Athens Classic Marathon

The Athens Marathon is like no other on Earth. According to legend, it covers the same ground that the Athenian messenger Phiedippides ran when he brought news of victory from the battlefield of Marathon 2,500 years ago. When you run the Athens Marathon, you run in the very footsteps of the ancient gods and heros that gave birth to western civilization. 

The finish line is in Athens’ magnificent Olympic Stadium, the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games. Those who run the Athens Marathon say it is an experience they’ll never forget.The Athens Classic Marathon is an annual marathon road race  held in Athens,Greece normally in early November. The Athens Classic Marathon began in 1972 as a joint venture between the Greek tourist board and atheltics  association. 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. The Athens Classic Marathon is not just a sporting event, a hard race, a tough course of 42,195m. 

More than that, the Athens Classic Marathon is a bridge that unifies the legend with history; it showcases the strength of human will; it is a fountain of values, of social liability, environmental sensitivity, friendship and solidarity. In 2012, Athens Classic Marathon marked 30th anniversary. The marathon course is based on the myth 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.The race attracted around 30,000 competitors in 2013, including the concurrent 5 and 10 kilometres road races and the racewalking contest.