Cardio Race

The Cardio Race is a road race held at the Ippodromo delle Capannelle in south-east Rome, at the heart of a weekend devoted entirely to heart health. Created in 2013, it aims to raise public awareness of cardiovascular disease, support research and promote the prevention of sudden cardiac death. The event is run by DreamCom, part of Gruppo Dream, under the scientific direction of the National Institute for Cardiovascular Research (INRC) and with the support of Roma Capitale; the technical organisation of the races is entrusted to OPES.

The main race, on the FIDAL calendar, is 12.4 km and starts at 9 am from the racecourse. It can also be run without competitive ranking. The route, redesigned in response to participants' feedback, leaves the Capannelle for Via Appia Nuova, crosses the Parco degli Acquedotti, follows the Circonvallazione Tuscolana and returns to the racecourse. The time limit is 1 hour 45 minutes, leaving plenty of margin for steady runners. A medical certificate of fitness for competitive sport is required for the ranked race.

The non-competitive Open race covers just over 5 km with the same start time. Open to anyone aged 13 and over and requiring no medical certificate, it suits beginners, brisk walkers and groups of friends or colleagues. Children up to 12 have their own Kids Run of about 1 km inside the event village, at a dedicated time.

The setting is a big part of the appeal. The Capannelle racecourse, founded in 1881 and regarded as the first racecourse in Italy, covers some 140 hectares. Nearby, the Parco degli Acquedotti, part of the Appia Antica regional park, preserves the great arches of the Roman aqueducts among the meadows of the Roman countryside. The gentle terrain in this part of the city makes for a fast course, equally suited to chasing a time or to an easy run.

Around the race, the Villaggio della Salute is free to enter for three days, from Friday to Sunday, with free electrocardiograms, ultrasound scans and specialist consultations, physiotherapy, nutrition advice, first-aid and CPR sessions and talks. Bibs for the non-competitive race are collected on Friday and those for the competitive race on Saturday, from 10 am to 6 pm. On Sunday, runners gather at the racecourse at 8 am; village activities continue until early afternoon, followed by the club prize-giving.