Athens Marathon (Greece) - Race Reviews

Course: **** I would usually rate this course with three stars: while the first half is nice, the second half is strip mall after strip mall, but what could they really change unless they deviated from the first run? Nothing! It's the original, it's special, and that's what runners from all over the world come for. It is what it is. Organization: *** Could easily be a five star organization, but there are two major flaws for which I deducted one star each: 1. Late start The race starts quite late. It could be so much nicer, and the temperatures much cooler, if it started at sunrise. I took a shuttle bus (very efficient) at 6:15 am, arrived at the start shortly past 7 am, and waited for two more hours until the race started then. 2. Trash The amount of trash created by runners was incredible, easily the most that I have ever seen at a race. While I appreciated receiving an entire water bottle that I could carry from stop to stop, half empty bottles were tossed away everywhere along the course outside the city centre, sometimes even creating a hazard. Separate receptacles, as announced by the organisers, could not be seen. I would suggest offering cups (or refill stations) as a default, and then bottles upon request. Spectators: ***** Great support even outside the city limits. Loved the energy from the community. Thank you.

I first ran the Athens Marathon in 2009 and because of the SUPER experience my wife and I came back in 2014 and I ran it again and finally this last year I was back for a third time as a 70 year old. This is a hard course to run but it is very well organized and supported by the people of Athens. The crowds along the hilly route were SUPERB and their support was simply the best! There was also great support from the police and medical community along the route and the aid stations were also very good. The finish in the historic marble stadium was most memorable and the finishers shirt and medal were GREAT! For the third time my wife and I went with the Apostolos Greek Tours 12 day tour and again for the third time it was just excellent. This tour takes special care of you not only on the tour, which is fantastic, but especially on race day too where they keep track of every runner and their needs. Apostolos Greek Tours takes you all over this ancient land with guides who do and excellent job. The hotels we stayed in were just great and the meals and other considerations we just excellent! I would highly recommend the Athens Marathon, which is the GREATEST Marathon in the world and the Apostolos Greek Tours which is a world class tour. In another 5 years you will hopefully meet my wife and I as we again travel thousands of mile from Oregon to Athens and I will again run this GREAT race and for the 4th time we will sign up for the Apostolos Greek Tours and we will again have an excellent time.

I report that (at age 59) I started and finished the November 10, 2019, edition of this marathon. It was my ninth marathon start and finish. This was an awesome experience, from the online registration to having the medal placed around my neck at the Panathenaic Stadium. Bravo to the organizers, volunteers, runners, and supporters. This was a well-organized marathon. I was impressed with the efficient free shuttle service to the start in Marathon. The inclines from kilometers 11 to 31 are real. Respect them. I advise that you train on hills as much as possible. But the inclines are also doable. Yes you can. I am pleased that it was not my first marathon because, on account of my experience, I was better prepared to mentally deal with the inclines. This marathon offers Coca Cola as an option at the water stops. Interesting. But I stuck to water and sports drink. Two weeks before the marathon, during my final long run, I slipped, fell, and hurt my right foot. I did have it treated but at kilometer 12 or 16 of the marathon my foot started to hurt again. It made a challenging course even more so, but I finished. If you have supporters they should take the free shuttle service to the observation site at kilometer 31. My wife was there and not only was it great to see her she also had my supply bag. Thank you to her for her support. Onward to my tenth and final marathon, Buenos Aires.

My second marathon and my daughter's first. The pictures of the course elevation change really - look scary - and got us training well for hills. Glad we did. We have good hills areas north of Atlanta so those paid off. My daughter and I ran the whole race together and thoroughly enjoyed it. I bettered my first marathon by almost 35 minutes even with the hills in this race finishing 4:40 which was pleased to do! Well organized plenty of water/sponges and volunteers and folks cheering you on. So glad we did this event.

