The countdown has started for the top athletic event of the Greek capital, Athens Marathon. On Sunday, November 13, more than 55.000 runners all over the world, a record number for the event, will run the streets of Attica, for the 34^th Authentic Athens Marathon.

Athens attracts the attention of the world running community with the staging of the 34th Athens Marathon on the authentic course of 42,195 meters from Marathon to the Panathinaic Stadium.

Beyond the purely competition part of it, the Athens Marathon Race as well as the 10km & 5km Road Race are a real celebration in which all may participate in their way, encouraging the runners, singing, dancing, playing music. 

Moreover, the 34th "Athens Marathon. The Authentic" marks 120 years from the first contemporary Marathon race, an athletic event inspired by the ancient course of the legendary Athenian “hoplite hemerodromos” after the Battle of Marathon.

In the spring of 1896, during the first modern Olympics, athletes from five countries lined up at the starting line on the bridge of Marathon in order to cover the distance to the Panathenaic Stadium on a dirt path. The race was won by Greek athlete Spyros Louis, whose historic victory stands as a symbol of tireless effort, stamina as well as the breaking of physical and mental barriers. Key to the race was also the presence of Greek runner Charilaos Vasilakos, who won the second place. Louis and Vasilakos, the two Greek runners, became the first two Olympic victors in the history of the Marathon race. This race, which was launched during the inaugural Olympic Games of the modern era, became one of the most popular athletic events all over the world, with millions of participants and supporters.

Follow Trésor Hotels & Resorts on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

From: Anthi Sasmatzoglou

back