Spartathlon

Spartathlon revives the footsteps of Pheidippides, an ancient Athenian long-distance runner who in 490 BC, before the battle of Marathon, was sent to Sparta to seek help in the war against the Persians. According to Herodotus, Pheidippides arrived in Sparta a day after his departure from Athens.

Based on the reports of the Greek historian, five officers of the British Air Force (RAF), who were also long-distance runners, traveled to Greece in 1982, led by Squadron Leader John Foden who had the original idea. Their purpose was to determine whether it was possible to cover the approximately 250 kilometers between the two cities in one day and a half. The enthusiastic British team proved that Herodotus was right.

After the success of the project, John Foden began to envision the introduction of a race that would bring to Greece long-distance runners from all over the world in order to follow the footsteps of Pheidippides. Thus, in 1984, the International Association "SPARTATHLON" was founded and has been organizing the race up tο now. The choice to hold the race in September was made because Herodotus places the mission of Pheidippides in Sparta ath this month. The race track consists not only from paved roads but also from dirt roads and mountain paths and was designed based on the description of ancient historian, in order to be as close as possible to the route followed by Pheidippides. In their course, the athletes cross almost all the ancient cities that mediated between Athens and Sparta.

Spartathlon is a very demanding race, not only because of the distance, the altitude differences and the alternating weather conditions but also because of the time constraints that have been set for passing through certain checkpoints.

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