I never thought I would ever run a marathon, but told myself if I ever did it would be this one. Then the opportunity arose, and I couldn't let myself back down. This was my first marathon and I trained for 8 months to prepare, you need it for sure. Get those long distances in AND hills. Even though I had studied the profile, I still wasn't prepared for the 23km of hills. The experience was unforgettable, the city and its people seem to live for this because their cheering and support are amazing. The event is well organised, but communication on the travel cards they provide was lacking and didn't realize or understood it was already charged to pay for my metro or bus. Nothing else bad to say. Make sure you stay for a couple extra days to tour the city. The hop-on-hop-off is cheap and fast to get around and see everything. Airotel alexandros was an amazing and friendly hotel that was only a 10-15 minute walk to the buses that take you to marathon. They just started a new medal series that reflect historical events. The only marathon medal I have, but I think it's probably the best

This was one hell of an experience, I'm a slow runner at the best of times but with the heat on the day (20'c at the start) and the unrelenting hills, this was the toughest marathon I have done. The hills are not very steep but they are long, very long and you need to take this into consideration in your training. That aside, this was a brilliant event. The organisation was super. The expo was a good size with some excellent stands. The organisation of the transport to the start was perfect, start area was well organised and the feed stands were all full of very enthusiastic volunteers. The support was also top notch. It was a humbling experience to run through the area destroyed by wild fires in the summer and be cheered on from the locals. The final 1km was super great crowds and brilliant finish area. I would highly recommend this race but be prepared for those hills!!

I joined the Apostolos Greek Tours 12-day tour group for the 2017 Athens Marathon. Everything was coordinated from our airport arrival, marathon entry/expo and race drop-off and pick-up. Their services allowed me to concentrate on the race and have a fantastic marathon experience. Yeah, the course is fairly tough (I've run Boston and Big Sur Marathons and Heartbreak Hill and Hurricane Point on CA Highway 1 are short compared to the long hill at Athens), but the Greek roads are wide and smooth with hardly any crown so it's easy on your ankles. The crowd support was great, especially through the little towns; they love their marathon. I never high-fived so many cute kids in my life. The sense of history you'll feel as you run this route is unlike any other marathon you will EVER run! Finishing in the old marble 1896 Olympic stadium made me tear-up. Plenty of aid stations along the route and lots of SWAG, plus probably the coolest marathon finisher medal you'll ever get. Put the Athens Authentic Marathon on your bucket list!

Long Distance runners from all over the world you are invited to participate in Athens Marathon,the Authentic.Greece is the proud homeland of Marathon. No matter how old are you, where you come from, which is your annual income, what are your beliefs, you are all invited to run the Authentic course. Organisation is perfect, thousands of spectators support the runners and the finish in Panathinaik Stadium (the first Olympic games in 1896 took place there) is a unique experience. I recommend to the runners who intend to participate in the race, firstly read the history of ancient Athens and Marathon. Finally, something very important and thrilling. At the 5th km,in your left hand, there is a hill.In fact, there are buried the 195 Greek soldiers for 2,508 years...

The Authentic Athens marathon is a fantastic experience. The expo is exciting. The medal is beautiful and the finish in the Olympic Stadium is wonderful. The course is tough. Uphill from 10k to 31k. Not so very steep but relentless. So, no p.r.'s. The support along the course was top notch. Water, energy drinks, bananas and energy gels. It really is a first rate marathon and the Greeks are lovely people.

Ah Athens, the City of Intellects! The birthplace of democracy. Some of the most brilliant minds in the world have lived /or visited here. Athens, the capital of Greece and the heart of Ancient Greece, populated by 11.1 million in 2015, remains the root of Western Civilization. ORIGIN OF THE MARATHON RACE In 490 BC, a Greek warrior named Philippides deliver the good news from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon. Democracy triumphant! Philippides ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming (nenik-kamen, 'we have won!'), before collapsing and dying. From that point onward, 42.195 km or 26.2 miles became the gold standard for testing athletes and soldiers alike. 2017 ATHENS MARATHON, THE AUTHENTIC 42.195km The Athens Marathon recognized as a gold label world class event! The City of Athens provide free transportation card for all runners throughout the city during marathon weekend. There's also a free bus service that pick you up at major metro train stations in the downtown area from 5:30am to 6:15am on Race Day Sunday. In fact, I did not pay for my arrival train ride from Athens International Airport to Syntagma Square at 11:15pm Thursday night; nor did I pay for my early 2:30am Monday departure bus ride using the transport card. Language? Every other Greek person that I have approached to ask for direction speak English. And the entire City of Athens is easily accessible either by bus, train or trams. I felt safe walking about by myself. I stayed at Electra Palace Athens, 400 meters from Syntagma Square and 20 minutes walk from the Acropolis. The area within downtown central is quite safe & upscale. Every inch of space utilized. As soon as you step outside, there are bars after bars in one direction, and restaurants after restaurants in another. Some streets are lined with antiquity and jewelry stores. While Syntagma Square surrounded by McDonald, Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc. There's nothing more exhilarating than running through Athens crowded downtown area with hundreds of thousands of onlookers gathered to cheer you all the way to the finish line inside the world famous Panathenaic Stadium built in 660BC! There's a reason why the Hellenic Running Association allows runners 8 hours to complete the 42.195km full marathon from the town of Marathonas to the capital city Athens. (See photos of map & elevation chart.) In all 14,471 Finishers with 18,500 participants.

