Running the Athens Authentic Marathon is an experience that every runner should live at least once in lifetime. Finishing in the Panathenaic Stadium is a unique, thrilling , overwhelming feeling that you do not get in any other running event in the world. The water supply and the help (including electrolytes and carbohydrate provision during the race) is superb. The medal is a masterpiece - every year a different artist is recruited to design it. The route is extremely demanding and really a trap for someone not prepared to face the peculiarities of the route (continuous uphills an downhills from 10th Km to 32 - mainly uphills). The weather usually is far from ideal (tends to be too warm during the last years and usually humid) and makes all effort even more difficult. This year (unlike the previous ones), the collection of bags after the race, was a total failure with a exhausted crowd (after the race) squeezed in a narrow area for quite some time to get the bags. The use of fewer huge tracks (unlike the previous years that more smaller vans were recruited for this role) was the reason. Overall, I strongly recommend this event.

The Athens Authentic Marathon is a spectacular event to be a part of - steeped in history and all the runners on the course appreciated the support from the locals who came out to see us come through the various locations along the route. The expo was 'enough' - the usual type of thing you would expect at this kind of event, but not too much of the hard sell from running marketing sources that it spoils it, and we were given a good selection of goodies when we picked up our numbers. On the day it was a very early start, catching a bus from Athens out to Marathon before 06:00, and a long wait when I arrived at the start location as I was in the second wave starting at 09:30. It was cold and we were given plastic bags to cover ourselves, but it is definitely worth taking a jumper to discard (or blagging a second plastic bag!) Near the start of the route locals hand out small olive branches, and the best tip I was given was to take a spare safety pin or two so I could secure this to my race vest and carry it with me to the finish. A lot of the support as you pass through different locations is groups of people dancing to 'Zorba the Greek', which was quite amusing after the 5th or 6th time :-D On the whole the support was fantastic. The route is mostly on the incline until about 20 miles in, so not easy, but the last few miles downhill is worth it, and the finish with a lap of the Panathenaic Stadium is truly awesome! I would recommend all road marathoners do this race at least once - it is a special one.

Every marathoner needs to run the Athens Marathon. It is so much better than the "majors". The organisation was outstanding - it is an A to B course (Marathon to Athens) so participants need to take a bus from various points around Athens to the start at Marathon. The start area was at the athletics stadium in Marathon. There were enough portaloos available. The main start corrals were outside the stadium and the back three corrals were inside the stadium. There were enough volunteers who did a fantastic job on the day. The baggage trucks provided by DHL were extremely well manned and well organised. This year, to pay tribute to people who died during the previous years wildfires, all runners were given green buffs to create a 'forest of runners' near the 12km point where people lost there homes and lives. The first 10km out of Marathon was flat with a few inclines, then you climb up to 32km after which it's pretty much downhill into Athens. The crowd support and atmosphere were phenomenal. Residents in all the towns that the course runs through were out cheering, some local businesses had music playing and the kids that ran the mini races earlier that morning were out high fiving the marathon runners. The refreshment stations were well stocked with water and powerade. I think that fruit and energy gels were also offered but I didn't take notice. The atmosphere during the final stretch and at the finish was phenomenal and the running into the Panathenaic Stadium was the most EPIC finish line that I've ever run (it puts the finish line of all the "majors" to shame!). It's easy to get goose bumps or get emotional when running into that stadium. The finish funnel was easy to get through to collect your medal, goody bag, foil blanket if needed. The DHL trucks were about a 5-10 minute walk from the stadium and baggage collection was super easy. I would definitely recommend the original marathon to everyone who runs marathons.

Having only run one marathon before this and that was in April, I really felt running this race was a real challenge to be conquered. Knowing it was considered to be one of the hardest road marathons you can run, it was always going to be difficult for due to the climbing involved. 

There was never a plan otherthan finishing and I estimated around 51/2 hrs and I'd be happy. The event organisers did a fabulous job, race number pick a breeze and a chance to visit the seaside, the pick up coaches to bus you to Athens regular and efficient and the feed stations well manned and supportive. The crowds enroute amazing especially as I was a female, as the men certainly out weigh the ladies and I carried my olive branch right to the very end in my hair ponytail.

As the race progressed and the km's ticled down, I was feeling good despite the climbing and when I reached 30K I hadn't hit the wall which was good.

I as ran it the stadium, I had to really talk to myself to stop myself crying, what a lap that was and an epic feeling to have completed the original marathon and a PB, 4.41,02!

Then you are ushered through to collect your medal, the obilgatory banana and foil wrap. I then had to wait just 15 minutes for the hubby to finish.

If you call yourself a marathon runner, you must run Athens, its awesome!