With intermittent sunshine, a strong turnout along the roadside and over 10,000 participants in the 2005 edition of the Rome Marathon, this years 26 mile endurance test would have lived up to expectations but for the death of one of the participants a mere 2 km from the finish. Having completed most of the demanding course that traverses the Eternal City from north to south and passes through the historic centre, 54-year old Paolo Canton of Padua fell to the pavement clutching his chest. The runners wife, who was also taking part, arrived shortly behind him and tried to resuscitate her husband with the help of a passing doctor. Celebrations after the race were muted out of respect for the fallen athlete and his family.