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Athens Marathon (Greece) Runner Comments
Back to Athens Marathon (Greece) Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.3 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 140 [displaying comments 71 to 81]
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Dirk Aarts from Warsaw, Poland
(11/9/2008)
"The classic aspect makes it great" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Greece)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Don't expect a great course or great cheering crowds. You come here to run from Marathon to the Panathenaikos Stadium, and you get just that: a classic start and a classic finish. The course itself is not spectacular at all - though reminding yourself that you are running a historic race makes this marathon great. The organization is a little primitive, but basically OK. There is plenty of water along the course, good bus transportation to the finish, and the registration is smooth. I made all arrangements myself, which is perfectly possible. All is in English and easy to find. People and staff are very helpful. | |
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C. C. from USA
(6/9/2008)
"Once in a lifetime!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Greece)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 For anyone wanting to run an international race, this is the one to do. And do it with Apostolos Greek Tours. They really did take care of everything so I didn't have to worry about anything. Paul and Jill were so organized and so much fun to be with, and having Jeff Galloway there to run with every day and answer even my dumbest question.... I can't say enough good things about this trip. Oh, I almost forgot about the party after the race. That was great fun! I would certainly do it again in a couple of years. | |
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j. v. from Canada
(12/25/2007)
"Historic Marathon" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Greece)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I agree with most of the comments already posted. I took the 11-day Apostolos Greek Tour. They took care of all of the details regarding the event. The start area was build for the 2004 Olympic Games. The temperature was almost perfect with balloons and helicopters at the start. The rain made the roads a little slippery. The hills over the first 20 miles were harder than most of my 28 previous marathons. They took their toll and I was a little slower than I had hoped. There were not a lot of spectators compared with larger marathons but many cheered, " Bravo, Canada ." This really helped my run. The finishing stadium was spectacular, but more spectators would have been nice. The medal was small but historic and the gold foil cover blanket was nice. I enjoyed running to the top of the marble stadium after the run. They only gave a bag with three bottles of fluid at the finish line. However, the Apostolos Greek Tour provided additional refreshments and food needed. The remainder of the tour with Jeff Galloway was great. I would recommend it for anyone wanting to do a historic marathon. | |
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Karl Gruner from Kaiserslautern, Germany (US citizen)
(12/17/2007)
"Great Marathon - The Original!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Greece)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I loved this marathon. The course is challenging and there aren't that many spectators, but the start in Marathon and the finish at the Panathenaikos Stadium in Athens are unforgettable. Organization was just fine. I found the expo/registration very easily, although I will say I was greatly helped by the fact that I have some family in Athens. The expo itself was really weak, but this was their first year and I'm sure it will get better in the future. To me that's not a big factor. Organization at te start in Marathon was very good. It helps that there are only about 3,500 runners or so (there is also an option for power-walking, starting 2 hours prior to the marathon race itself). They did have sports drinks on the course (PowerAde if I remember well), which to me is very important. Water alone doesn't do it for me. Water stops were every 2.5K, compared to every 5K as in most marathons. I really liked that. No food, though, but there were free gels at a couple of points on the course. In my opinion, this is a must for marathon lovers! I will do it again for sure. | |
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Speedy Skoularikis from Athens, Greece
(12/13/2007)
"good race" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Athens Marathon (Greece)s
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Good race, but tough course - maybe the toughest among all official IAAF marathon races. | |
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M. S. from Stockholm
(12/8/2007)
"THE event for every marathon runner" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Greece)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Well organized event with enthusiastic and helpful staff. Interesting course with the first part on the countryside through villages, with farmers and people enjoying the race as spectators. Impressive route around the tomb with the ancient warriors from the battle, 490 B.C.E. Demanding course in the middle while the last 10 KM are downhill and the easiest I have ever run in a marathon. A lot of cheering spectators during the last 15 KM when getting closer to downtown Athens. The finish in the ancient Panathinaikon stadium is even more impressive than the finish in Stockholm. Every true marathon runner have to participate in this race at least once in his or her lifetime. I will be back in 2008! | |
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R. C. from Fairway, KS
(11/27/2007)
"Well Organized; Great Support; Must-Do Marathon" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Athens Marathon (Greece)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 My wife and I had a great trip to Greece. The marathon was everything I hoped it would be. We were not with a tour group and had no problem with any of the logistics. We learned how to use the subway and easily found our way to the expo and packet pickup. Race day was also very easy. Get to the finish line and you are bused to Marathon for the start. Not an easy course, but the historical significance makes up for the difficulty. Spectators are few but very supportive. BRAVO! BRAVO! | |
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L. J. from New Orleans, Louisiana
(11/21/2007)
"Absolutely first-class." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Greece)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The tour with Apostolos was absolutely the best. We toured all the important sites - the Acropolis, shopping in the Planka, riding along the coast to Sounion to the Temple of Poseidon and more. Transportation to and from the marathon, with support along the way. The coures was beautiful, with more spectators along the course than I expected, and they were happily cheering us on. We had a pasta dinner the night before and a Gala Awards Banquet after the marathon at our 4-star hotel. At the banquet we had lots of food and drinks with Greek folk dancers. We received our Greek vase, wreath of olive leaves, and photos. Apostolos Tours were absolutely fabulous. I brought my parents along for the tours and they had a great time. Having Jeff Galloway there was like attending a running clinic also. I recommend it highly. | |
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S. G. from Chicago, IL USA
(11/19/2007)
"What a great experience!" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 We went with Apostolos Greek Tours and I would recommend them to anyone wishing to do this marathon. They took care of everything for you, from meeting us at the airport and providing transportation to the hotel, to picking up our race number at the so-called expo so we didn't waste our time, to great race support - especially at the finish, where they provided us with bananas and pretzels. They also provided great sightseeing with great tour guides and wonderful staff that took care of just about everything for us. What a great experience and historic marathon. | |
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S. H. from Austin, Texas
(11/15/2007)
"Had to run it: ONCE" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Athens Marathon (Greece)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 It was nice to run on the Olympic course. The course is mostly uphill - not too steep, but challenging. Not too many spectators (it was raining) and fairly industrial. Plenty of fluids at the aid stations and the course was closed to traffic. The finish was a little strange because we had to go slightly past the stadium and make a 180-degree turn to go back toward the finish. Hard on the legs at the end and a bit slippery. Well organized, but expect to stand in lines for buses before the race. The best aspect of the organization was free bus, metro and tram passes for two days before and 3 days after the race. They also had an info booth at the airport where we picked up our passes. The shirt was lame and there wasn't any worthwhile logo merchandise at the meager expo. This was their 1st expo so I understand the growing pains. It was an 45-minute tram ride from the city. I don't know why they didn't have the expo at one of the hotels in town. |
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