FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Stars For Athens Classic Marathon In October
Celebrates 2500 Years Since The Battle Of Marathon
The big-city marathons - London, New York, Paris, Berlin, Boston – have had
a huge impact in the last 30 years, getting unprecendented numbers of folks
out on the road, and helping push the world record closer to that elusive
two hour barrier. Boston can even boast over a hundred years' legacy,
beginning as it did in the late 19th century.
But when the Athens Classic Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, takes
place later this year, it will be celebrating an anniversary that puts all
others into the deep shade.
Because 2010 is the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, an event
which arguably 'saved' democracy in what would become Western Europe; and
ultimately provided the impetus for the creation of the marathon race for
the inaugural modern Olympic Games in Athens 1896.
The organisers of this year's event, from the town of Marathon to the old
marble Panathenaiko stadium in Athens, are putting on an unprecedented show
for the race on Sunday, October 31. Last year's record field of 7000 has
been increased to 20,000+, a quota that was filled within weeks of entry
being opened at the start of the year. Elite entries already include
Kenyans Isaac Macharia and Jonathan Kipkorir, both of whom have run just
over 2.07, while famous guests so far include double Olympic marathon gold
medallist Waldemar Cierpinski, Ron Hill, who won the Euro Marathon in
Athens 1969, and Kathrine Switzer, whose gate-crashing of the hitherto
all-male Boston Marathon in 1967 helped kick-start the explosion in women's
marathoning.
A local celebrity Maria Polyzou has already retraced the footsteps of the
legendary Phillipides, and run from Athens to Sparta and back to Marathon
(over 500 kilometres) within six days last week. Although retired from
competitive running, Polyzou was eminently suited to the task, since she is
still Greek women's marathon record holder, and is currently Director of
the Museum of the Marathon, in the town of Marathon itself.
The Association of International Marathons (AIMS) is holding its 18th
Congress in the Greek capital in the days preceding this year's Athens
Classic Marathon, and delegates will attend the traditional lighting of the
Marathon Flame at the tumulus, the burial ground for those few score
Hellenic soldiers who fell in the victorious Battle of Marathon against the
invading Persians in 490BCE.
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