Paying taxes and birthdays are among the few annual certainties in life. To that list, you might add Italian masters runner Antonio Rao lacing up for the Rome Marathon. On Sunday, the 92-year-old completed his 30th consecutive Rome Marathon, finishing in a time of 6:44:16.
This marks the third time Rao has run the marathon in his 90s. He completed last year’s event in 6:54:00 and set an Italian men’s 90+ age-group record in 2023 with an impressive time of 6:14:44. To no one’s surprise, he’s won his M90+ age category the last three years.
In an interview with Runner’s World Italia, Rao admitted doubting whether he could finish this year’s race. “I haven’t been feeling well lately, and I didn’t think I could finish it,” said Rao. “Instead, I finished with a time 10 minutes faster than last year.”
Despite being 92, Rao has proven he still has some speed in his legs. In the weeks leading up to the marathon, he also completed a half-marathon in two hours and 54 minutes.
Complimentissimi al giovane Antonio Rao di anni 92, per avere chiuso la Roma Ostia in 2h54’40” pic.twitter.com/BrleyKK7ti
— pier luigi pinna (@pierpi13) March 4, 2025
Born in 1933 in Calabria, Rao grew up on the run, reportedly leaving home as a teenager to make his way to Rome. Since then, you could say his life has been one long, metaphoric marathon.
Rao has participated in the Acea Run Rome Marathon every year since its inception in 1983 (there were several years the race was not held in the 90s and the 2000s), with this year’s event marking the race’s 30th anniversary. “Running and walking is life,” says Rao, who encourages anyone not immersed in the activity yet to give it a try.
The men’s and women’s titles at this year’s Rome Marathon were won by a pair of Kenyan runners. Robert Ngeno took the men’s victory, crossing the line in 2:07:35, while Betty Chepkwony won the women’s race in 2:26:16, finishing 19 minutes later. For full results, view here.
