Of all marathons, the annual Athens Marathon (this year held on November 14) has every right to call itself “The Authentic”. The reason? Because it was inspired by an actual historic event, as heroic as it was important when an ill-fated foot soldier named Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens in the 5th century BC to bring news of the Athenians’ great victory there, regardless of his personal cost.
The feat inspired the 42,195m marathon becoming the most prestigious event of the revived Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, as a way of recalling the ancient glory of Greece. It helped that a Greek water-carrier named Spyridon Louis – running the same route from Marathon to Athens and ending at today’s finish line, at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens won the gold medal and instantly became an Olympic legend.
It’s this history that adds poignancy to the annual Athens Marathon, with runners from all over the world entering the 5km and 10km races or the full 42km that follows the same iconic route of 1896.
After the 2020 Virtual Athens Marathon, this year’s runners will once again be able to compete in Athens, as long as they have been vaccinated or have proof of recovery from Covid-19. Marathon runners will be separated into two groups, starting at different times, in accordance with strict health protocols.
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