Just a few kilometres from Venice, the bustling tourist resort of Jesolo with its 4.5 million visitors per year is home to a running event with lots of different races and plenty of street life and music. In addition to the 21k and 42k races, there will be a mini marathon for children, a 4km family run, an 11km non-competitive run, and nordic walking along the beach.
The marathon and half marathon routes along the lagoon and the streets of Jesolo are completely flat and fast, and accurately measured.
In 2008, however, despite the late start at 8pm, high temperatures and humidity slowed down most runners to a considerable degree. Kenya's Metto Philemon Kipkering won the marathon in a modest 2:41:21. Croatia's Marija Vrajić led the women home in 2:58:49.
The fastest in the half marathon were Enrico Vivian of Italy in 1:10:10, and Beth Eburne of Great Britain in 1:20:31.
Country: Italy
Venue: Cavallino Treporti - Jesolo
Date: 23 May (Saturday)
Distance: 21.1km, 42.2km (AIMS certified); 4km and 11km non-competitive run; 1.195km (children)Start: 20.00 at Lio Grando, Cavallino Treporti (5km/30minutes by ferry from Venice)
Finish: Piazza Mazzini, Jesolo
Entries: online, payment by credit card; entries close 20 May or whenEntry fees: after 31 January: 25* EUR (21km), 50* EUR (42km); 5 EUR (4km, 11km)
* You may have to pay an additional 5 EUR and show a medical certificate if you are not a member of the Italian Athletic Federation FIDAL (details on the event website).
Race centre: Expo in Piazza Brescia, Jesolo
You get: goody bag, pasta party before the race (from 11.00 to 15.00), chip for timing, transport of personal clothes from the start to the finish, finisher medal, shuttle buses from Jesolo to Cavallino after the race
Prizes: 42km: first 10 M/F; 21km: first 10M, first 5F
Showers and changing facilities: at the finish
Presentation: Piazza Mazzini, Jesolo
Number of finishers 2008: 1788 (21km), 463 (42km)
Event Website (in Italian, English and German): Nightmarathon