If you wish to run one marathon, this is not the best choice. If you want to beat your record, look elsewhere. But if you are a seasoned runner this race has plenty to offer. It is a tough, almost relentless course. The final downhill stretch does not offset the long slog but the finish in the stadium, the non-stop support and the best medal in the industy make this a worthy endeavour. Plus Athens is a cracking city.

I ran the Athens Authentic marathon in 2014. It was my first ever marathon and the most amazing experience that has kept me doing more marathons. The good: This is the original marathon race, so if you are only going to do one (and don't care much about finish time!), this is the one to do! The course starts in the town of Marathon and finishes in the stadium in Athens city. The finish inside the stadium is the best I have ever had in a race! The support is really really good all the way, even out in the suburbs. The locals are super into the event! The finisher medal is stunning and chunky and really unique (it is shaped like the stadium). The course goes forward all the way, so no repetitions, and you have the feeling of moving forward. The expo is really good too. The bad: The first 30 km of the race is mainly uphill. Yes. So don't expect a pb (unless it's your first race). Also, when I did the race in 2014, there was no women's t-shirt, so I got a men's t-shirt, which is about the size of a small dress. A minor detail, but still a pity. I would absolutely recommens this race!

I cannot begin to express the greatness that is the original Pheidippides route from Marathon to Athens. From the starting line with the Olympic torch to the end at the Panatheneic Stadium and all the jubilant towns in between, this is a marathon you'll definitely remember. I highly suggest taking a 6 or 12-day tour with the Apostolos Greek Tour group for the ultimate experience. Paul and his gang provide nothing less than VIP service from day 1 and take care of absolutely everything (even a mid-point aid station where they'll have any personal items you need waiting for you). You want to experience a recovery sprint in the original Olympic stadium of Zeus? They'll get you there. You want to be treated like a victorious Athenian warrior? Paul and the Greek people will make sure you are. Got a baby you can't leave behind? They got you covered like family. The experience was so great I might just have to check it off my bucket list twice in the future!

I knew that the Athens Authentic is a bucket list marathon. Now, after running it, I totally agree with that. It's all together - friendly people everywhere, the course and the stadium with a long and outstanding history, nice weather in November, and excellent organization. The 'dreaded' hills are there but nowhere as hard as some folks might say. You still must have a decent hill training! The downhill part of the last 10 km is really a blessing to your tired legs. Perhaps first time when I enjoyed running those last marathon miles. To fully appreciate running this marathon, I would strongly suggest to have a few other marathons under the belt.

As this was my first marathon having done three half marathons previously, this was the next step up for me. I was so worried about doing what people had claimed to be one of the tougher marathon courses. I can say although there are hills along the way they are no where near as difficult as people say and it is not an endless 20km incline!! There are flats and even down hills in between. These mindless comments almost had me not wanting to do the race. In fact i would say the hills didn't feel difficult till after the 20km mark and even then they were manageable. A 3%-4% incline at most. Over all worth doing it and I'm so glad I did! The greek locals were amazing and present throughout most of the course calling out BRAVO so full of admiration. Great experience!! Oh and the weather was perfect for the month of November. A comfortable 20 degrees and some cool breezes along the way! Oh and if you're feeling hungry straight after the race there are stands selling their famous souvlakia!

We did this marathon as part of a tour group (Apostolos Greek Tours) and it was the most relaxed marathon I have run. Everything was taken care of from our registration to packet pick up to transportation. The only thing we needed to know was what time to load the bus in the morning. I have never gotten to the starting line so relaxed before. It was a hard course but completely worth it.

