Joining the Athens marathon was because it was just nice a week after the Cyprus Oceanman. The cost of the this race is 100 EUR, I think this is the standard price for most marathons and events in Europe. Being the origins of marathon, I thought it must be one of the bucket list for most runners.
https://www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr/site/index.php/en/
The Original Authentic Marathon
My number bib
The way that this was being phrased sound like all other marathons in the world are not real. This race starts from Marathon and ends in the Panathenaic stadium in the city centre. The event is named after the legendary 26-mile run made by a Greek soldier called Philippides (also known as Pheidippides) from the scene of the battle of Marathon to Athens, where he announced the defeat of the invading Persians. The route that this marathon goes is apparently the original one which Philippides took.
Reaching Athens
I reached Athens after the long holidays in Santorini. Totally enjoyed myself on the island there, everyday just sight seeing, eating doing nothing but admire the beautiful Sunrise or Sun sets. I didnt ran for the whole week leading up to the race itself. I guess I was also still very tired from the virtual New York marathon I did two weeks before. I was experiencing new injuries and new pain. The worst thing is that my form was all wrong. I was not sure if I could run like last time, especially not without Vibrams. I love Vibrams but the set of injuries which comes with running in them can be also quite bad.
I did not really run after reaching Athens, first thing was to go to the Faliro Indoor Hall & Exhibition Centre of Athens to collect the race pack.
Race Pack Collection
race pack collection
The race pack collection started on Wednesday , it goes through to Saturday. The public transport system is very easy to use in Athens, there are subway, Trams and buses. Although the subway does not have many lines, there is one line that is dedicated to the airport and runs through the city centre.
Photo time
I took a bus there and was staying at Syngrou Fix area. This area is also one of the pick up point for the buses to bring runners to the start line in Marathon. It is the marathon where start and end line are different. Runners will be transported from Athens to Marathon, then you are to run back to Athens again.
Runners pack
Back to the Race Pack Collection. The collection place was not very crowded, the usual Road race pack collection feeling, with many many stalls and booths selling from sporting goods, nutrition, sports recovery massages. Been a while since I join a real road race marathon and all these de ja vu ed back to me. Upon entrance you will collect your bib and info pack. FM gets a nice backpack with some freebies from the organisers and sponsors. You will need to weave through the series of vendors before going to the second floor to collect your tee shirt. There was only one event tee, the medals will be retrieved at the end of the race.
I didn’t buy a lot of stuffs , guess I been there done that, or maybe just enough of this kind of race pack collection. I only bought a couple of cheap buff items and 1 energy gel, and some isotonic powder.
Rushed down to the city centre to meet the Spartan gang who finished their 3 days long race last weekend. We had a great dinner at the Attic, a rooftop restaurant. There was I met 2 other Singaporeans doing the race.
Race and Finish
Freezing at the start line , had to let my hair down to keep warm.
Mid way point
Every 42km can be quite a long story, this race was rather unexpectedly slow for me, even slower than my first marathon in SCSM 2011 Singapore.
To speak the truth I guess I wore too much this time, thinking it will be like Chicago, I wore a long sleeved inside with the usual Tortoise running outside. One bad choice was to wear the hydration pack. My Nathan hydration belt had lost its elasticity during the covid period. Half the time during the covid, I had not ran competitively and all I used was the hydration pack. It did not occur to me to get a new one.
From Syngrou Fix, I took the bus to Marathon, ride is about 1 and half hour. It was really cold and windy at the stadium in Marathon. All runners had to bag drop at the trucks outside and move into the stadium to wait for the start. There were many toilet facilities and many of the runners were warming up at the Tracks. I was too cold and merely sat in the middle grass patch to keep warm. The music does keep the beat up. As usual, many people from around the world, didnt see many Asians though.
Morning bus to Marathon
The start line was broken to waves, by the time I flag off was about 9:20 am. The weather was good and sunny compared to the day before where I went to Delphi to visit the historic site.
The speak the truth , the whole route was not that scenic, support was good and every 5 km there is a water point with one bottle of water which I felt not so ideal as many didnt finish and threw it on the ground. Making the place rather slippery, kinda remind me of Berlin. Then the weather got hotter and hotter, it was hot and dry. At some point without the vegetation and the glare from the sun, it was rather torturing. After the 21km, my left hips started to work again. I thought of using the painkillers to curb it but just went on. The worst part was I forgot my music, making the run even longer. Somehow I got so used to listening to music to be able to trance myself out.
Bag drop with your number
Had only Haribos and some banana from the stations. Hydration was mainly from the pack with the isotonic powder I bought the day before. It was not bad. After 25km, I began to stop more at the points as the pain continues.
Inside the Panathenaic Stadium
Runners entitlement
Hard earned medal
Somehow I managed to pick up from 30 Km onwards and force myself to push through. Supporters along side were calling out BRAVO and there were many children coming out to support too. They gave the runners olive leaves as an encouragement. I wore it on my pack. The last part into the Panathenaic Stadium was the highlight for the whole race I felt. It was exhilarating to run through the tracks inside. You could hear the acoustic. I was totally exhausted and my legs were not lifting properly as I passed the finished line. Was happy that it had all ended, and I do not want to go on thinking what pain I am going to suffer the second day.
Last Part
Going back with emergency blanket on the public transport
Of course a smooth exit to collect the medal, race entitlements in a nice plastic bag ( organic) with usual water hydration and food. Then it was out to collect the drop off bag. There was a large park behind, it was the city centre at Syntagma. So from there it was easy to go anywhere in Athens. The good thing is organiser gave all runners for the FM a 5 days public transport card which allowed you to go anywhere in the city centre for free. That really helped. Changed up in my little crippled form. Headed back to my Air BB , just craving for some hot soup and something salty. Ahhhh…. My first physical marathon after Covid! Oh , the timing was 4 hours 47 minutes….