OUR HISTORY
GAAC 2007 VERONAMARATHON ASD
MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY OF PASSION FOR RUNNING
PASSION
RUNNING
FRIENDSHIP
There is the amateur sports association GAAC 2007 Veronamarathon ASD behind the big events "Verona Run Events".
Verona Run Marathon 42K | 21K | 10K
Romeo&Giulietta Run Half Marathon 21K | 11+10K | 5K
Verona Christmas Run 10K | 5K
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A team that, thanks to the active collaboration with the Municipality of Verona,
has managed in recent years to make these events one of the most popular appointments in the sector in Italy.
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​Recognized by World Athletics and Fidal, GAAC 2007 has its roots in the middle of the 50s, when a group of friends who were passionate about high-altitude excursions founded the “Friends of Carega Mountaineering Group”.
GAAC members devoted themselves to mountain running (a specialty of which Sergio Pennacchioni one of the founding partners – and his team were strongly fascinated).
The transition to athletics took place in 1965 when some promising youngsters entered the team who would later be protagonists of important pages of sporting history.
At that point Sergio Pennacchioni contacted Dario Bergamini who joined him first as a sponsor and then as a manager.
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Come on early 80's the team has started to collect some exceptional names including Gelindo Bordin (Olympic marathon champion in Seoul 1988), Francis Panetta (gold in the 3,000m steeplechase and silver in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Rome 1987), Loris Primazzoni and Alfonso Valicella.
GAAC also formed a very successful "pink" team in which we remember Laura Sheets And Maria Curatolo.
The team in those years was supported by the passionate partnership with the dr. Franco Cicolini– owner of the PAF food industry – which helped to give birth, under the wing of the GAAC, to the PAF ATHLETICS.
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Starting from mid eighties the Veronese group also began to follow the organizational sector, dealing with the management of the European Club Racing Championships.
In the early nineties, with the premature death of Sergio Pennacchioni and the end of the partnership with PAF, GAAC ended its extraordinary sporting life.
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​To score in Feb 2008 the rebirth of the team (in the meantime renewed under the name of GAAC 2007), was the organization of the 1st edition of the Giulietta & Romeo Half Marathon, dedicated for historical and emotional reasons to the memory of the late "pioneer" Pennacchioni by the great friend Dario.
Alongside Dario Bergamini they were Costantino Falsiroli and Stefano Stanzial.
​After the nextit of the "half", the following year GAAC 2007 took charge of both the 2nd edition of the Giulietta & Romeo Half Marathon that the 8th edition of the Verona Marathon, famous marathon born in 2001 to which he gave the impetus to grow in number and importance.​
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In December 2009 the team inaugurated a new event: the Christmas run charity run with runners in Santa Claus costumes offered by the organization; a debut with a bang and 500 participants despite the rigid temperature (-5 degrees).
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​The business grows in 2010: the 3rd Juliet & Romeo, with 3,400 competitors, and the 9th Verona Marathon, have the finish line in Piazza Bra after crossing the majestic Arena.
A success rewarded by over 1,700 participants.
In December, the launch of the 1st Gardaland Half Marathon (1,150 competitors) and the 2nd Christmasrun (800 Santas).
Even in February 2011 the 4th Giulietta & Romeo is accompanied by the Verona Marathon, always with the finish line in Piazza Bra.
Both events score a great numerical success: the "half" is awarded the 3rd Half Marathon of Italy with 3,800 runners while the Verona Marathon becomes the 9th national marathon with 1,600 finishers.
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In the 2012 GAAC 2007 proposed a variation: the "half" remained in mid-February, while the marathon was moved to October 6, starting in Valpolicella and arrival inside the Verona Arena.
A changewell accepted by the running world: 1695 athletes on arrival.
And still there 3rd Gardaland Half Marathon, in its latest edition, and the 4th Christmasrun with 1,800 festive Santas.
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The 2013 saw a very participatory 6th Giulietta Half Marathon with 4850 arrivals, combined with the romantic events of VERONA IN LOVE in February, and the 12th Verona Marathon in October, once again in the top 10 most attended marathons in Italy despite a significant drop in participants.
And then over 2,000 Santa Clauses on a beautiful sunny winter day.
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2014: GAAC 2007 organization capabilities were sealed by the task of organizing the absolute Italian half marathon championship in conjunction with the 7th Juliet and Romeo Half: 6,400 athletes at the finish line, plus 500 relays.
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2015 :Giulietta&Romeo Half Marathon registered 7.123.
The goal of being able to schedule the Veronamarathon in November has been achieved.
Departure and arrival from Piazza Bra and a fast route mostly in the city.
The result in terms of participation was remarkable: over 3,000 registered in the marathon and 3,500 in the Cangrande Half Marathon.
