Paul's Blog your host
for the Athens Marathon
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Additional Race support
All of our packages include additional race support which includes; race entry fee and processing, race number and goodie bag distribution at our hotel, our own sweep vehicles, our own support station at the half, additional snacks and refreshments at the half and the finish, runner tracking from the start to the finish and a personal photograph outside the stadium.
CHOOSE FROM
THESE TOUR
PACKAGES:
 If you want to truly experience the magic and antiquity of Greece
and the Marathon, this is the choice for you. You'll be headquartered
in the Aegean resort community of Vouliagmeni. Daily runs and clinics
with Jeff Galloway. Lots of sightseeing, guided tours and Apostolos'
superb runner support at the Marathon. |
 A shorter version of the above, for those who have limited time. |
 We realize that some runners prefer to be more independent and would like to create their own travel program. With that in mind, we have created a minimal support package for your first 4 days/3 nights in Athens. You can then add to it to design your own special vacation. |
Run the Original
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The Athens Marathon, the Old is Now New, The Original Historical Course
In 490 BC, the first battle for democracy was fought at the Greek village of Marathon. Though overwhelmingly outnumbered by an invading Persian horde, the citizen soldiers of Athens prevailed and in so doing preserved the classical Greek way of life.
Legend has it that when the battle was won, the Athenian messenger, Phidippidies ran twenty-four miles to Athens carrying the news of that stunning victory. The modern marathon commemorates his feat.
Greece, with its rich history offers a lot of fun and interesting things to see and do. Runners familiar with the history and have the desire to run the “Original Historical” course have been drawn to it as if it were a pilgrimage.
Many runners are not aware that the Athens Marathon is an annual event and open to all runners and there is no qualifying time. The field is relatively small in comparison to other major marathons and runners can still enjoy its uniqueness. Especially now with all the new improvements implemented by SEGAS (the marathon organizing committee) and the Olympic organizing committee for the 2004 Olympics.
One of the nice things that is unique to the Athens Marathon is that it is not over commercialized and you will not see any advertising at the start or the finish because these are sights if antiquity and no advertising is allowed.
When running the Athens Marathon runners should pace themselves and conserve their energy and start off slow for the second third of the course which is hilly and glide on the final third which is downhill. If you follow this advise you should finish well with a respectable time.
When you run the Athens Marathon you travel in the very footsteps of the ancient gods and heroes that gave birth to western civilization. It’s a once in a lifetime experience and should be on every runners “to do” list.
To learn more about the history of the Athens Marathon go to www.athensmarathon.com.
Submitted by Paul Samaras, Apostolos Greek Tours, Inc. the Athens Marathon specialist.
