“The Athens Marathon. The Authentic” has asserted its status as a world-class race despite the financial crisis in Greece. A record number of 16,000 runners went to the start line of this classic race at the very source of the event’s inspiration, the coastal town of Marathon from where the marathon was launched in the inaugural Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896. That marked a rise of almost 25% from a year ago, while SEGAS, the Greek Athletics Federation, recorded a total of 43,000 entries for this and the shorter distance events, held the same day.

The marathon course starts in the small village of Marathon and traces the route used for the 1st modern Olympics and the 2004 Olympics. It passes the Tomb of Marathon where the Athenians soldiers who lost their lives in this historic battle are buried. The course is very hilly from 9 miles until 20 miles. The last 10km is mostly a gradual downhill. It finishes inside the Panathenaic Stadiumbuilt for the first modern Olympics in 1896. The 10km starts outside the stadium and is an out-and-back course that finishes inside the stadium. There is also a 5km and 10km race that finishes inside the stadium.