Spartathlon 2016

Spartathlon is a historic ultra-distance foot race that takes place in September of every year in Greece. It is one of the most difficult and satisfying ultra-distance races in the world because of its unique history and background.

On Friday 30 September at 7 am 400 athletes from 52 countries will begin under the sacred rock of Acropolis towards the King Leonidas statue in Sparti. Lengthwise the 246km route there are 75 check points which will provide athletes with water, food and whatever assistance they will need. Check here the road race in details.

The Spartathlon revives the footsteps of Pheidippides, an ancient Athenian long distance runner, who in 490 BC, before the battle of Marathon, was sent to Sparti to seek help in the war between the Greeks and the Persians. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Pheidippides arrived in Sparta the day after his departure from Athens.

Inspired by the report of the Greek historian, in 1982 five officers of the British Royal Air Force (RAF), who were also long-distance runners, traveled to Greece and ascertained by themselves that it was possible to cover the 250 kilometers separating the two towns in one and a half days.

The Interanational Spartathlon Association, established in 1984, organizes every September the Spartathlon race. The month choose was because Herodotus placed in that month the mission of Pheidippides to Sparti.