- Finally had a chance to do the most important marathon in the world with 16,999 others on November 8, 2015, fantastic experience to run this historic route. I gave myself only a 70% chance of finishing because of a training injury 6 days earlier and twice the temptation of getting on the evacuation bus was pretty strong and if this had been anything other than Athens I would have done so, there is always another marathon, but I just could not give up on this one - Interesting glimpse of Greek countryside before the last 15k on city streets but by no means one of the most scenic marathons and I would have welcomed more of something other than asphalt - Pretty easy course with just a few short 3% grades- Greek spectators are the best ever, always cheering and applauding, God bless Greece - Good support with water every 2 1/2 k and occasional energy drinks and bananas - Great weather, a little cool before the race and the plastic bags provided much-needed protection from the wind but by the start of the race the temperature was perfect

Excellent organization. Nice people around during number pick up, marathon and after finish line. Expo a bit overcrowded - more space would help to increase comfort of visitors. Water was provided already before start, during the run itself water was in the bottles - great help considering sunny weather. First 10 km flat followed by 20 km uphill and last 10 km downhill - you will most probably not improve your PB. Many spectators making fantastic noise, often calling your name to support you even stronger. Sunny weather around 20* C. And finally it comes to the finish in the ancient Greek stadium - authentic, unforgettable experience. Great run, wish to come back.

So, its the original marathon and every marathon runner should complete it. The course is hard however the sense of achievement when you finish is second to none. The organisation is great from start to finish and there was a real buzz in Athens on marathon weekend. Just DO IT!

This is the ultimate marathon....From Marathon itself to Athens and what more could you ask? Well a finish in the Panathenaic stadium built by the ancient Greeks and renovated for the first modern Olympic games makes for a spectacular finish spurring you on for those last few hundred metres. The crowds roar and cheer and shout and the atmosphere is magic. Organisation is excellent, registration easy and loads of buses to the start. Kit pick up and processing at the end is not up to London (nothing is) but is not far behind. Water in bottles planted in your hand as you stretch, plenty of isotonic in bottles or cups and all every 2.5 Km is testimony to some really excellent planning and devoted volunteers The only drawback is the course. Historic and no doubt scenic when Pheidippides ran it in 490 BCE but now it is a long dull dual carriageway with the scenic value of an industrial suburb, lined with car showrooms shops and business premises. However, for the last two or three kilometers you get some feel for the city itself. Add to the drab surrounds a long climb from 19Km to 31 Km and you are really grateful for the final few Km and the spectacular finish. Medal is tip top and t-shirt is good. So enjoy this marathon - it is not a PB course but a real must do.

This was an incredible experience. It's not that this was the best, most scenic course I've ever run, and it certainly wasn't a PR, but this was as close as you're going to get to the original marathon. That makes it a five star experience, even though it wasn't perfect in every aspect. What was perfect? Apostolos Greek Tours did a phenomenal job with pre-, mid-, and post-race support. All of the stress about getting to and from the race, particularly in a foreign country, was avoided. We got to meet great people in our group, so I made a friend to run the marathon with while my wife found one for the 10k. The tour company provided a van at the midway point for you to leave a bag with extra supplies, or that you could add to if you needed to drop something off. The finish in the stadium was awe-inspiring and emotional. The crowds in the towns we passed through were magnificent, with 'Bravo!' heard often and enthusiastically. The course itself alternates between level and uphill for the first 20 miles, and then finishes mostly downhill for the last 6. The weather was warm but the sponges and water were plentiful. Water bottles at the aid stations created a bit of a hazard, but most runners tossed theirs out of the way. This event is definitely worth adding to your bucket list and then scratching it off as you channel your inner Pheidippides.

Incredible experience to run this historic course, filled with many spectators who were very proud of the runners and passed out olive branches to the runners in the first few kilometers of the course. Lots of long hills which we were prepared to face, and a spectacular finish in the Panathenaikos stadium which was incredible. Negatives were that many of the toilets at the start of the race were out of toilet paper, and even more disappointing, there were no toilets to be found probably after the 25th km, which is unacceptable. Other negative was the technical t-shirt which had a poor quality of printing and whose logo was tiny. Also not enough variety of merchandise for the race. The medal however, was fantastic!!! Highly recommend this race! Train with lots of hills and prepare to have an amazing experience!!!

