Milano21 — Mezza Maratona di Milano 2024

And here it is! My last race of the season: the Mezza Maratona di Milano 2024. If you had asked me what made me join this race, I would have answered, “per parlare italiano!” — though I still have a lot to practice.

About Milano21

While preparing my luggage for Milano, I started reading more about the race. I saw a lot of reviews, and even the official presentation claimed that this is a fast track: flat and very suitable for a personal best. Except the organizers may have picked the wrong month.

“Its fast and flat route favors those runners who are always ready to challenge themselves and others with fast paces.”

“Milano21, fast track to personal best.”

While I appreciated this feedback, the weather didn’t seem so promising. The maximum temperature was expected to be around 8°C (46°F).

Another unique thing about this race was that I couldn’t find the course record. Based on past results, I think this is a relatively new course. The records I found were only for the last three years, with the winning time around 1:05. For context, in Valencia, they recently broke the world record with a time of 57:30, so I was a little puzzled by the “fast track” claim. We’ll see!

Planning and Arrival

Signing up for the race was easy, but finding a place to stay was not. I’m not sure if this is considered a big event in Milano, but the accommodation prices suggested so. I’ve raced in Lisbon, Prague, Helsinki, and Valencia this year, and in Milano, I paid more for a hotel than in any of those cities.

I usually book hotels within 2–3 km of the start line, so I can jog to the start as a warm-up and avoid carrying anything with me. This time, my fellow runner and I chose Hotel Nasco, which was about 1 km from the start and even closer to the finish.

Traveling to Milano can also be an adventure, as you have three airport options: Linate, Malpensa, and Bergamo. Linate is the closest to the city and is connected via the metro. For the other airports, you’ll need buses or trains.

I booked my ticket with Lufthansa and landed at Malpensa. From the airport, I took the shuttle to the city for €10. The one-hour drive was reasonable, but beware of traffic — it can take much longer depending on the time of day.

Exploring the City

Milano, the second-largest city in Italy, is a fantastic place to visit. Though I didn’t have much time to explore during this trip, I managed to see the Duomo di Milano, the nearby Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the church where The Last Supper (L’Ultima Cena) is located, and the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio.

There are plenty of other sights to explore, like Castello Sforzesco and numerous old churches — you just need time and patience.

For The Last Supper, be sure to buy tickets in advance. Even in November, they were sold out, with the next available dates in December. Other than that, just enjoy the pasta and prosecco!

Race Day

Milano21 is not a huge race, but this year the number of participants increased from 4,500 to 6,000. Despite this, the start area didn’t feel too crowded, and I found space for my warm-up and exercises before the race.

The start was slightly congested, but thanks to my last personal best, I was placed in Wave 2. Passing other runners was tricky for the first 2 kilometers, and the course felt crowded until about kilometer 5. Since I wasn’t aiming for a personal best, I didn’t mind.

Things were smooth until we reached the old city center, where the asphalt gave way to cobblestones. This slowed me down, as I had to look down to avoid stumbling or falling, occasionally making awkward steps to avoid bumps in the pavement. Compared to my last race in Valencia — where I sped up during this stage — I found myself slowing down in Milano. However, running through the old city was still a memorable experience.

Some peculiarities along the route: at one point, we had to slow down to let a police van cross the course. I even saw a tram waiting to cross. Police seemed to time these interruptions for moments with fewer runners, but it was still a bit odd.

There were also occasional pedestrians crossing the course, though this was minimal compared to other races I’ve run.

Another quirky aspect: at the finish line, I was declared an “alien.” I wasn’t included in an age category and wasn’t officially ranked in the final results. No foreigners were included in the rankings — it’s just the Italian way, I suppose! 😊

Final Thoughts

Milano21 is more than just a race — it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, rich history, and unmatched energy of one of Italy’s iconic cities. While it may not be the fastest course for setting a personal best, the experience of running through cobblestone streets, navigating the city’s unique quirks, and enjoying the warm Italian hospitality makes it truly unforgettable.

If you’re planning to run this race, take the time to explore Milano beyond the start and finish lines. Savor the pasta, sip the prosecco, and soak in the sights that make this city so special. And, of course, don’t let the “alien” ranking bother you — you’ll always know where you finished, and the memories you take away will last much longer than any result list. 😉