EVEN far away from home, Filipinos all over the world are staying united and keeping themselves physically and mentally active through various sports activiti⁰es.

One favorite sport is marathon, with more and more Filipinos based in Italy and other neighboring countries now actively taking part.

And this early, Filipinos are getting ready for the 29th Rome Marathon scheduled on March 19, 2024.

Alona Cochon, delegate of the Italian Marathon Club for the Filipino community, said approximately more than 100 Filipinos are expected to run in the 42.195 km marathon, relay and 5km fun run.

Cochon said Filipinos also participated in the 28th Rome Marathon held last March 19, 2023.

Some of them even come from the United Kingdom, Dublin, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Netherlands, Italy Canada, Norway, America and even as far as the Philippines.

Four world-class Filipino runners — Mike Gonda (Ireland), JC and Jeanette Santa Teresa (US) and Rolando Espina (Ireland) — led the participants.

They are the marathoners who helped set the pace of the runners.

This year, there is a “Philippine Cheering Station” at the 26km mark at Ponte della Musica.

The Philippine team runners set four days of activities for participants, according to Cochon.

On Wednesday, some of the participants they went on tour in Italy.

The following day, they went around the city.

On Friday, they went for a courtesy call and carbo loading at the Philippine Embassy in Rome, Italy with Consul General Ms. Donna Celeste Feliciano Gatmaytan.

And on Friday, Philippine Embassy to the Holy See Ambassador Grace joined the group for the “Meet and Greet”.

And it was Shake Out 5K Run at the Pineta Saccheti Park on Saturday.

“The sky above the Imperial Forums. All marathoners ready for departure, the countdown is almost there. The tenor sings the National Anthem: the heart beats hard waiting for the start. The hand is already on the watch, but suddenly a roar takes the eye upwards,” said Cochon.

“The Frecce Tricolori of the Aeronautica Militare, which for the first time in an Italian marathon, will fly over the runners starting on via dei Fori Imperiali, leaving behind most beautiful and largest tricolor in the world, everyone was amazed.”

During the marathon, the Filipinos even performed traditional dances under the leadership of the Pinoy Teens Saling Lahi infront of many kababayans who came to see the marathon.

The winners in the Acea Run Rome Marathon were Taoufik Allam (men) and Betty Chepkwony (women).

Fastest Filipino was Lorenzo Castro Jr., who finished fifth in his category.

Now, the Filipinos can’t wait for the next big event on March 17, 2024.