Interview with Athens Classic Marathon

You are organizing the Athens Marathon on November 9th, 2014. Can you tell us where your event is located and how runners are able to travel there easily?

The Athens Classic Marathon is held on the Original Marathon course. The same course that was run by the legendary Greek soldier who ran all the way from Marathon to Athens bearing the message of victory of the Greeks over the Persians after the Marathon Battle in 490BC. It is the same course used during the 1st Modern Olympic Games, the one also used for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The Marathon Race starts from the Marathon Town, passes around the War Memorial for the soldiers killed during the Marathon Battle and ends inside the historic Panathinaikon “Marble” Stadium in the centre of Athens.

Given that the race starts 42.195 meters away from the finish venue, the Organizing Committee provides free buses to take the runners to the start area the day of the race, leaving from three different points in the Athens city centre.

Are there different distances in your event?

The Athens Classic Marathon event includes the following:
The well-known and famous marathon race, the power walking race that is addressed to those who wish to walk rather than run the entire marathon course, a 10 km road race, a 5 km road race and a kids run (for children 9-12 years old).

Tell us something about the history of your event. Why was it created in the first place and how has it changed over the years?

Apart from its historic significance, the Battle of Marathon is very well known for inspiring the birth of the Marathon race. The Marathon Race itself was born by the legend of a Greek soldier-messenger who ran from Marathonas to Athens carrying the precious message of victory. It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming “Nenikékamen” (“Rejoice: We have won”) before collapsing and dying. It was this legend that led to the Marathon race, as it is known today, introduced during the 1896 Athens Olympic Games.
The first international Marathon race in Athens was held in 1955, following the decision of SEGAS (Hellenic Athletics Federation) to host an international event every two years, with the participation of top runners. It was a successful institution which lasted 20 years. In the beginning of the 70s, the institution began to fade, as the top marathon runners preferred easier courses and more generous money prizes offered by other marathon organizers.

During the above period, one man named Grigoris Lambrakis became a true inspiration symbol for the Greek society. He believed in the world peace and he participated in the founding of the Hellenic Committee for Peace and in many International Congresses. On April 21, 1963, he organised the first Peace Marathon march from Marathon to Athens during which he was arrested and maltreated. On May 22 1963, he participated in a Peace assembly in Thessaloniki, where he became victim of an assassination attempt and finally died on May 27th. His motto has always been: “It is beautiful to live for Peace, it is even greater to die for Peace”, expressing both his fights and beliefs.

It was his actions and beliefs that led SEGAS to re-establish the Athens Classic Marathon under the name «Peace Marathon – Grigoris Lambrakis» in 1983. Since then, many things have changed aiming at always improving the services offered to the runners, the event structure and the dynamic of the race. Nowadays, the Athens Classic Marathon attracts thousands of runners from all over the world. It is a modernly organized race, under the auspices of AIMS and IAAF, ranked amongst the top Marathons of the world. The Athens Classic Marathon has become a major international sport, cultural, tourist and social event.

Describe your route a bit. How’s the scenery? Is the route beginner friendly? Can runners expect PB’s?

Athens Classic Marathon offers a unique experience to each individual participant. It is organized on the historical Olympic Marathon Course of the 1st Modern Olympic Games in 1896 and of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. The Marathon Race starts at 09.00 am from the Marathon Start Venue at Marathonas. The first 4 kilometers are rather downhill. The runners run along the Marathonos Avenue up to the 4thkm, when they turn right and enter the Marathon Tomb, which they follow for the next 2.2 km. The course follows a rather circular route around the War Memorial for those that died during the Marathon Battle (Marathon Tomb), while it becomes flat from the 6th to the 10th km. From the 11th to the 17th km the course goes uphill at certain parts. Starting from the Rafina Junction, the course goes uphill again, while the most difficult part is until the 20th km. As the runners pass along the district of Pikermi, they run through some, more or less, uphill parts of the course up to the 28th km. The last and most difficult part of the course starts from Gerakas and goes up to Agia Paraskevi (30th – 31st km). Then, the runners follow the Mesogeion Avenue, meeting flat and downhill parts of the course up to the finish. Highlights of the course are also the Athens Music Hall, the Liberty Park, the recently constructed Katehaki Bridge, the War Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art, the Presidential Residency. Sport fans and supporters are along the entire course, offering olive oil branches to the participants, encouraging them by shouting Bravo and Thank you emphatically.

Last but not least, as the runners approach the finish line, they could not ask for anything better than the Panathinaikon Stadium, the historic marble stadium venue of the 1896 Olympic Games. A white marble arena, with a wonderful rubber track leading to the finish line, while about 20,000 spectators are continuously encouraging them. No wonder why most of them end up in an elated emotional state when they finally manage to cross the finish line.

How many runners do you expect to have in your event?

This year we anticipate to have more than 10,000 runners in the Marathon Race and more than 30,000 runners in the entire event.

What kind of weather conditions can runners prepare to face in your event?

Greece has a Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine, mild temperatures and a limited amount of rainfall. Due to the country’s geographical position, its rugged relief and its distribution between the mainland and the sea, there is great variation in Greece’s climate. In the summer, the dry hot days are cooled by seasonal winds, while mountainous regions have generally lower temperatures. The winters are mild in lowland areas, with a minimum amount of snow and ice, yet, mountains are usually snow-covered. The average minimum temperature for the race period is 11 degrees while the average maximum temperature may reach the 19 degrees Celsius, with a 10% possibility of rain during the week of the race.

What else runners should do in the city after/before the race? Any suggestions to newcomers?

There are a lot reasons to visit Athens. Let me mention just 10 of them.
1. The great sunshine and the happy smiles you get by the time you step your foot onto the Athenian ground.
2. The sense of relaxation of the deep blue sky of Athens.
3. A visit to the Parthenon and the Acropolis Museum
4. A walk through the city historic centre in Plaka district and the Monastiraki Flea Market
5. The Athenian coastline, only 20′ away from the city centre, where swimming is possible even during autumn.
6. A visit to the temple of Poseidon in case Sounion – the greatest view over the sea one has ever witnessed.
7. A walk in the streets of Athens during the afternoon and a visit to the lighted Panathinaikon Stadium
8. The Gazi area, where the party never ends
9. Discreet restaurants where one can find unique dishes of the Greek cuisine combining mainstream and traditional recipes for reasonable prices; gastronomy visits in awarded restaurants and local taverns
10. The unique positive thinking attitude against all difficulties and the sense of hospitality of the people in the city where the Western culture was born.

How would you describe your event to people who haven’t yet participated in it? What makes your event unique?

Join the Athens Classic Marathon and live the magic of the authentic Marathon Course! Become a part of history!