Athens Marathon (Greece)

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.