The course of the 2008 Athens Classic Marathon is the Classic Olympic Course, that is the same as the one in the first contemporary Olympic Games in 1896 and the Official Olympic Course of Athens 2004. It starts from the Marathon Village and ends at the Kallimaramaron- Panathinaikon Stadium in the centre of Athens.

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PACKAGES

Please contact us for the best Marathon package deals to Athens.

Please note that an AU$55 Per Person surcharge will apply on all packages to
1) Australian Residents who do not purchase airfares through Travelling Fit.
2) All Non-Australian residents

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RACE INFORMATION

ENTRY FEES
The Entry fee for the Athens Classic Marathon is EUR €80 for bookings made prior to 19 October 2008.

A late entry fee of an additional EUR €10 applies to all entrants who book after this date (only up to a certain number that will be announced by the organisers in due time) 

Standard entries to the Athens Classic Marathon close on 19 October 2008.

QUALIFYING TIMES
There are no qualifying times required for this event.  Men with a personal best time of 2:45 hours or under and women with a personal best time of 3:30 hours or under are eligible for a preferred start.

START TIME
The Marathon will start at 8:30am.

CUT-OFF TIMES
There is a time limit of six (6) hours, after which runners will continue running AT THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITY. That means that the last runner must have completed his/her race by 14.30.

RACE TIMING
The Athens Classic Marathon will be using the ChampionChip timing system. 

YOUR TIME WILL NOT BE MEASURED WITHOUT A CHIP!!!

RACE PACKETS
The collection of the bib numbers, timing chips and commemorative packages for the Marathon race will take place at the Registration and Distribution Center.

The exact location of the Registration and Distribution Center will be announced in the near future.

The Full Participation Packet that is offered includes the following:

• Bib number, timing chip, commemorative medal and diploma
• Information and other commemorative material
• Transportation of the runners at the Marathon Start (only for the Marathon Race)
• Water, soft drinks and medical services during and after the race
• Participation Certificate with the final and intermediate time of the runner
• Invitation for the Pasta Party to be held the day before the race
• A bag with commemorative presents (towel, key ring, pin, card postal, poster)
• T-shirt of the race in which the runner will participate
• Free use of the public Transport Means, including those from and to Athens Airport (3 days before to 2 days after the Race)

PACE SETTERS
There are no pace setters in this event.

AID STATIONS
Bottled water and Powerade will  available at at the start and finish points. Bottled water and sponges will be available along the course at 5 kilometre intervals and  Powerade will be available at the 10km, 20km, 25km, 30km, 35km and 40km drink stations.

PERSONAL REFRESHMENTS AND CLOTHING
Plastic bags will be issued for all participants when they collect their race packets to put in all their extra clothing items. All bags must have the athlete's bib number on them.

At 8.00 am sharp (no later than 30 minutes before the start of the race) the athletes must hand in their plastic bag with their personal belongings to the volunteers standing 200m from the start. These bags will be put in buses parked in that area and transported to the Panathinaiko Stadium.

The collection of the runners' personal belongings at the Panathinaiko Stadium will take place outside the stadium (on the right side as you exit). Runners should present their bib number for the collection of their bag.

NOTE: THE BAGS MUST BE WELL CLOSED AND SHOULD NOT INCLUDE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS, JEWELLERY, MONEY, MEDICINE.

You may use your own personal drinks in the Athens Classic Marathon. You need to turn them in to the responsible judge the afternoon before the race at the Registration and Distribution Center. Your bib number and the station where you want your drink to be given to you (only for the 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40km), should be clearly written on the bottle

TRANSPORT
Each runner will take care of his/her own transportation from his/her accommodation site to the Panathinaikon Stadium.

There will be FREE buses departing from the Panathinaikon Stadium to the Marathon Start from 06.00 to 06.30. After the last bus has left the Panathinaikon Stadium at 06.30 runners must make their own way to the start if unable to make the bus departure times

FINISHERS T-SHIRTS, MEDALS AND CERTIFICATES
All finishers receive a medal and certificate, key ring, poster and T-shirt.

WEATHER CONDITIONS
The average Athens temperature for the month of November is 16°C (61°F).  ON the day of the race the average temperature is 17°C (63°F).

OTHER EVENTS
10km Road Race
5Km Road Race

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