The Marathon course is one of the most important events of the modern Olympic Games and was embodied to the Olympic program in 1896 after Michel Breal’s (professor at Sorbonne University and friend of Pierre de Coubertin) recommendation to honour the memory of the heroic act of the messenger who brought the message of victory to the Athenians after the battle of Marathon in 490 BC.

It is worth mentioning that this year’s Athens Classic Marathon is dedicated to the memory of the important pacifist Grigoris Lamprakis - a Champion, a Balkan Games winner, a Doctor and Pacifist who devoted his life to defending the human ideals and values -. It was on April 21^st 1963 that he caused the public’s interest when he attempted to run alone for the first Peace Marathon Course, during which he was arrested and abused. On May 22^nd 1963 and during a pacifist’s gathering in the city of Thessaloniki in Northern Greece, he experiences a murderous attack and dies a few days later, something which brought over important political implications to the country.

The Athens Classic Marathon is habitually held every second Sunday of November and attracts participation of thousands of runners from all over the world. Among those participants are all of the Greek champions but also some of the biggest names of the course. For the year 2013, the Classic Marathon will be held this coming Sunday the 10^th of November and participants can either register for the Classic Marathon Route of 42.195 meters from Marathon to Kallimarmaron Stadium or for the shorter Road Races of 5 and 10 km, for Power Walking, for the Children Games and, last but not least, for the 1.000 meters Special Olympics Hellas course.

The start of the Marathon will take place at 09:00 am at the specially designated area in the area of Marathon and is expected to end at 17:30 pm at the finishing line within the Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro) in the presence of thousands of cheering spectators. 

From: Eva Kanellopoulos

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