There have been two marathons that I have always wanted to run in - Boston and Athens. I have achieved both, with the Athens being the latest - November 9, 2014. Running in the Athens Marathon became my 40th marathon, and one of my greatest achievements. To be able to run in the spirit, and stride, of the mythic Feidippides and the legendary Spyros Louis, and finishing in the 1st Olympic stadium, there has been no other marathon that has given me a high level of sensation, and accomplishment, except for Boston. This was truly a great experience, and this is one marathon that should be on every serious marathoners list. Because of the toughness of this course, anyone that earns a Boston Qualifier will truly feel like they have made it to the top of the marathon world and can shout - 'I have been victorious!' The citizens of Greece are friendly and everyone that came out to support the marathoners shouted out 'Bravo' as the runners went by. Great Support! Plenty of water/sport drinks were provided throughout the course. The water bottles were handed out vice cups. Gels were given at certain stages of the race, and water sponges were also at the water stations. The Expo was large, with lots of vendors. The running shirts issued to the runners were nice, and the medal was awesome. I highly recommend this marathon to all marathoners, and if your goal is to earn a Boston Qualifier in Athens, my only advise is that you incorporate a lot of serious hill training . Greece, with all the surrounding islands, is a very pretty place - not to mention the ocean. There is a lot to see and do in Athens, with all its history - the birth place of Democracy. There are plenty of restaurants, inside and outside. I plan to run Athens again in the future, and now that I have experienced the course I too will incorporate some serious hill training.

i run marathons around the planet and haven't repeated one yet. athens will be the exception. i've already signed up for 2014. as a new yorker, i thought that no crowd of spectators could surpass the big apples. wrong. the greek people love their race and are so proud of anyone participating. the flats near the start in marathon had people at the end of their driveways out to cheer on everyone, and as we entered the more urban area, the crowds lined the route. and the reception we received at the finish into the stadium in athens was so enthusiastic and overwhelming, it brought tears to my eyes. the best EVER finish to a race. the wonderful greek people and the warmth of hospitality i received in athens, will be a pleasure to return to. JUST GO AND DO IT.

My husband and I ran the Athens Greece Marathon original course. It should be on the bucket list of every serious runner. The history was rich, the friends we made through Apostolos Greek Tours unbelievably fun, and I love old Greek music. I compared prices and benefits of different tours. I'm so glad I picked Apostolos Greek Tours. The after marathon party alone was worth it. The food was the best quality and flavor, Greek folk dancers wonderful, and our awards were great. The tours to the ancient sites were not too long, but just right and informative. Wonderful experience!

