8.06.2010

The 2,500th Anniversary of the Battle of Marathon

The Green Girl discovered the Athens Classic Marathon celebration has already begun.

Greek women’s marathon record holder, Maria Polyzou, became the first woman to recreate the legendary run of the Greek messenger, Pheidippides, by running 520 kilometres (325 miles) from Athens to Sparta and back to Marathon to mark the battle’s 2,500th year anniversary.

Polyzou started at the Acropolis on July 26th. She reached Sparta on July 29th, and then she returned to The Tomb of Marathon.


Bhaskar Paul, India Today Group/Getty Images
The Tomb of Marathon, where she finished her run, is the burial ground of the 192 Athenians who were killed in the ancient Battle of Marathon with Persia.

Polyzou is the current Greek women’s marathon record holder. She's been running marathons for 23 years. She is also the director of the Museum of the Marathon in the town of Marathon.

Polyzou's run kicked off the commemorations planned for the 2,500th anniversary of this event. The celebration ends October 31 with the Athens Classic Marathon.

I am really looking forward to being a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event.

11 comments:

  1. I seriously dont even know what to say... AHHHHH- MAZING!

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  2. I had no idea the festivities had already begun!

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  3. And you KNOW already that I'm jealous...but so very excited for you! I expect full day-by-day reports of every second you are there, ok??!! And I KNOW you'll be at Boston one day and get that sub-6 marathon because you are one very strong and determined chicklet!

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  4. I will do my best to report in on a regular basis, my running friend!

    And thank you so much for your vote of confidence. Once I've gotten through this next marathon, I'll focus more on speed. Right now I'm just concerned with staying injury free and my foot holding up to the mileage.

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  5. How exciting! Lots of pictures please!

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  6. I assure you I will take no less than a thousand pictures. And I'm not joking, either.

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  7. This looks awesome! I'm so excited for you and can't wait to hear all about it and see all 1,000 pictures :)

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  8. You are going there to run it???? That is SO cool!!!!!

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  9. that's amazing, I'm very excited for you!

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  10. You go girl! How exciting, don't forget to keep us posted on EVERYTHING!

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  11. Thank you, Leah B., Lisa, Molly, and Natalia.

    I think the reality will really set in for me once I'm on-board the flight and on my way.

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