Athens Marathon 2019

[Valda Atkeson]

TheAthens Classic Marathon The Authentic is an annual marathon road race held in Athens, Greece, normally in early November (the second Sunday of November), since 1972. It also often serves as Greece's national marathon championships. The race attracted 43,000 competitors in 2015 of which 16,000 were for the 42.195 kilometre (26.2 mile) course, both numbers being an all-time record for the event.[1] The rest of the runners competed in the concurrent 5 and 10 kilometres road races and the racewalking contest.

The marathon race and course is inspired by the Ancient Greek legend of Pheidippides, a messenger who is said to have run from Marathon to Athens to bring news of the Greek victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon.[2]

Taking from the tradition of the Olympic Torch, the race features the Marathon Flame, which is lit at the Tomb of the Battle of Marathon[3] and carried to the stadium in Marathon before the beginning of each race.[4] In addition, an international marathon symposium is held the day before the race.[4]

Greek competitors have traditionally been strong in the men's and women's competitions. However, East Africans and Japanese runners have increasingly become the dominant runners from 1999 onwards.[5] The current course records are 2:10:34 hours for men, set by Edwin Kiptoo in 2023, while Rasa Drazdauskaitė's run of 2:31:06 in 2010 is the quickest by a woman on the course.[6]

A separate race from the town of Marathon to Athens was regularly held in April from 1955 to at least 1989. This unrelated race, known as the Athens Marathon, frequently served as the Greek championship race but it is now discontinued.[8]

In 1982, the organisers dedicated the race to Grigoris Lambrakis, an athlete and Member of the Greek Parliament, whose murder in the 1960s has become an inspirational cause for advocates of human rights.[2]

The race came under the auspices of the current organisers and SEGAS in 1983 and has since become a major race, being awarded Gold Label Road Race status by the IAAF.[10][11] The 1983 event was known as the Athens Peace Marathon and both a popular and elite level race featured for the first time that year.[8]

The 2010 edition of the event was combined with the celebration of the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon.[6] As the 2500 anniversary was actually in 2011, this year was also celebrated as the anniversary run.

The marathon course is based on the legend from which the race gained its name: Pheidippides, a messenger in Ancient Greece, ran from the Battle of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greeks' victory over the Persians.[2]

There is something very special for marathoners in following the footsteps of Phidippides (over 2500 years ago) from the plain of Marathon to Athens. If there is one race that I'd recommend including on your "marathon to do list", this is it!

The Greeks invented the Olympics hundreds of years before Phidippides was born. This was the first regular event in history that inspired a world-wide truce, and elevated the pursuit of running excellence as something be respected and supported by itself. Messengers, like Phidippides, were very capable professionals who were the weavers of the fabric of Greece.

These messengers were amazing. Not only were they expected to be ready to run 50 to 100 miles or more when needed, they negotiated treaties and business deals, investigated and gave recommendations to leaders.

Every year I learn new information about the background of the historical events that produced so many of the concepts we take for granted in our society: freedom, respect for the individual, the right to choose our leaders, etc. But I must give credit to Apostolos Greek Tours. The knowledgeable guides, the ease of getting around, the access to information is not provided by any other tour group I have investigated.

This year's race was unusually cold (50F/9C) with a strong wind. Fortunately it was behind us for most of the race. My Apostolos Greek Tour runners liked my description of the course at first: only one hill. The qualifier was not so well received: it's 13 miles (21K) long. But once I explained how to use my run-walk run method, a lot of the anxiety left the room. During the race, it was common to hear the beeping of my run-walk-run timer. Many of our runners who were using my method for the first time ran personal records on this course that is usually about 20 minutes slower than an average course in the US.

The guides on the trips to Delphi, Mycene, Epidaurous, Acropolis, Sunio, museums, etc. filled in many background stories and facts that have not appeared in the books I used as a history major in college. As more and more sites are investigated and studied, more information is released each year.

