GREECE

Complete the Original Marathon (run 2500 years ago). MARATHON to ATHENS 🇬🇷

It’s been a long while since completing a challenge back in 2024. I always intended on doing some mini (and several major) challenges whilst travelling throughout Europe over the next year. But this particular one was a major question mark. The time of year was horrible (peak summer and mid heatwave), no lead-up training (absolutely none), still managing a major knee injury since Iceland, and the tricky logistics of doing this without support or a clear path. It really came down to a “just do it” and figure it out as I go mentality. 🤷🏻‍♂️

The history and time of things around here just blows my mind. This same path was run by an Athenian 2500 years ago but under very different circumstances. Long story, but he ended up dying from exhaustion on arrival to Athens.

For me this was one I really wanted to do for myself. I’ll be honest, things have been tough lately. But life has a habit of testing your resilience from time to time. Not to break you, but more to sharpen and refocus you. And for me, doing hard things for some reason makes me feel better and stronger within myself. So on went the soundtrack to Gladiator and off into Athenian plains I went🌞

The rest of it was a bit of a blur. A mix of managing an inability to run due to injury, the oppressive sun and the harsh track conditions all led to heat exhaustion at the 37KM mark. Forcing me to lay down in a random chemist a very confused chemist lady in an attempt to cool down and settle the nausea. The confused chemist didn’t speak English and was intent on calling an ambulance of which I politely declined whilst fighting the urge to vomit all throughout her shop!

At this stage I was ready to pull the pin on it all but the pull of finishing this epic ancient marathon was too compelling. Plus I only had 5km to go. So off I hobbled.

The finish line - the Panathenaic Stadium in the heart of Athens 🏁 This place is incredible. Built originally in 330BC and complete from local marble. The only stadium of its kind in the world. The perfect finish line.