Posted: September 30, 2005

Ultra Running: 23rd Spartathlon - Entries record, top athletes and live coverage this year for the ultimate ultramarathon event

Spartathlon is one of the most difficult but famous ultramarathon racing events worldwide. Since 1983, when the first Spartathlon organized, ignited the beginning of a race, inspired by the British John Foden, who could not imagine the extent of the impact it would have during the years to follow. The Spartathlon follows in the footsteps of the ancient Greek soldier-runner, Pheidippides, who in the fifth century b.C. ran from Athens to Sparta, in order to seek military help, so that the Athenians could face the expected invasion of the Persians in Greece.

Today, more that 2500 years later, Pheidippides achievement inspires thousands of athletes from all over the world. Fodens' emprise is now considered as one of the greatest challenges for ultramarathoners. The athletes test both their physical and mental endurance in a unique race which is a combination of idealistic inspiration along with physical exhaustion. Many renowned ultrarunners have honoured the Spartathlon with their participation all these 23 years. In top of them, the distinct presence of the Greek Yiannis Kouros, who made history during the race's early years, achieving an unbreakable-till today- record in the 246km course, at 20 hours and 25 minutes.

Traditionally, Spartathlon starts at 7 in the morning of last Friday of every September, just under the sacred rock of Acropolis in Athens. On coming Friday, the September 30th, more than 275 athletes from 29 countries and 5 continents will stand at the start line. Among them are athletes who took part and had a leading role previous years by winning the race, like the Brazilian Valmir Nunes, the German Jens Lukas, the Austrian Markus Thalmann, the Japanese Masayuki Ohtaki and his compatriot Kimie Noto (winner 2004 in women category) and some more who will try to conquer victory. The first athlete is expected to arrive in the city of Sparta at approximately 24hours later and in front of the statue of the hero and Spartan warrior Leonidas, will be crowned with an olive tree branch, with which all the following athletes who complete the race within 36hours will be honoured.

"Adventure Zone" (www.a-z.gr) is the Greek site which closely follows the events of endurance and adventure sports and like the past few years will follow next days Spartathlon 2005, presenting all the race details during its progress, from its start in Athens to the finish in Sparta. Visitors of a-z.gr will have the opportunity to watch the current ranking at the head of the course (for the first 10 runners) in some 20 specific split times, and read comments and reports, view photos and sent encouraging messages to the athletes. Until Saturday late afternoon A-Z will present the complete results for the ranked finishers. A complete list of all participants is already presented in the site as well as a brief introduction for the race and some useful tables containing details of event's records.

Stay tuned on 30th of September and at 1st October at www.a-z.gr and www.spartathlon.org to follow the gruelling Spartathlon challenge.