a priest in the 3rd century AD known for blessing clandestine marriages 💍. This illegal activity at the time led to his imprisonment and eventual execution. Many customs have roots in a martyr’s death. Although the exact date of his death is uncertain, the day became immortalized as the famous February 14th 📆.

Rest assured, the event is more festive and far less somber than the holiday it commemorates! 🎇 Besides being side by side with your soulmate (of course, you can run as a single, we don't discriminate at Finishers), you’ll discover a city full of charm sure to dazzle you 👀. The race starts in the center of the city of Terni. You'll then have the chance (and hopefully some luck 😅) to traverse the Valnerina Valley, which runs along the Nera River ⛰️. One of the highlights of the race is undoubtedly passing close to the Marmore Falls 🏞️. According to legend, a nymph named Nera fell in love with a handsome shepherd, Velino. But Juno, envious of this love, turned the nymph into a river, called Nera. To not lose his beloved, Velino leapt from the Marmore cliffs, a jump destined to be eternally repeated at the Marmore Falls 📜.

Since this event is linked to a saint, you'll run alongside several magnificent religious buildings ⛪. Among them is the Basilica of San Valentino, also known as the Saint Bishop of Terni. You’ll also get to visit Ferentillo, a town from the 8th century known for its mummies, and Montefranco and Arrone, regions that bring the Middle Ages to life with their castles, fortresses, monasteries, and old mills 🏰. At the end of your journey, a lovely heart-shaped arch will mark the finish line, and if you are a finisher (which we are confident you will be), you'll receive a beautiful heart-shaped medal created by the Terni art school 🏅. 💛

Put down that bouquet of flowers 💐 or box of chocolates 🍫 and lace up your sneakers to chase after love at the Valentine’s Marathon! 🥰