• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home IAAF

Athens Marathon Celebrates 2,500 years since the Battle of Marathon, by Pat Butcher

Larry EderbyLarry Eder
August 18, 2010
0
0 0
0
SHARES
18
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

AthensClassicMarathoncomplogo.jpg

If there is a global marathon worth writing about, worth visiting, Pat Butcher has been there.
Our favorite global marathoner, Mr. Butcher is waxing poetically here on the Athens Marathon,
and the significance of the 2,500 year celebration of the Battle of Marathon. Read on,
kind readers!

Oh, and special thanks to observant reader Steve Vaitones for that fine post card from the country of Molvania, a land untouched by Modern dentistry. A true classic (yes, and fake)!

Painting of Pheidippides.

Painting of Phillipidees, painter unknown


 

The big-city marathons – London, New York,
Paris, Berlin, Boston – have had a huge impact in the last 30 years, getting
unprecendented numbers of folks out on the road, and helping push the world
record closer to that elusive two hour barrier. Boston can even boast over a
hundred years’ legacy, beginning as it did in the late 19th century.

 

But when the Athens Classic Marathon, an
IAAF Gold Label Road Race, takes place later this year, it will be celebrating
an anniversary that puts all others into the deep shade.

Because 2010 is the 2500th
anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, an event which arguably ‘saved’
democracy in what would become Western Europe; and ultimately provided the
impetus for the creation of the marathon race for the inaugural modern Olympic
Games in Athens 1896.

 

RelatedPosts

Valencia Marathon sells out its 33,000 race bibs and sets a new record for registrations.

The Most Excellent Adventures of Des Linden

2023 Brighton Marathon

The organisers of this year’s event, from
the town of Marathon to the old marble Panathenaiko stadium in Athens, are
putting on an unprecedented show for the race on Sunday, October 31. Last
year’s record field of 7000 has been increased to 20,000+, a quota that was
filled within weeks of entry being opened at the start of the year. Elite
entries already include Kenyans Isaac Macharia and Jonathan Kipkorir, both of
whom have run just over 2.07, while famous guests so far include double Olympic
marathon gold medallist Waldemar Cierpinski, Ron Hill, who won the Euro
Marathon in Athens 1969, and Kathrine Switzer, whose gate-crashing of the
hitherto all-male Boston Marathon in 1967 helped kick-start the explosion in
women’s marathoning.

 

A local celebrity Maria Polyzou has already
retraced the footsteps of the legendary Phillipides, and run from Athens to
Sparta and back to Marathon (over 500 kilometres) within six days last week.
Although retired from competitive running, Polyzou was eminently suited to the
task, since she is still Greek women’s marathon record holder, and is currently
Director of the Museum of the Marathon, in the town of Marathon itself.

 

The Association of International Marathons
(AIMS) is holding its 18th Congress in the Greek capital in the days
preceding this year’s Athens Classic Marathon, and delegates will attend the
traditional lighting of the Marathon Flame at the tumulus, the burial ground
for those few score Hellenic soldiers who fell in the victorious Battle of
Marathon against the invading Persians in 490BCE.

ends

 


Related articles by Zemanta
  • Marathon 2500th Anniversary (rogueclassicism.com)
  • 2,500 years on, marathon remembered as it began (independent.co.uk)
  • The marathon man who cut a few corners (guardian.co.uk)
  • Zack Snyder Confirms He’s Working On Script For ‘300′ Prequel ‘Xerxes’ (geeksofdoom.com)

Author

  • Larry Eder
    Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

    View all posts

Previous Post

AVIVA London GP, RN Photo Gallery, note by Larry Eder

Next Post

Cantwell & Ostapchuk take DL Trophies at Zurich Train Station, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

Similar Post

2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training for the Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000m, Week Eleven, Day 3, Wednesday is recovery day

2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training for the Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000m, Week Eleven, Day 5, Friday is for recovery…

May 27, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Live from Luskin Conference Center, the day 1 of USATF LA Grand Prix is upon us!

Coffee With Larry, Live from Luskin Conference Center, the day 1 of USATF LA Grand Prix is upon us!

May 27, 2023
Athletics find its next global rivalry in Kerley vs Jacobs, but can it be worth our while? 
2023 Wanda Diamond League

Marcell Jacobs, citing back injury, is out of Rabat Men’s 100 meters, Mia Sorgia…

May 26, 2023
Why we should be scared of Noah Lyles 2.0
2023 World Athletics Championships

Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Budapest 2023, Day 38: Five athletes from the U.S. who should be on the podium in Budapest!

May 26, 2023
Coffee with Larry, Rabat DL, flying to LA LA land, Big meet at UCLA, Eric Jenkins retires
Coffee With Larry

Coffee with Larry, Rabat DL, flying to LA LA land, Big meet at UCLA, Eric Jenkins retires

May 26, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Bermuda GP on Sunday, Night of 10,000m PBs on Saturday, Witness the wonder story #30!

2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training for the Middle Distances, 800m-5000m, Week Eleven, Day 4, Thursday track session

May 25, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

July 5, 2022
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

July 17, 2022
2022 USATF Outdoor Champs: Melissa Jefferson takes the Women’s 100m title in windy 10.69!

The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

February 8, 2023

(RBR Archives) Coaching 101: Warm Up & Cool Down for the Jumps, by Roy Stevenson, note by Larry Eder

April 1, 2022
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

6
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
2022 Munich Diary, Day Five, a Great Friday Night

2023 European Athletics Indoor Champs, The Women’s 60m, who will win the final tonight?

5
TCS New York City Marathon Broadcast to be Available in More Than 530 Million Homes Around the World on Sunday, November 6

RunblogRun Editorial: The Sorry State of Running Television Coverage, by Peter Abraham, note by Larry Eder

4
2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training for the Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000m, Week Eleven, Day 3, Wednesday is recovery day

2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training for the Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000m, Week Eleven, Day 5, Friday is for recovery…

May 27, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Live from Luskin Conference Center, the day 1 of USATF LA Grand Prix is upon us!

Coffee With Larry, Live from Luskin Conference Center, the day 1 of USATF LA Grand Prix is upon us!

May 27, 2023
Athletics find its next global rivalry in Kerley vs Jacobs, but can it be worth our while? 

Marcell Jacobs, citing back injury, is out of Rabat Men’s 100 meters, Mia Sorgia…

May 26, 2023
Why we should be scared of Noah Lyles 2.0

Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Budapest 2023, Day 38: Five athletes from the U.S. who should be on the podium in Budapest!

May 26, 2023

Popular Stories

  • USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

    Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • (RBR Archives) Coaching 101: Warm Up & Cool Down for the Jumps, by Roy Stevenson, note by Larry Eder

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent Tweets

Next Post

Cantwell & Ostapchuk take DL Trophies at Zurich Train Station, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist