Athens Marathon - The Authentic

A great experience I`ll never forget. It is not a marathon to run fast, but to enjoy the race that gave the name `marathon` and to be amazed that you can run in the very footsteps of Pheidippides. Hot, hilly and hard, but a very cheerful crowd push you forward. (Pheidippides or Philippides (Φιλιππίδης) is the central figure in the story that inspired two modern sporting events, the marathon race and the Spartathlon.)

This was my second marathon (after Run Rome The Marathon, 2023 19th March) and I`ll tresure it for all my life.

Amazing experience. It is an authentic place where athletics was born. Great organization. The majestic entrance to the finish line in the stadium from 1896... Athens, field Marathon - history. Greeks are great hosts.

πολύ καλή διαδρομή και απαιτητική. θέλει καλης προπόνηση και σωστή διαχείριση ενέργειας

I'm very happy to finish Athens marathon. I'm very happy to finish Athens marathon. Perfect race.

I'm very happy to finish Athens marathon. Perfect race. I'm very happy to finish Athens marathon. Perfect race. I'm very happy to finish Athens marathon. Perfect race.

Excellent organization, great route, cheerful crowds all the way, cool happenings around the event.

The best running exerience I have ever had. This was my first marathon and it was Great. Very well organised and very cheerfull crowds.

I participated for the first time in 2018. It was a dream to take part in this historical race. There are free buses that take you from various places in Athens to Marathonas. From the bus you'll have to walk a few minutes to reach the stadium and proceed to your block. The DHL vans are on the way. Make sure you arrive on time to deposit your bag, before they drive away. I takes a long time until you cross the line if you happen to be in one of the last blocks. In my case I had to wait 45 minutes, because I was in the last one. It's a bit crowded during the first 6-8 km, because the roads are narrow and there are many runners. There are also many spectators for most part of the route. The route outside Athens is quite scenic, as you pass through nature and some villages and towns. There are many parties on this stretch and many, many people are out to cheer. It gets quieter once you enter Athens. There are hardly and spectators on the long Messogeion Street, but things change when you reach the area near the American embassy. The last km is the best. There are hundreds of people along the route and the grand finale is in the stadium in which the first Olympic Games took place in 1896. This makes you feel like a champion. Since there are many other races, the area around the stadium is full of people and it is like a big party. The route is quite demanding with its long ascents and the burning sun. The organisation is great, although I wished there were pacemakers, to help runners finish at their desired time. I'll run again.

Well it should be obvious that this is *the* marathon, so pretty much every runner wants to do this race to go full pheidipides mode (except for the last part!) This is a fun race but it is not an easy race. There is a big hill between Athens and Marathon and you have to go over it to get to the other side. Basically you run 10Km flat, the next 21Km all uphill, the next 10Km downhill and the last Km is flat. So it's not likely to be a PB. It's a thrill to start the race and a thrill to finish it in the ancient stadium. Organisationally it could be better. Registration is fairly chaotic compared to other races. Drinks are every 500m (I think) but they use single use plastic water bottles at every station, which seems very wasteful. The race starts at 9am so by the end of the race it's starting to get quite warm. I really think they should start it at say 7am. Oh and we had a herd of sheep invade the course at the start, which was kind of bizarre. I really enjoyed this race. It's not easy, but it's not one that you'll forget any time soon.

Pretty much half of the run is uphill due to geography (no wonder Pheidipides died).

I will start in 2018 for the 13th time ,my first start was in 1999 with 292 runners! now I will run with my Queen of Athens ,she will do her 6 th Marathon in Athens . I still do not understand , with all those Marathon ????? runners in the world,who go to new York ?? , Paris ?? Berlin ? IMITATION MARATHONS ??? HOW IN THE WORLD, you even dare , to call yourself a MARATHON RUNNER ? when you never were at 09.00 sharp , to start at THE BATTLE FIELDS OF MARATHONAS , where the REAL MARATHON story started in 490 BC ! and where you ever were finishing as in the KALIMARMARO STADION, complete white marble stadium , where the FIRST OLYMPIC GAMES WERE IN 1896 ! so come to Athens, and tell the world after the 11th of November THAT YOU BECAME A REAL MARATHONER RUNNER , PHEIDIPHIDUS WILL BE PROUD OF YOU !! remember 490 BC ., THE ORACLE , the king of athens

THE MARATHON ?? after 44 marathons ann 500 1/2 ones ? IT IS SIMPLE the guts to stand at the starting line , and do a race against yourself, and nobody else no one can help you, , everything you have to do yourself you can not blame anybody . SO BECOME A HERO FOR ONE DAY , PAIN IN TEMPORARY, but PRIDE IS FOREVER GO FOR THE MEDAL, ALWAYS, THERE IS NOTHING ELSE ! NEVER GIVE UP IS FOR LOSERS !

Great experience during the start in the township of MARATHON! The route is indeed quite challenging, I have read a lot about other peoples’ experience but experiencing the steep uphills and downhills myself was truly different. The finish in the Panathenaic Stadium is indeed a magnificent feeling! Many people could not hold their emotions after finishing. I would recommend this race too (I have completed marathons in 9 different cities, including a few marathon majors).

my first marathon! such a hilly route, but the history behind this route is unique! well organized, overall amazing experience

great route and finish at Kallimarmaro stadium...priceless!

A historic event very well organized

Wonderful and memorable experience!

Great race!

This was my first marathon & I had a blast, but I would not recommend this particular course for beginners -- unless you love hills!