The Spartathlon
The Spartathlon ultra-marathon has more history than any other. The collosal 153 miles/246km is based on a route run by the ancient herald Pheidippides in 490BC. He left Athens and arrived in Sparta on foot the following day. This is the challenge to all those who take to the start line. A 36 hour cut-off is strictly enforced and typically only 40% of the 350 strong field will make it.
The route is mainly on undulating road and temperatures can get over 30C. At 100 miles in in the middle of the night there is a mountain climb on a trail not normally used by humans. Then there is a long descent into Sparta. If you make it to the end you get to kiss the statue of Leonidas, drink some water from the river and have an olive wreath placed on your head.
This is a tremendously difficult race, most who have run it put it right up there with the toughest. Not to be taken lightly.
Race Reports:
Mark Cockbain (5 time finisher)
Lisa Bliss 2009 (3rd Lady)
Mark Woolley (2009)
Scott Jurek 2007 (Winner)
Dunno his name but this guy from Finland wrote "75 easy steps from Athens to Sparta" with a load of great photos
Glyn Marston (2005)
John Tyszkiewicz (2005)
VIDEOS
These are hour long videos of the race. The one from 2009 is in 4 parts. 2008 and 2007 are all in 1.
2009
2008
2007