Probably one of the most historic marathons in the world if not the most historic.
Athens the Authentic is held in early November and runs from the town of Marathon where the Battle of marathon was won by the Athenians over the Persians in 490BC; all the way to Athens following the footsteps Pheidippides who fought at the Battle of Marathon. After victory, and after fighting, he ran approximately 40 kilometres to Athens to deliver the news. He died immediately after announcing the Athenian victory. Indicative of his lack of performance shoes, gels, electrolytes and moisture wicking garments.
The Marathon has become a “thing” with people like me (way less than 1% globally) running marathons for a personal challenge, charity, fun or simply for something to do. But whatever the reason, it all started with Pheidippides and today 25000 people toed the line to run the course that he ran, albeit with a slight distance change. The distance run by Pheidippides was 40km and was only changed to 42.195km to suit Queen Alexandra in the London Olympics in 1908!!!! Yeah thanks Queen Alexandra for the extra 2.195km!!!!
The event has something to suit the entire family with 5km events on the Saturday, a 1.2km event and 10km event on the Sunday morning and the full marathon which is also on the Sunday. The marathon starts quite a bit later than others with a start time of 0900; not only giving competitors a chance to make the drive of approximately 60-70 minutes to Marathon but also time for the 1.2 and 10km events to be run and done well before the first marathon finishers come in.
Entries can be made online through the Athens the Authentic website or via specialised travel companies like Travelling Fit who I booked through. They put together a package which includes accommodation, airport transfers, welcome meal, optional extras and specific marathon support and transfers. The latter making the whole process easier in a largely disorganised country where at times, limited English is spoken and understood.
It was a very early start for myself as I headed to the town of Marathon at 0600 via a 70 mins drive. I mooched about in my poncho with some other Australians, almost having a code brown waiting for the toilet at the drop off point. As with all marathons, there never seem to be enough toilets.
So I was out there in Marathon for a bit and organisers corral you pretty early with the starting gun sounding at 0900 and then every wave block thereafter.
One thing I noticed was the absence of the National Anthem. All events of all distances finish in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. Unlike others before me in history, I was very much clothed when I ran in and of course female! But to run into the stadium that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 to the cheers and support of so many meant the world to me.
The course was brutal though. Up, up, up and up, only coming down into Athens in the last 12km. Thankfully I like hills and I’m strong on them. It was overcast and raining in Marathon and at the 4km mark there was a huge crash of thunder and an even bigger one at 6km. I do not like thunderstorms! My HR immediately spiked. Yeah, I really don’t like them. But we were running away from it thankfully; however, the humidity and heat when the sun came out was intense.
I stuck to my plan and was incredibly busy. Endurance sport isn’t a case of just “doing”. Gel timing, salt timing, hydration timing, body scanning and dog counting. I put tools down in my busyness in the last 2km. I was home then. I can report that there were 53 dogs across that entire course!!! 53!!! Evidently the Greeks aren’t as super keen on dogs as other countries.
It was quite an emotional experience running into the stadium. So much history, so much atmosphere. So very old. It’s a privilege to still be able to use the stadium in modern times for what it was intended and where it all started.
This history is something I have always cherished and admired hence I’m not personally interested in ultra events. For me, I’m a traditionalist and at every marathon I have always thought of Pheidippides.
I did however look like a disheveled mess upon finishing. My bib was half hanging off, my necklace knotted in my hair and my top drenched. I wore my Tasmanian National top. Having earned the right to wear it I decided to fly the flag for the state. A couple of people recognised “Tasmania” and the state logo and said “Go Aussie” and another “you’ve come a long way”.
The Marathon has become a “thing” with people like me travelling the world to run them, but still less than 1% of the global population have run one. But whether it is running marathons for a personal challenge, charity, fun or simply something to do, whatever the reason, it all started with Pheidippides and 25,000 people toed the line to run the course that he ran along with the extra 2.195 km.
A little entertaining occurrence which could only happen to myself. Upon finishing, I looked for Justin, couldn’t see him. Looked again, no sign. I walked slowly through the funnel out of the stadium. Still no sign, so I wandered down to the hotel. The cleaner let me in which was very trusting as I could have been anyone. I showered, washed my clothes and then Justin came in and said “oh thank god!!! I thought something had happened to you as your bib is still going” You aren’t showing as finished. Sure enough, an hour after I finished I was apparently still running. This didn’t surprise me given my bib was half hanging off. So back up to the finish line walking in the opposite direction to the flow of athletes and explaining my predicament with all officials enroute that I’d been told to go to the timing tent. Get there. Show all the relevant data and they fix it.
A little about Athens. It’s a noisy city with lots of honking, and pedestrian crossings quickly become a place of intimidation, with motorcycle edging closer and closer, pushing you to move faster. Motorcycles are plentiful and police use whistles at intersections, but the motorcycles don’t actually stop the lights which seems to complicate issues. It’s all rather odd.
If you don’t like cigarette smoke, wear a mask, as smoking is a very big part of Greek culture. Runners were actually finishing the marathon and then lighting up a cigarette while talking with family at the finish.
The population within the city alone is around 3 million and 5 million including the suburbs. Athens is a very historic city with many Athenian ruins. The obvious is the Acropolis which looks over the city and of course the stadium. But so much more is on offer to visit and with many museums there is something for everyone.
Mount Lycabettus is the highest point in Athens and overlooks both the city and the Acropolis. This can be accessed by an underground funicular or by walking. So a novelty in itself to use the funicular at least one way.
The currency is the Euro with 1 euro equating to about 2 dollars as an easy ball park. Tipping is appreciated but not a requirement which removed the pressure of the need to tip and knowing when and how much to tip. Shopping in Athens has both older narrow streets with quaint little shops selling porcelain and traditional Greek fabric clothing. This area is located closer to the Acropolis while more modern shops are located further away. There is also a large “Metro” shopping centre accessible via the train. Most shops are closed on a Sunday.
Restaurants are insanely plentiful with many options catering for all tastes and dietary requirements. Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Turkish, Greek and more are available.
Within the city precinct is the National Gardens which provide respite from all the hustle and bustle. With a canopy similar to a rain forest, much of the traffic noise around the park is largely blocked out and it’s enjoyable to just follow your nose.
If you don’t like cats then Greece isn’t for you as they are everywhere. But they are well looked after and cared for by the community. They want for nothing. They are also very friendly for the most part.
Islands are accessible by boat and some larger ones by light aircraft. If pushed for time there are day tours that permit travel to three different island and include lunch. So certainly something worth considering. For those with more time, a trip down onto the peninsula to see Olympia where the first Olympics ever started is incredible.
All in all a great event and an interesting country. Would highly recommend with an event to suit everyone.