2016: Giulietta&Romeo Half Marathon registered 7.898
The new FIDAL regulations with effect from June have penalized almost all the organizers of Italian marathons: Verona Marathon 2,927 registered, Cangrande Half Marathon registered 3,076.
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At the same time a great recognition from the Federation:
GOLD LABEL assigned to Juliet & Romeo Half Marathon
SILVER LABEL assigned to Verona Marathonand to Cangrande Half Marathon.
2017: Giulietta&Romeo Half Marathon registered 6.250.
The Italian National Commission for the UNESCO in August granted to Verona Marathon patronage dedicated to "Verona World Heritage and to the certainly unique meaning of running among architectural beauties, evidence of a very ancient history, capable of giving great emotions even during the great physical and mental effort of those who participate in the marathon". ​
The beauty of Verona, the great collaboration with local institutions and the organizational skills of GAAC 2007 play their part in the decisions of the athletes.
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In the 2018 the Veronamarathon saw over 2000 athletes at the finish line of the marathon, about 2600 to cross the Cangrande Half Marathon and another 2000 to complete the Last 10km.
5500 have crossed the finish line of the Giulietta&Romeo Half Marathon and 590 couples that of the Relay Duo.
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In the 2019 the Veronamarathon saw more than 2000 athletes at the finish line of the marathon, around 2600 crossing the finish line of the Cangrande Half Marathon and another 1300 completing the Last 10km.
In 2019, 5000 crossed the finish line of the Giulietta&Romeo Half Marathon and 566 couples that of the Relay Duo.
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In the 2020 on February 16th a magnificent one is run Juliet & Romeo Half Marathon which for the second time in history is home to the Absolute Fidal Italian Championship, with over 8000 people at the start between the half marathon and the Duo Marathon relay.
The Azzurri win the tricolor title Valeria Straneo And Daniele D'Onofrio.
The Giulietta&Romeo HM was among the most attended races of 2020 and one of the last to take place before the outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic.
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There Verona Marathon cause epidemic from COVID-19 it took place only in a virtual way with individual and remote participation, everyone from their own residence.
TO October 2020 changes the board of the GAAC 2007Veronamarathon ASD and the desire to build new pages in the history of the Veronese sports club is great.
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In 2021: the famous Juliet & Romeo Half Marathon is postponed to June 13 due to Covid19.
A new path and a new arrival inside the Bentegodi Stadium in Verona it brings joy and satisfaction to athletes and organizers who can return to racing after more than a year of closure.
Hence the significant writing printed on the back of the T-shirt: "Verona starts running again"
With this special edition, the Monument Run 10k, a competitive and non-competitive race to run and admire the beauties of the historic center of Verona.
​In 2022: the Giulietta&Romeo Half Marathon sees once again a postponement due to covid19 to May 1st.​
A beautiful spring day warms hearts and fills the arrival at the Bentegodi Stadium with smiles.
Great event and splendid day also for the Verona Marathon which thrills like never before with its arrival in Piazza Bra.
Party and music also for the beautiful Verona Christmas Run, a fixed appointment for many families and groups of friends.
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In 2023: the race of lovers returns to shine and excite in the period of S. Valentino.
Great race with top notable athletes who bring two new race records to the Giulietta.
Men's race record for Mikesa Mengesha closes in 1:00'15” (2'51”/km)
Women's race record for five athletes, with a finish in first place of Janet Chepngetich with 1h06'58” (3'10”/km)
In March 2023 G.A.A.C. 2007 is renewed, bringing a graphic and visual change to all its logos.
The word "RUN" becomes the fundamental point of the events, to mark the passion that unites all participants and organizers.
The Verona Marathon becomes VERONA RUN MARATHON 42K | 21K | FAMILY RUN and in the logo a shoe that refers to running and one of the symbols of the city: the Verona Arena.
The Giulietta&Romeo Half Marathon becomes ROMEO&GIULIETTA RUN HALF MARATHON 21K | RELAY | FAMILY RUN and brings with it the return of the beautiful relay. The logo recalls the Verona arena with two hearts, symbol of love for racing and for the city.
Finally the great celebration of the VERONA CHRISTMAS RUN 10K | 5K which sees the addition of the typical Christmas star in its logo.
On November 19, 2023, great success for the Eurospin Verona Run Marathon which hosts the Italian Marathon Championship.
With its three distances it has 9500 participants.
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In 2024: the Zero Wind Romeo&Giulietta Run Half Marathon offers emotions.
Half marathon, family run and great return of the relay. The event has over 7000 participants.
Special guests: 85th RAV of Verona
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GAAC 2007 grows more and more and with the heart it carries on the great passion for running that distinguishes it.
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The story continues…
GAAC 2007 Veronamarathon ASD is currently the only Italian sports club to organize three events qualified GOLD or SILVER by FIDAL.
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The events are associated with
AIMS extension (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races)
CURIOSITY