Greek runner Fotis Zisimopoulos won the 39th Spartathlon, the ultra-marathon race from Athens to Sparta in southern Greece, on Saturday, by an impressive margin of one hour and 20 minutes.
SPARTATHLON
Greek-American ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes has no doubt about it: Spartathlon, the 246-kilometer race that traces the footsteps of ancient messenger Pheidippides, is uniquely special, and he is thrilled there is a documentary about it.
Japanese runner Yoshihiko Ishikawa was the winner of the 36th Spartathlon, one of the most challenging and historical ultra-marathon races in the world, hosted in Greece.
Athletes smile for the camera at the starting line of the 35th Spartathlon, beneath the Acropolis, early on Friday morning. The grueling 246-kilometer ultramarathon celebrating Pheidippides, the Athenian messenger who was sent to Sparta in 490 BC to seek help against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon, is this year being attempted by 400 athletes from around the world. They headed from the Acropolis to the old Athens-Corinth national highway. Greek runner Yiannis Kouros, who won the first Spartathlon, still holds the record time at 20:25:00. [Spartathlon/ANA-MPA]
Sign up for the Spetses Mini Marathon, which includes running and swimming events for kids and adults, as well as a stand-up paddle board race.
German runner Florian Reus won the historic 245.3km Spartathlon race on Saturday for the first time, clocking 23 hours, 17 minutes and 31 seconds.
[nx_login_form]x
