Spartathon Ultramarathon

Single-stage 245 km road ultra in Greece known for brutal cut-off points

September

Month

Kilometers

Runners

Single

Stage

Road

Pt-to-Pt

Extreme

Elevation

About the Race

WHY RUN IT?

It doesn’t get more historic than running in the footsteps of Pheidippides, who is fabled to have run from Athens to Sparta for help in the Battle of Marathon. He’s then rumored to have run back to Athens, and then from Marathon to Athens shortly later to share news of the Athenian victory. The Spartathon follows Pheidippides’ route from Athens to Sparta over 245 km, equivalent to 6 marathons in a row.

“Challenges are what makes life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”

- Joshua J. Marine

Besides history, one thing that makes the Spartathon special (and brutal) is its strict time limits. Along the course, there are 75 checkpoints where runners are disqualified if they don’t make it in time. So unlike other races, where you can walk some and make up for it later, in the Spartathon, you have to keep up your pace the whole way.