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.

Greece's Pitsolis wins 39th Athens Authentic Marathon

STORY: Greece's Pitsolis wins 39th Athens Authentic Marathon DATELINE: Nov. 14, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:51 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the 39th edition of the Athens Authentic Marathon STORYLINE: Greece's Charalampos Pitsolis won the 39th edition of the Athens Authentic Marathon on Sunday. The 29-year-old runner crossed the finish line at the Panathenaic Stadium in the center of Athens in two hours, 23 minutes and 43 seconds. Greece's Konstantinos Gkelaouzos, last year's winner, followed second, clocking 2:24:45, and Konstantinos Stamoulis ranked third in 2:25:37. Greek runner Vasiliki Konstantinopoulou was the first in the women's category, clocking 2:46:01. The classic course from Marathon city to Athens follows in the footsteps of Pheidippides who inspired the race. According to legend, the ancient soldier first ran the route from the battlefield of Marathon beach to Athens in 490 BC to inform Athenians of the victory against Persian forces. Kenya's Felix Kipchirchir Kandi

40th Spartathlon ultramarathon race held at foot of Athens Acropolis

STORY: 40th Spartathlon ultramarathon race held at foot of Athens Acropolis DATELINE: Oct. 1, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:05 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Spartathlon ultramarathon race 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NIEDZIELSKI ROBERT, Runner 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HILDE DOSOGNE, Runner 4. various of Spartathlon ultramarathon race STORYLINE: The 40th Spartathlon ultramarathon race started on Friday at the foot of the Athens Acropolis, with 353 runners from 48 countries and regions participating in the 245-km course from Athens to Sparta in southern Greece. Following the footsteps of the ancient Greek soldier Pheidippides, they aim to cross the finish line on Saturday. About one-third of participants achieve this, according to the international "SPARTATHLON" association, which organizes the event under the auspices of the Greek Ministries of Tourism and National Defense. According to ancient Greek historians, in 490 BC, ahead of the battle of Marathon against the Persian forces, Pheidipp