2013 Athens Classic Marathon In 490 BC, in the Battle of Marathon, Athenians defeated the Persians. Phidippides ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of the victory. Upon arrival, he was only able to say nenikikamen which means we have won before dying from exhaustion. Athens Classic Marathon commemorates this event. In 1896, Athens organized the first Modern Olympic Games. Spyros Louis ran the distance of 42.185 kilometers from Marathon to Panathenaic Stadium in Athens in 2:58:50 and won the first ever marathon race. Athens Classic Marathon follows the same course. I flew into Athens on Thursday, 7 November. My sister, Homeyra, had already arrived from Tehran to watch her brother running his 100th marathon! We were with Apostolos Greek Tours, which did a nice job in organizing all land aspects of the trip (airport transportation, hotel reservation, guided tours, marathon registration, pre-race pasta dinner, marathon transportation, and post-race dinner/dance party). We stayed in Amarilia Hotel in Vouliagmeni, an Athens suburb, which we found it relaxing, quiet, and scenic. The hotel was within a short walking distance from the beach and a nice paved trail. Vouliagmeni hosted the Triathlon event during the Athens 2004 Olympic games. On Friday, we visited the Acropolis and had lunch in a sidewalk café in the Plaka district, which is located in the shadow of Acropolis. After the lunch, we went to the Marathon Expo for packet pick-up. Each runner received a short-sleeved technical Adidas shirt, a towel, a tote bag, and a pen. On Saturday, we went to Sounion to visit the temple of Posseidon. The drive from our hotel to Sounion and back was scenic. The pre-race pasta dinner at the hotel was quite good. The 31st Annual Athens Classic Marathon was on Sunday, 10 November. We left the hotel at 6:45 AM for the start line in Marathon, which was an hour-long drive. It was a sunny, warm, and slightly humid morning. Wind was not a factor. Thousands of runners were expected. There were plenty of portable toilets. DHL trucks carried our drop-off bags to the finish line. There was a wave start system. The first block started at 9 AM, followed by the second block at 9:01 AM, the third block at 9:03 AM, and the other blocks in increments of 4 minutes. The first aid station was as kilometer 5, then every 2.5 kilometers, which provided plenty of water, sports drinks, wet sponges, sport gels, and bananas. I was impressed by a large number of emergency medical personnel throughout the route. The crowd support was excellent as we were running through several towns; I heard bravo numerous times! As expected, the course was hilly from kilometer 9 to kilometer 32. The last 10K was easy and the last kilometer was mainly downhill. The finish line was in Panathenikon Stadium, and we were greeted by a large number of spectators. The finisher medal was nice. There were adequate recovery food items and drinks. There were 7205 male and 1284 female finishers, respectively. The winning times were 2:13:51 (male) and 2:41:32 (female). I ran within my limits. I did not walk any of the hills. I walked the aid stations. I ran the first half in 2:13:58 (10:13 pace) and crossed the finish line in 4:39:37 (10:40 pace). I felt comfortable throughout the run and had a great time. There was a post-race dinner/dance party for us in our hotel. All runners in our group received a Greek head wreath and a hand-made pottery. I was recognized for having run my 100th marathon, and I must say that I am glad that I ran it in the birthplace of marathon running. On Monday, we visited the Agora and the Theseion, which is the best preserved building of ancient Athens. We then had few hours of free time to walk in and around Plaka district, have lunch, and do some shopping before returning to our hotel. On Tuesday, my sister returned to Tehran and I returned to Corpus Christi. We both enjoyed a nice and memorable trip. Meeting several friendly tour-mates was the icing on the cake. Apostolos Greek Tours is highly recommended.

It wasn't very good at the registration stage. When I paid by credit card, there is no automatic confirmation. I sent them an email but then I waited very long to get a reply. Many people asked the same question at facebook but no one replied. But the race itself is really perfect. At the start, I guessed there were more than 100 potties, you just had to wait less than 5 minutes(There are 10000 people altogether). There is a stadium, providing enough space for warming up. Bottled watter was provided at the start. There were enough rubbish bin, so the starting place was clean. There was even firework display at the opening ceremony, how amazing. When you began, the volunteers were already standing in a line beyond the starting line, giving the runners high five. The spectators were the most warming I have ever seen. They cheered the runners up all the way, even the children. I think Greeks are very proud of their marathon history. They provided bottled water(500 ml) throughout the whole course, which was somewhat a waste. The course is noted for its difficulty. And though having known it in advance, I still found it more difficult than I had expected. Anyway, the time limit is 8 hours. There is no need to hurry. I just took my camera with me and had lots of fun. It is really breathtaking to enter the Panathenaic stadium. When we passed the finishing line and received a medal, a volunteer offered to help to take pictures of us. When you got out and got your stuff, you could still get in again to take pics. Overall, it is a well-organized race. The spectators, volunteers really made me warm and touched.

I am just back from running the original course of the marathon: beyond expectations. The organization is well taken care of : the transportation to the start was fine with a very short waiting time, the start was well staggered with no bottleneck and the aid stations, fantastic, well staffed with an abundance of water, powerade, gels everuthing. Well done ! And now to the course. Get ready there is a steady climb of roughly 13 miles. It is a 3% slope, tough ! Above all in hot conditions. The arrival to the statium it is nothing short than spectacular. Hold back your tears and start celebrating your accomplishment. You run in the footsteps of Filippides. Unforgettable.

