The most historic of road races is set to take place again on 12 November and organisers are expecting a bumper field of 50,000 runners from over 100 countries to take part in events across the programme.
The “Athens Marathon. The Authentic” has been rewarded with a five-star certification from European Athletics Running for All and the event celebrates its 35th edition this year.
The 26.2-mile race takes place again on the most traditional of courses, beginning as ever from the coastal town of Marathon and leading elite and mass runners on a notoriously undulating course into the heart of Athens and towards the finish line in the marble arena of the Panathenaic Stadium, the venue of the first Olympic Games of the modern period in 1896.
The status of Athens as the birthplace of the marathon goes back to the ancient legend of the Athenian soldier Pheidippides who - according to many accounts - ran back to the city with news of victory over the invading Persians in 490 BCE.
Over 50,000 runners are expected to register to take part in various events in the Greek capital, including a record of at least 18,500 who will run the classic marathon. More than 8,500 of them are expected to arrive in Athens from over 100 countries, making it one of the most international marathon races in the world.
Registration for the shorter races was already fully booked for local competitors by April.
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The European Athletics Quality Road Race standards act as an assurance for road runners throughout Europe. They distinguish between races that respect the standards and those that haven’t sought certification or assessment. They form the foundation of Running for All, a strong recognisable brand for running activities throughout Europe.
More information on Running for All:
Website: european-running4all.org
Twitter: @runningforall
Contact: [email protected]