SPARTATHLON is a historic ultra-distance foot race that takes place in September of every year in Greece. It is one of the most difficult and satisfying ultra-distance races in the world because of its unique history and background.
The 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 between the Greeks and the Persians. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Pheidippides arrived in Sparta the day after his departure from Athens.
From 1984 the International Association “Spartathlon” was founded, which since then has continuously organized the race each September. The choice of this month is because that is the time reported by Herodotus for Pheidippides’ run to Sparta
Spartathlon 2018 will be hosted in Greece on September 28-29.
The field is capped to 390 runners from all around the world, who meet the rigid qualifying criteria.
Read more at spartathlon.gr
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Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Pitichinaccio, License: CC-BY-SA
