Ultramarathon Guide

Spartathlon is the event that brings this deed to attention today by drawing a legend out of the depths of history. The idea for its creation is belongs to John Foden, a British RAF Wing Commander. As a lover of Greece and student of ancient Greek history, Foden stopped his reading of Herodotus’ narration regarding Pheidippides, puzzled and wondering if a modern man could cover the distance from Athens to Sparta, i.e. 250 kms, within 36 hours.

Described as the world’s most grueling race, the Spartathlon runs over rough tracks and muddy paths (often it rains during the race), crosses vineyards and olive groves, climbs steep hillsides and, most challenging of all, takes the runners on the 1,200 meter ascent and descent of Mount Parthenio in the dead of night. This is the mountain, covered with rocks and bushes, on which it is said Pheidippides met the god Pan. In 2,500 years man has had no impact at all. There is still no pathway over the mountain that is swept by strong winds with temperatures as low as 4°C. The ascent is marked out by a trail of battery-driven colored flashing lights and its challenge is a trial for human stamina and mental strength. Over the mountain the last sections are no less energy sapping and exhausting for the runners as they follow a road that winds up and down hills before descending into Sparta. Even the finest athletes start hallucinating as they cover these final stages.
Having lost all sense of time and reality, they are “on automatic” as they push their weary bodies on towards the finishing line at the statue of Leonidas. At most, only about a third of the runners who leave Athens end the course in Sparta. The goal of all participants is to cover the course within the 36-hour time limit. Setting records is the primary aim. Those who succeed in reaching Sparta have trouble finding words to describe their feelings. Spartathlon has to be lived through. It is a very personal experience in which the athletes dream about participating. Their imagination is stirred by the idea of being a modern Pheidippides, running in the footsteps of the ancient messenger. They train for years to get fit enough both physically and mentally to meet the race’s demands.
To apply to Spartathlon 2018, runners need to have fulfilled at least one (1) of the following criteria within the years 2016, 2017 or 2018 (up to February 24th):

INTERNATIONAL RACES
a) Finish a 100-km race within 10:00 hours (men) or 10:30 hours (women).
b) Cover a 120 km (men) or 110 km distance (women) in a 12-hour race.
c) Finish a 100-mile race in 21:00 hours (men) or 22:00 hours (women).
d) Finish Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, within 24:00 hours (men) or 25:00 hours (women).
e) Cover at least 180 km (men) or 170 km (women) in a 24-hour race.
f) Finish a non-stop 200-220 km race within 29:00 hours (men) or 30:00 hours (women).
g) Finish UltraBalaton (221 km) in 31:00 hours (men) or 32:00 hours (women)
h) Finish a longer than 220 km non-stop race within 36:00 hours (men) or 37:00 hours (women).
i) Finish Badwater race within 39:00 hours (men) or 40:00 hours (women).
j) Finish Grand Union Canal Race within 34:00 hours (men) or 35:00 hours (women).
k) Finish Sakura Michi 250-km race in 36:00 hours
l) Finish Yamaguchi 100 Hagi-O-Kan Maranic 250-km race within 42:00 hours (men) or 43:00 hours (women).
m) Cover a distance of at least 280 km (men) or 260 km (women) in a 48-hour race.

RACES IN GREECE
a) Finish Spartathlon race within 36:00 hours.
b) Finish Olympian Race Nemea-Olympia within 28:00 hours.
c) Finish Euchidios Athlos 107, 5 km within 12:30 hours (men) or 13:00 hours (women).
d) Finish Euchidios Hyperathlos 215 km within 32:00 hours (men) or 33:00 hours (women).
e) Finish “ROUT” Rodopi Advendurun 100-mile race within 32:00 hours (men) or 33:00 hours (women).
f) Finish Dolichos Race Delphi-Olympia 255 km within 42:00 hours (men) or 43:00 hours (women).
g) Finish VFUT Paranesti 100 miles race within 32:00 hours (men) or 33:00 hours (women).
h) Finish Dromos Athanaton 142 km race within 18:00 hours (men) or 19:00 hours (women).

Read more in: http://www.spartathlon.gr/en/