I ran the Athens Marathon in November 2012. It was an amazing experience in every respect. First, there was the race itself which couldn't have been better organized. The start with white fireworks against the Greek blue sky was stunning, water, sports drinks and food like gels, bananas and energy bars were readily available, as were portapotties. But what impressed me most was the great number of medics along the entire course at the bus shelters that werent used on race day. The marathon follows a rather boring road until shortly before you reach Athens. Not that it matters because the endless uphill battle during the challenging middle part keeps your mind too busy for sightseeing anyway. Since it runs through a not very densely populated area, the number of spectators is fairly limited for most of the time. They make up for it, though, by cheering for almost every single runner individually and offering encouragement, twigs of laurel and flowers. The highlight of the race is when you fly downhill into Athens, hearing the cheers from the much larger crowd there and entering the white marble stadium to receive your beautiful medal. Unforgettable! The other reason my Athens Marathon was such an outstanding event was that I went with Apostolos Greek Tours. They took care of all the boring and stressful logistics that can take the fun out of your marathon experience and use up the energy you'd rather spend on the race itself. Their plush private buses chauffered us to the Expo, the start of the race and back to the hotel afterwards. In the evening, they organized a wonderful celebration party for us that made us forget our fatigue and kept us dancing into the night. In the same professional and kind manner, they took care of runners and non-running family members during the remainder of our stay in Greece. They made it a true Deluxe marathon experience that was worth every penny we spent. The memories will last forever!

This was my first Marathon and as everyone was warning me about the 20km uphill run until the 30th kilometer I did many long runs in the nearby mountains (up to 500m / 1600ft altitude) and it did help a lot as to my amazement I managed to pull it without stopping anywhere to walk or stretch. Organization was very good, plastic bags at start (although it wasn't as cold as last year), plenty of water was available both in cups and bottles every 2.5km, isotonic drinks (Powerade) also in cups and bottles every 5km, gels and cereal bars later on. Bag collection and retrieval was without any delays or problems. As quite a few kilometers are outside of residential areas don't expect large crowds along the gruelling hill climbs between km 20 and 30, but they do cheer you. This year there were roughly 6500 participants and there was quite some room around me all the time.

This has been my 10th Marathon. Athens Marathon is the best by far in comparing with other Marathons I have run. Organization - they have taken care of all details. I planned to throw away a sweat shirt. Right after the shuttle bus arrived the start line, the organizers distributed plastic bags to everyone. This saved my sweatshirt. Volunteers - Everyone was so professional to handle runners' needs. It warm people's hearts by seeing the 'i' balloons floating around ready to help. The Feed Stations - It amazed me to see the full bottles of water and energy drink available at every water station. The Course - It is hard one, especially the hill from 21 to 31 Km. After all, it is the original one. What we can complain about this? However, the road condition was excellent. The permanent blue line clearly marks the route and the permanent milestone signs on the road make me to realize the dedication of the city to this event. The Spectators Along the Road - They are great!! They made me feel that I am an outstanding entertainer along the way. The 'Bravo' cheers made me going all the way. If any runner has not run this Marathon yet, he (or she) should plan to experience this event in a near future.

Before running this marathon I have been looking for tips on the course, and I couldn't find any that prepared me to the hardest course ever. The hills are never ending and when you get to the downhills you're half dead. It's worth doing it, but be prepared!

I ran the Athens Classic Marathon this past November, and really enjoyed the experience. It was my third marathon and first European race. Compared to the two US races I ran previously, Athens did a superb job of race organization. The expo was a good size and had plenty of race apparel, as well as old Olympic apparel for sale. Packet pickup was effortless. The race shirt was a nice white adidas running jersey with a blue ACM logo on the front, probably the nicest of the three marathon shirts I have so far. The expo was also located centrally, at the Zappeion conference center, a few blocks from Syntagma square and close to all the cool ancient sites. I made the mistake of not staying in the Plaka area, which is the nicest by far. Instead, I went for a cheap hotel (hotel Aristoteles) near Omonia square, which wasn't a nice part of town at all (though the hotel was just fine, no frills). On the morning of the race, buses picked up the runners in front of Syntagma square (and two other nearby locations) early in the morning (starting around 6-615 am) to take us to the start of the race at the Marathon stadium. My only complaint was having to sit around for 2+ hours in an indoor area of the Marathon stadium before the race, but at least the transport was included! Race conditions were cool (about 45F), with light rain and wind. Runners were separated into 7 blocks to start. The course was definitely as difficult as everyone says. The first 10k were fairly flat, winding along the coast and going around the old Battle of Marathon tomb. However, between 10k and 31k the course climbed steadily (about 800 feet total, according to the elevation map), with occasional short downhill areas. I had heard that this is the hardest major marathon in the world, and I believe it. The crowd support along the race varied. For the first half of the race, which was mainly through the countryside, there were fewer supporters, but support was very good whenever the course passed through a small town. People were out shouting Bravo! and giving out olive branches and other souvenirs. Duriing the second half of the course there were more supporters, as we neared Athens. Water and sports drinks were handed out along the course every few km, and there was one Gu station near the halfway point. From 31k until the end, the course sloped downhill, meaning that one could really pick up speed over the last 10k and finish strong through Athens. The finish in the old Olympic stadium was nothing short of spectacular. To complete such an historic race in such a great setting was something I'll never forget. The course was tough, but very much worth it (I was even able to achieve a PB!). Post-race food and drink packets were extensive, and the marathon medal was excellent. Gold satin band with a heavy medal with marathon logo on top of an image of the Olympic stadium. I would definitely run this marathon again!

