Athens (Greece) Marathon

The Athens Marathon is a long-distance race held annually in Greece that traces the legendary route taken by the ancient messenger Pheidippides. The event covers a distance of 42.195 kilometers and begins in the town of Marathon, the historic site of the famous battle between Greeks and Persians. Runners gather at the ancient battlefield, where they observe a tradition of raising their right arm to take an oath respecting the spirit and ideals of the marathon. The start area is set amid rural la