Running News Daily

The start of the 37th Spartathlon race will host 400 ultrarunners from 50 countries

Hundreds of ultramarathon runners from all over the world, on Friday, September 27, will gather at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, for the start of the 37th Spartathlon race.

According to organizer International Spartathlon Association, approximately 400 long-distance runners from 50 countries have registered for this year’s international race. A total of 60 runners have signed up from Greece.

As every year, Spartathlon will follow the footsteps of ancient Athenian long-distance runner Pheidippides across the 246 kilometers from Athens to Sparti.

“After many months or even years of intensive training, participants will attempt to reach the statue of King Leonidas in Sparti within 36 hours,” Sparthalon Board President Vangelis Polymeris told reporters during a press conference earlier this month.

The 37th Spartathlon will wrap up on Saturday, September 28.

This year’s race will host champions of previous events including last year’s 2nd winner Czech Radek Brunner, as well as American Bitter Zach, who recently set a world record by running 100 miles in the stadium, in 11 hours and 59 minutes.

Furthermore, Spartathlon will once again welcome Greek-American Dean Karnazes and Greek Georgia Manta.

Hundreds of volunteers, doctors and physiotherapists will once again offer their services to support the participants.

The race is taking place under the auspices of the Ministries of National Defense and Tourism, the supervision of the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) and the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.