In the spring of 490 BC the Athenians sent Phidippides as a messenger to Sparta, to ask for help in the battle against the Persians at Marathon. According to Herodotus, Phidippides arrived in Sparta "the day after he had left Athens". This was the height of human endurance!

Two and a half thousand years later, in October 1982, John Fonden, British scholar of ancient history and long distance runner, arrived in Athens with some of his colleagues who were also long distance runners. They ran in Phidippides footsteps and proved Herodotus claim when all three reached the statue of Leonidas in Sparta within 36-39 hours!

The year 1984 saw the founding of the International Spartathlon Association, which organises the Spartathlon race every year towards the end of September. The most eminent long distance runners from all over the world take part.

In 1984 Yannis Kouros was first over the finish line with a time of 20 hours and 25 minutes - the fastest time to date. Costas Michalopoulos from Laconia ran in the race too and also completed the distance.

International Spartathlon Association,
7 Kodrou str., 100 33 Athens
Tel.: 210 3227756, Fax: 210 3227485