Athens is hosting the 42nd Authentic Marathon this weekend, a point-to-point race that starts in the historic town of Marathon and finishes at the Panathenaic Stadium in central Athens, where marble stands await thousands of runners and fans.
The full 42.195-kilometer (26.22-mile) course begins on Sunday early morning near the Marathon Tomb and leads through key Athenian towns and suburbs along Marathonos Avenue before closing in on central Athens and the iconic stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.
Today, on Saturday, two exciting five-kilometer (3.1-mile) races are scheduled in the early evening. The OPAP five-kilometer road race begins at 5:00 p.m. local time, followed by the Universities Night Run OPAP at 7:15 p.m. Both events start on Vasilissis Amalias (Queen Amalia) Avenue near Syntagma Square and finish at the Panathenaic Stadium, setting the tone for the marathon weekend.
Athens gets ready for its Authentic Marathon
Authorities have enforced rolling road closures and parking restrictions from Friday through Sunday along the marathon route and neighboring districts, including Marathon, Rafina-Pikermi, Pallini-Gerakas, and parts of Athens such as Agia Paraskevi and Chalandri. Drivers should plan detours around central thoroughfares like Akadimias and Vasileos Georgiou (King George) streets, which will be closed during race hours.
Public transportation across the Greek capital ramps up to support the event, with increased train frequencies on Metro Lines throughout the weekend. Since September, the Athens Metro has been running for 24 hours every Saturday, ensuring smooth transportation through to Sunday morning, while Tram Line 6 operates with a temporary terminus at “Fix” during the race, following emergency regulations.
Notable performances and favorites for the Athens Marathon
Last year’s 41st Athens Marathon saw exceptional performances from Greek athletes. Charalampos Pitsolis claimed his second marathon victory with a time of 2:18:56, making a decisive push in the final stretch to overtake Panagiotis Karaiskos, who finished second at 2:19:50.
Georgios Menis completed the podium in third place with 2:21:40, while Konstantinos Stamoulis took fourth at 2:22:49. Among international runners, Freek van de Weerd of the Netherlands placed fifth with 2:24:49, followed by Samuel Nulens of Belgium in eighth with 2:28:11.
In the women’s race, Stamatia Noula delivered a breakthrough performance, finishing with 2:40:19 and setting a new national championship record. She made her decisive move around the 28th kilometer to overtake Gloria Privileggio, who finished second at 2:41:58. Panagiota Vlachaki rounded out the top three with 2:47:24, followed by Ourania Rempouli in fourth at 2:50:43. Belgian runner Leentje Hellemans placed fifth overall with 2:51:51, while Jasmina Pitamic Vojska of Slovenia finished sixth with 2:52:01.
The rich history of the Athens Marathon
The Athens Marathon is living history. Its origins trace back over two millennia to the legendary run of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier who, according to tradition, ran from Marathon to Athens to announce victory over invading forces, only to collapse and die upon delivering the victory message. This dramatic act of stamina and sacrifice is the foundation of the modern marathon distance.
Since the first Modern Olympic Games in 1896, when the marathon was introduced with the finish line inside the Panathenaic Stadium, the Athens Marathon, which is often called the Authentic Marathon, has been a highlight of world running. The race continues to attract thousands from over one hundred countries, as athletes and spectators alike honor the history of the marathon.
