380 runners join grueling course at Spartathlon ultramarathon

STORY: 380 runners join grueling course at Spartathlon ultramarathon DATELINE: Oct. 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:44 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the race 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DIETMAR GOEBEL, Spartathlon athlete 3. various of the race 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Greek): THOMAS KOENEXL, Spartathlon athlete STORYLINE: The 41st edition of the Spartathlon ultramarathon race was held over the weekend. Some 380 runners from 50 countries and regions finished the 245-kilometer event from Athens to Sparta in southern Greece. Following the footsteps of the ancient Greek soldier Pheidippides, their common goal was to cross the finish line on Sunday. According to ancient Greek historians, in 490 BC, ahead of the battle of Marathon against the Persian forces, Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta to request support. He reached his destination on foot nonstop within two days. In 1982, three British runners set off to test whether the references were correct, leading to the establishment of the event.