While the Greek citizens are concerned about the future of their economy, very few are demonstrating. This diverse culture has weathered crises that were much greater than this one. We did not see any protests during our trips.

A highlight for me is running on a trail system to the top of a hill, near our hotel. There are ruins of what I believe to be a messenger lookout station. Last year, Barbara and I discovered, carved in the bedrock, messages which have been verified as being of ancient origin.

The Minimal Support package is designed for the experienced international traveler who has limited time.

The package covers the basic support needed for running the marathon with little sightseeing activities included.

Non-runners are welcomed, they are an important part of the group. We include them in everything (Except running).

On race day we take them to the stadium (The Finish) with our staff. Non-runners get $ 100.00 discount

First things first, get my training plan together. Easy, go to Garmin Connect and search the training plans, Marathon Beginner Plan definitely not, I am experienced marathon runner right, the Marathon Advanced Plan sounds more fitting to me, after all my entry is Advanced right. Scrolling through the plan, see running twice per day, some intervals and long runs on Sundays, looks good to me. Running twice a day might not be possible but that is fine, sure I will be okay with just one run a day, I have done it previously so should be fine right? Great all on track, stick to my diet, drink less beer and I am on my way to finish the marathon comfortably. Obviously with all these great plans I have in mind I reach out to my fellow runner friend and ask him if he wants to try my plan, I have a really good one. He turns me down and mentions he already got something in mind, and he is going to stick with his running coach advice, she is two-time world record holder and amazing runner, seen her in action on marathon, respect. Obviously, I respect that, send him well wishes on his training plan journey and patiently wait for my marathon training plan to begin as per date scheduled in Garmin Connect.

As mentioned previously myself and my cousin decided on easy steady pace, we just want to finish strong and have a good time. We both agree on 5:45 to 6:00 pace. We start off and our planned pace is going well. We have a bit of traffic since we started in the last block, but we love passing all the runners, confidence booster. 10km mark arrives and we are good on track and lots of fuel in the tank, we can easily do this. The first few inclines start, can feel more energy is used but we are feeling good. 16km the incline is increasing even more, it is tough, but we are doing it, what goes up must come down right.

Brilliant article, really enjoyed it. Not only have you visited a foreign city but you have used the trip to also raise money for charity and achieve something you had never done before. Well done on a great time too!

P.S. #2 the whole idea of the marathon is so much more than the soldier who ran to deliver the message of a battles outcome, but most people forget to mention (besides historians and/or history nerds). That time, the people of Greater Greece where some of the first humans (in the known world of the time) to express their opinion freely, question the gods and criticize their kings. That was the foundation of democracy, free speech and politics. The idea was still very fresh, as it had just began to flourish. The Persian occupation of greece and possibly of the rest of Europe would take all this away, and all of us would not have the lives we are having today.

hi virginia! i an so happy ive encountered your blog. it inspired me so much that i really wanted to do it this year. that soon! haha

anyway, if ever this will be my second marathon this year. i ran in singapore last may.. and it was fun. Not minding the time, but just to cross that finish line. it was all worth it tho.

i love traveling too so you think this is a good idea? alone as a solo female traveler? hitting two birds in one stone. hihi im scared really but my heart really wants that adventure. crazy?? haha thank you.. and congrats eventho this is a year late. still, you gave me hope. thank you!

I learned a lot during those months about my capacity to focus and juggle with tasks, because in the last 5 weeks this race preparation overlapped with learning for the PMI Project Management Professional exam. The intertwined preparation tracks were for me an opportunity to reflect on how well I focus under stress, how well I can organise my day and work and how well the static learning activity can go with the running sessions early in the day. With the PMP exam I was apparently better equipped (my studying habits are better trained), passing the exam with high marks on all areas (I received the result in the early hours of the race day to boost my mood).

This marathon was more than a test of physical stamina; it was a journey of personal growth. As I prepare for my next event in March 2024, I carry with me the lessons learned and the memories of a community united by the love of running.

3a8082e126