athensmarathon

Run the "Original" Athens Marathon

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What's the best thing about going to Greece to run the Athens Marathon?  You're in Greece, the home of the Original marathon.  The very first marathon to ever take place was in 1896 in the first modern Olympics held in Athens. 

The idea of the marathon was inspired by the legend of Pheidippides, a professional runner who is believed to have carried the news of the Greek victory over the Persians in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. On arriving in Athens, Pheidippides shouted, "Niki, we are victorious!".

In 1894, when an international revival of the Olympics was being discussed, French historian Michel Breal suggested the inclusion of a long-distance race of 40 kms (24.8 miles). Invoking the legend of Pheidippides, Breal and Frenchman Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, presented the idea to the Organizing Committee of the Athens Olympics.  And so the marathon was born.

On April 10, 1896 the first Olympic marathon was held from Marathon Bridge to the stadium in Athens. 17 runners took part and best of them was a 24-year-old named Spiridon Louis, a shepherd boy who served in the army as a messenger.

Running with shoes donated by his fellow villagers, Louis took the lead four kilometers from the Panathenaic Stadium and won the race in 2:58.50 seconds, more than seven minutes ahead of second-placed countryman Chanilaos Vasilakos.

Since then, many athletes, like Emil Zátopek, Ethiopian  Abebe Bikila and Joan Benoit Samuelson, who earned her place in history as winner of the first Olympic women's marathon in 1984, were inspired by Louis to run the 42.195 kms course.

The current marathon distance (26 mi., 385 yds.) was set for the 1908 London Olympics so that the course could start at Windsor Castle and end in front of the Royal Box. Not until 1921, however, was that distance adopted as the "official" Marathon distance by the IAAF.

In his book, Olympic Marathon, Charlie Lovett devotes a short chapter to each of the Olympic marathons - including a view of the participants and the politics of each race.  Interesting read, check it out.

Travel Tip of the Day:

If you would like a hassle free experience for the Athens Marathon, let Apostolos Greek Tours assist you with one of our runners support packages.  We take care of everything so you don't have to.  Check out all of our packages at www.athensmarathon.com.  And remember, all of our packages include the race fee, entry processing, race number pick up and distribution.