Alexander the Great Marathon

This review is for the 2024 version of the race. I was not happy for many reasons. There is no expo. You only go to the claimed expo, to pick up your Bib number, there is nothing more to do or to see there. The T-shirt was more related to the main sponsor of the race rather than the race itself. The medal was one of the plainest metals I have received. I compared it to the medals of the previous versions of the race and for sure there is a downgrade in quality and design for the 2024. The altimetric profile of the route in the official site is not so true. For the first 10Km the route is overall downhill however there are some rolling hills. So I would suggest to find data from Strava or some other app (e.g Garmin). The route does not have 90o corners. Only 2, to be honest close to 38-39Km. Also, the route is kind of lonely since most of its part is through open fields or small villages. For this reason, there is no shadow, so a hat and sunglasses are a must (and music?), especially in Greece where during April the temperature could climb up to 27-28oC. Also don’t expect a warm crowd. Few people are cheering scattered during the lonely route, but you may hear some car horns from the opposite side of the road. Only in the last 2Km there are a lot of people, when you are in downtown Thessaloniki. The route is guarded by volunteers and the police so don’t expect cars or motorbikes to be near you. It is safe overall, even if takes part in a major road of the area. The water stations are frequent, every 2.5Km, and there are some Gels and sports drinks but there was a lack of garbage bins to dispose them in the majority of the stations. Overall, I was anticipating more from a marathon that is taking place in the second biggest city of Greece.

One of the best Cross at which we participate with mum. We came from Romania/Moldova and for sure we will come back at 19of of October for The 10 km Night Run

Very good route and well organised, happy joyfull people

Well organised event. Great route. Everything was great

Amazing

Ottima organizzazione, percorso veloce e poi correre nella patria della maratona ha un valore aggiunto.

Awesome !!! Awesome !!! Awesome!!! It was a beautiful, amazing experience to mingle with the Runners‘ energy and joy for fitness and challenge to herald the news of GOOD TIDINGS of Fitness, Love and Peace around us (despite some inhumane turmoil around other countries now). My delight and excitement were at a peak to be a 5K Finisher in my FIRST 5Km Run outside of my native land and chosen homeland, the Philippines and the USA, respectively. Despite the odds of my quite stiff Left Knee, I faced the Thessaloniki, Greece Run Challenge this year, fulfilling a dream come true: joining the grace of the rich history of Greece/Macedonia, its beautiful people who helped me and my husband Albin all the way to move around Thessaloniki with ease, and the bottom line of simply FunRunning to count our blessings. That was an unforgettable blessing to experience the Kindness of the Marathon/Runs’ cool ORGANIZERS, the immeasurable help of VOLUNTEERS, the spontaneous warmth of Runners and people around me (and my husband) who guided us for a very pleasant, brief stay in Thessaloniki. The Road Tracks especially the Coastal Road (Nikis Avenue) were easy to handle but appeared VERY VERY SPECIAL to end at the Marathon’s Finish Line, the Statue of Alexander the Great, the Common Finish Line for ALL the Runners.. Overall Run Experience in three words: AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME !!! I want to come back to try the Full Marathon Challenge, God-willing… in the near Future.

The 5Km as my Favorite Distance, Thessaloniki’s Tracks (City roads, Coastal road) were safe and great. The Security, the Spectators, the Welcomers, and the Volunteers simply gave me and the other Runners a lot of boost to finish the Run. The coastal road gave us the cool breeze of the Thermaic Gulf (Aegean Sea) on a midday Sun. It’s a beautiful thing that the Organizers include and respect other Run Distances like 10K, 5K, and 1K (for young students). Being 65 at this time with healthy body and spirit, RUNNING 5K is not only a challenge. RUNNING itself serves as an INSPIRATION. It is an Inspiration to Welcome our sound body and mind while we are still able and willing to move around. More so, RUNNING is one OPPORTUNITY to explore every path that we take… from here, to there, to everywhere …This OPPORTUNITY, however, is not forever. One CUTE notable experience: The Bananas ran out at my arrival time past the Finish Line at 1:54 PM, after receiving my Finisher’s Medal. Not a problem at all; I still got the water bottle and the 7-Vitamins tetra-pack drinks; also, the wife of One 5K Finisher handed me one big Banana on the outside of the barricaded Finish Line near the Statue of Alexander the Great; at random, another person handed me one more banana for my husband. Another CUTE Testimony: my pleasure to meet Very Kind people like them; they are like HEROES feeding strangers like us; similarly, the BANANAS are akin to HEROES to feed and hydrate Runners like me.

Great Marathon but the route its self bit boring

Very good route Bad time Very hot

Very nice

The Marathon route itself is poor but easy and great to make the PB, if you will run just on your own better if have a earphones with you so you can listen the music, otherwise will be boring. There is nothing special on this route nothing to see nothing to watch etc. The Marathon is very safe, police blocking the routes , a lot of drinking points toilets etc. The atmosphere its not so great , there is no much interest of the Marathon only a bit of the end finish. The town is just stunning so is worth it to be there and see this lovely location. I will definitely get back there to make my PB !!!

I think is the best route to do your PB its easy and smooth. The Marathon route is very safe and clear so if you want to do your personal best this is the best place to be.