Memorial Enrico Chiarelli

The Memorial Enrico Chiarelli is a road race held in Capena, a hilltop town in the Tiber valley about thirty kilometres north of Rome. Dedicated to the memory of Enrico Chiarelli, it was first run in 2023 and has become part of the Vendemmiale, the town's grape harvest festival, celebrated every first Sunday of October. A small community race, it brings together a few dozen runners from clubs in the province of Rome and beyond, in an atmosphere that blends competition with a village fair.

The race covers a distance of about 10.5 km. The start is given at 9.30am from Piazza Due Agosto, in the centre of Capena, and the course runs along the roads of the municipality. The race is timed and results are published by age category, so licensed runners can measure themselves while there is plenty of room for amateurs who come mainly for the atmosphere. On-the-day entries open from 7.30am for latecomers, but it is best to register online in advance. As with any competitive race in Italy, a medical certificate for competitive athletics is required.

At ten and a half kilometres, the Memorial appeals to a wide range of runners: regulars looking for a brisk autumn outing, beginners keen to try their first competitive 10K, or visitors who came for the festival and feel tempted to line up. No detailed elevation profile is published, but Capena sits on high ground among hills covered in vineyards and olive groves, so expect some changes in gradient around the town.

Founded in 1927, the Vendemmiale celebrates the grape harvest and has marked the town's calendar for nearly a century. During the festival, the streets of the centre are decked with laurel garlands strung from window to window and with bunches of grapes. On Sunday afternoon, allegorical floats, once drawn by oxen and now by tractors, parade through the town handing out grapes and wine to onlookers, accompanied by the local band; near the church of Sant'Antonio, wine flows from a marble lion's head set in a niche. Runners who stay on after the finish can enjoy a full day of festivities, with food stalls, exhibitions and guided tours.

Capena's surroundings are rich in heritage. The municipality is home to the archaeological site of Lucus Feroniae, an ancient sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Feronia that later became a Roman colony, where the forum, baths and an amphitheatre can still be seen, close to the Villa of the Volusii. The medieval town, with its sloping lanes and views over the Tiber valley and Mount Soracte, is well worth a gentle stroll after the race. Capena can be reached from Rome on the A1 motorway, exiting at Fiano Romano, or along the Via Tiberina.