This was my first marathon and it was a great experience! The weather was bad, the crowd was absent most of the way, the hills almost stopped me...but when I reached the finish line the emotions were undescribable...I believe everyone should run the classic route once.

The Athens marathon event consists of three races in one morning - a 5 km race, a 10 km race and a 42.195 km race. Both the 5 km and 10 km races originate and end in the Panathinaikon stadium, whereas the marathon race follows a relatively straight (uphill) line from the town of Marathon to Athens. On the 13th of November 2011, several thousand runners departed at 9:00 from Marathon and ran to the Panathinaikon stadium in Athens covering 42.195 kilometers. The race event for most marathoners had actually started three hours before when buses lined up from Athens (from 5:30 to 6:30) to take the runners to the starting line. Once in Marathon, the runners had almost two hours to warm up and divide into one of the seven starting groups organized according to each runner's estimated time to complete the race (due to the large number of participants, the organization of the runners was done in seven waves each separated by a couple minutes). After starting the race, water bottles were available every 2.5 kms and Powerade every 5 kms. There were also three fitness bar/gel stops towards the latter part of the race as well as three stops with bananas. The course was well marked with signs at each kilometer indicating the distance already covered. Although there were not many bathrooms along the course (only at the beginning and at the end), the race passed by enough shrubs that finding a secluded area was relatively easy. The last three kilometers are the most interesting part of the marathon when the course passes by the American Embassy, the Athens Music Hall, the Liberty Park (Parko Eleftherias), Syntagma Square, the Evaggelismos Hospital, the War Museum and the Panathinaikon Stadium. The finish line is located in the Stadium itself, so the marathon participants are able to run through 170 meters inside it before reaching the finish line. The race is relatively grueling because one has the impression that it is almost entirely uphill. The organizers claim that the course is relatively flat and downhill during the first 10 kms, but I had the impression that the entire race was uphill for the first 32 kms! There were only a few steep ascents, but most of the course felt like a gradual climb. At least everything seemed easier after the 32 km marker when the race started going downhill. I had been warned about the fact that the marathon is mostly uphill, but I was unprepared for the weather. This year's marathon was marked by high winds, really cold temperatures and bits of rain throughout the race. The worst part of the marathon was actually having to wait for almost two hours in Marathon before the start of the race. Many racers found limited cramped spaces near the starting line to stay warm, but several were forced to remain outside to fend for themselves in the unpleasant weather. Once the race started though, almost everyone seemed to forget the bad conditions at the start. The crowd support was very poor during the race, but mostly because the course ran through a highway that frequently has heavy traffic. There were some places with music, but it felt like long stretches were relatively sparse with nothing interesting to see or hear. Only the last three kilometers really offered anything of interest to see, but only because the course finished in Athens. The expo to pick up the race packet was average. The collection of the bib number and race gear was well organized and there were several booths offering souvenirs, running gear, information on other races, etc. I was disappointed with the quality of the racing shirt. Although it was Adidas, it was of poor quality and the race logo was ugly.

This was a well organized great race! Yes the hills are a killer. You must be in shape for this race. Athens is a wonderful place to visit. If you are a serious marathoner you must must must do this race

I ran this race in 2011 and had a great time. Support on the course was excellent, packet pick-up was easy, spectators were enthusiastic shouting 'bravo'! The course finish is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I strongly recommend going through Apostolos Greek Tours. I did the 11-day tour and enjoyed race convenience and the opportunity to see a lot of Greece! Paul Samaras and his team get an A+ in making the experience pleasant and memorable without hassle!