The Athens Classic Marathon was held on the 31st of October for the 28th consecutive time. The starting point of the 42 km race-course was the Marathon Start Venue in the city of Marathonas, and its finishing point the Panathenaic Stadium. From this year onwards, the Athens Classic Marathon will be included in the “Golden Marathons”, the most important Marathons organized annually all over the world. This great news coincided with the 2,500 years anniversary celebration of the Marathon Battle, in 490 BC. The marathon race has its roots in this great battle that significantly influenced Greek and world history alike. John Stuart Mill famously suggested that "the Battle of Marathon, even as an event in British history, is more important than the Battle of Hastings".
The Marathon idea was inspired by the legend of Pheidippides, a professional runner-soldier. The legend states that he delivered the message of the Greek victory over the Persians. The French Sorbonne Professor Michel Breal, invoking the legend of Pheidippides, suggested the inclusion of a long-distance race of 40 km (equivalent to the distance “Athens-Marathon”) in the first Olympic Games, the winner of which was the Greek water-carrier Spyros Louis.
Athens Classic Marathon is a unique running event of great historical importance. Carrying on the tradition since the first Olympics in 1896, the runners follow the classic marathon route retracing the steps of Pheidippides himself. This year, in commemoration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Marathon Battle, over a thousand Greek and foreign runners and many distinguished athletes participated in this special event.
This year’s Marathon was also dedicated to the memory of the great scientist and politician Gregory Lambrakis, a symbol of democracy and social justice. Lambrakis was actively involved in the Pacifist Movement of his time, which organized in 1963 the First Pacifist Rally from Marathon to Athens.
Within the context of the celebrations, a unique logo was also created in order to depict the soldier-runner and to symbolize world peace and solidarity. In addition, a special 2,500 years commemorative medal was designed bearing the same logo.
In the framework of the Athens Classic Marathon, the Marathon Flame Lighting Ceremony, a special ceremony inaugurated in 2007, also took place. The Lighting Ceremony was held on the 30th of October (on the eve of the Marathon) at the tomb dedicated to the fallen warriors of the Marathon Battle. After the Lighting Ceremony, the flame was carried by relay all the way to its final destination, the starting point of the marathon.
A commemorative cultural celebration also took place in front of the Zappeion Hall. Furthermore, the Hellenic Athletics Federation organized the ATHENS CLASSIC MARATHON EXPO dedicated to sports, tourism and health at the Zappeion Conference and Exhibition Centre on 28-30 October 2010.
Finally, more than a hundred marathon race organizers from all over the world attended the 18th World Conference of AIMS (Association of International Marathons & Distance Races), held also at the Zappeion Conference & Exhibition Centre, from the 28-30 of October.
November 1, 2010