The Marathon of Marathons

20,000 this year, 30,000 next year!

Spread the word, become a part of history!

No matter how many Marathons you've run, you haven't run a real Marathon until you've run the original!

The Athens Classic Marathon:THE Marathon to run in. 

The Marathon of Marathons!

Today the world's greatest Marathon race took place in the city where it was born, in Athens, Greece along the exact same path that the heroic Pheidippides followed in 490 B.C., 2501 years ago, to announce the Athenians' victory over the Persians.

Commemorating that incredibly difficult 42 kilometre run from Marathon to Athens by  Pheidippides, people from all over the world flock to Greece each year to take part in the Athens Marathon, few being able to withstand the lure, the historic significance and the symbolism of running the same route as Pheidippides, in the Marathon of Marathons,

The message we want to send around the world is simple:

20,000 this year, 30,000 next year!

Spread the word, become a part of history!

The Athens Classic Marathon is THE Marathon of Marathons! No matter how many Marathons you've run, you haven't run a real Marathon until you've run the original!

Read More : The Marathon of Marathons: The Athens Classic Marathon

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The Marathon of Marathons:490 B.C - 2010 A.D - 

Commemorating 2500 Years Since the Battle of Marathon

Greece's special 2 euro coin issue 
 Commemorating the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon

 put into circulation on December 21 by the Bank of Greece

Symbolizing the battle for freedom and the noble ideals derived from the Battle of Marathon, the center of the coin shows a synthesis of a shield and a warrior. Τhe bird on the shield symbolizes the birth of western civilization in its present form.

The designer of the coin is George Stamatopoulos, a sculptor from the Minting department at the Bank of Greece who also designed the EMU 10th anniversary coin.

Read more:

The Marathon of Marathons:490 B.C - 2010 A.D - Commemorating 2500 Years Since the Battle of Marathon

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Global Greek Maria Menounos 

Spreading the Word for Athens' Marathon of Marathons

Maria Menounos with her Mum and Dad at the end of their run in the Kallimarmaro Stadium

 Photo Source: Maria Menounos via www.self.com

Gorgeous and multi-talented Greek American Maria Menounos, actress, journalist and television presenter, Access Hollywood and NBC News Correspondent, is one of our wonderful Global Greeks who always does her bit for Greece, the land her parents left to emigrate to the US in the 1970's. 

At the end of October this year, she came to Athens to take part in the Marathon of Marathons, the 2500 year celebrations for the Marathon. Not only did she host the celebration at the Zappeion Centre but she also participated, accompanying both her parents in the 5 kilometre run!

We listened to a visibly moved Maria speaking to reporters after she finished the 5 kilometre run with her parents and declared that she would love to come back and do the Classic 42.195 kilometre Marathon one day, in fact she said,  everyone should come to Greece for the Classic Marathon!  
 

Here is what Maria wrote  an exclusive diary for self.com magazine:

This year was the 2500th anniversary commemorating the mythic run of Greek messenger, Pheidippides, from the Battle of Marathon to Athens. Way back in 490 BC., Pheidippides job was to spread the word that Athens had defeated Persia at the battle. 

In 2010, it was my job to spread the word that the Greek marathon is THE premiere marathon in the world and that Greece, despite its economic setbacks, is THE premiere vacation destination and tourist attraction as well. 

After all, what other marathon is so authentic and rich in history? 

And what other country offers travelers such a wide range of assets from gorgeous island paradises to ancient historical wonders to a booming night life? I can't think of many...

Read more: 
Global Greek Maria Menounos: As a First Generation Greek, I desperately Wanted to do Something to help Greece

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Athens' Marathon of Marathons: 

30 Year Anniversary November 2012

Stacey and Bradley are 2 of the 26,000 runners who ran in the Athens Classic Marathon yesterday. 

They came from South Africa to run in the Marathon of Marathons and I bumped into them on the Metro today. I just couldn't resist taking a photo of them proudly sporting their 30 year Marathon Anniversary Tshirt... 

They had saved hard to come to Athens to run the same route run by Pheidippides more than 2500 years ago and it was well worth all the effort. 

'It was a tough course but it was awesome, an amazing experience' said Stacey, 'and emotional'  added Bradley, 'at the starting point in Marathon, but especially as we ran into the Stadium. An unforgettable experience. The volunteers, even the medics in the hospital tent were great'!

 
Thank you for coming Bradley and Stacey!
We're glad you had such a great experience....enjoy Greece while you are here and don't forget to spread the word...

You haven't run a real marathon until you've run the Athens Classic Marathon - the original Marathon, the Marathon of Marathons!