Last Sunday, under clear skies and bright sunshine, the fifth edition of the Bologna Marathon in Trail took place, offering participants an unforgettable day surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery.

This now well-established event in the Italian trail running scene stands out for its unique location at the Villaggio della Salute Più, nestled in the stunning valleys of the Idice and Sillaro rivers, in Monterenzio (BO).

All race routes were newly redesigned for this edition and won over runners from across Italy and 16 different countries. The courses offered the perfect combination of technical challenge and natural beauty, highlighting the wild and diverse landscape.

In the Ultra distance (43 km with 1600 m elevation gain), the men's race was won by Roberto Gheduzzi from Mud&Snow, finishing in 03:49:50, just shy of setting a new course record. Filippo Fazioli came in second at 03:54:50, followed by Andrea Zini, also from Mud&Snow, in 04:16:08, with a gap of over 26 minutes from the leader.

In the women’s race, Jennifer Mai claimed victory in 05:18:17, followed by Lorena Brusamento from Adda Running Team (05:41:08), and Asia Menci from Podistica Il Campino (05:51:28).

In the 30 km / 1100 D+ event, Ilario Federico Ganassi Spallanzani from Amorotti ASD crossed the finish line first in 02:41:40, followed closely by Victor Roney from France and Marco Ferrante. In the women’s category, the win went to French runner July Bolo-Jolly (03:06:18), ahead of Giulia Ravasini from Atletica Imola Sacmi Avis and Paola Gelli from Polisportiva Quadrilatero.

On the 16 km / 600 D+ course, Federico Benati broke his own previous record with a time of 01:16:12, finishing over 11 minutes ahead of Lorenzo Mandarà and Mauro Succi. In the women’s race, Ludovica Mei also set a new course record, winning in 01:31:39, followed by Denise Fanziani and Vanessa Ganci.

Beyond the competitive results, the event was a chance for many to discover the natural charm of the area and the warm welcome of the Villaggio della Salute Più. The festive atmosphere was further enhanced by music from Radio Bruno and the vibrant energy of "La Bella Vero", who kept the start and finish area lively throughout the day.

This successful edition was made possible thanks to the efficient organization, the support of nearly 60 volunteers, and the involvement of many professionals from the trail running community, including Total Training, Polisportiva Porta Saragozza, and the Bologna Trail Team.

The Bologna Marathon in Trail continues to grow, both in terms of quality and participation, confirming its place as a key event in the Bologna Trail Series and the broader Bolognese trail running movement.