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2004
Athens
Classic
Marathon
The
History
of
the
Athens
Classic
Marathon:
Among all the Olympic events, the Marathon Race stands out because it was born by a real historic and heroic event. It was a feat accomplished by a news-bearing foot soldier from ancient Athens, who announced with his last words the victory of the Greeks against the Persians in the battle of Marathon (490 B.C.). The 42,195m Marathon Race became one of the major competitive events when the Olympic Games were revived in 1896.
A Greek by the name of Spyros Louis, running in what has since been referred to as the 'Original Course' from the ancient city of Marathon to the Panathinaco Stadium in Athens, won the gold medal of the first modern Olympic Games and became a legend of Greek and international athletics. The Marathon has always had a prominent place in the hearts and minds of sports enthusiasts, as it represents the highest athletic effort where the human body, soul and mind are tested to their limits as the runner presses to the finish line.
SEGAS has the
honor
and the historic responsibility
organizing
the annual Athens Classic Marathon on the Original Course. Since 1982, the Marathon has been dedicated to Gregoris Lambrakis, the athlete, scientist and member of parliament, who in the decade of 60's, became a symbol of Humanitarian Rights and Peace.
From the year 2001 onwards, Alpha Bank, the official bank of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and one of the major banking corporations in Greece, has been the Exclusive Sponsor of the Athens Classic Marathon and its valuable support led to the significant upgrading of the event in all aspects. Both SEGAS and Alpha Bank believe that their co-operation will result to the establishment of the Athens Classic Marathon as one of the most popular and best
organized, globally.
Thousands of participants from all over the world will participate in this year's race. Apart from their sporting experience they will have the chance to enjoy the traditional Greek hospitality, discover the fascinating landscape of the country and explore a city which is fastly improving its standards, as the challenge of the 2004 Olympic Games approaches.
All
Information
Below
is
from
the
2003
Athens
Classic
Marathon
and
will
be
updated
when
new
information
is
posted
The Course:
The
course
is
displayed
on
the
Athens
Classic
Marathon
web
site
and
can
be
view
by
clicking
here
(the
Course).
Entry
Fees
:
The Entry fee for the Athens Classic Marathon is EUR €75 for bookings made prior to
September
4,
2003. A late entry fee of an additional EUR €25 applies to all entrants who book after that date. The fee includes entry to the pasta party and transportation from the Panathinaiko Stadium in central Athens to the starting point of the race.
Registration
On-Line:
Registration
for
the
Athens
Classic
Marathon
will
be
available
online,
but
they
are
finishing
up
the
2003
marathon
and
are
not
ready
to
take
registrations
yet.
When
they
do,
you
will
be
able
to
access
the
Registration
by
clicking
here
(Registration
On-Line).
Qualifying
Times:
There are no qualifying times required for this event. Men with a personal best time of 2:45 hours or under and women with a personal best time of 3:30 hours or under are eligible for a preferred start.
Start
Time:
The Marathon will start at 8:30am.
Cut-Off
Times:
There is a 6 hour cut-off for this event.
Race
Timing:
The Athens Classic Marathon will be using the ChampionChip timing system.
Race
Packets:
Race numbers, electronic timing chips, and commemorative packets will need to be collected in the CARAVEL HOTEL (King's Alexander 2, opposite the HILTON HOTEL) between Thursday 30 October and Saturday 1 of November.
The race documents desk and the information office will be open:
Thursday 30 October 11:00am to 8:00pm
Friday 31 October 9:00am to 8:00pm
Saturday 1 November 9:00am to 7:00pm
Pace
Setters:
There are no pace setters in this event.
Training
Information:
The
Athens
Classic
Marathon
provides
an
8
week
training
program
to
assist
runners
to
prepare
for
the
marathon.
This
useful
information
will
help
properly
prepare
for
the
event.
They
will
soon
post
it
to
their
web
site
and
when
they
do,
you
can
access
it
by
clicking
here
(Training
Information).
Water
Stations:
Bottled water and isotonic drinks will be available at the start and the finish points. On every 5 kilometers starting from kilometer 5, there will be distinct stations where bottled water
and
personal drinks will be offered. Moreover in stations 10-20-25-30-35 and 40 as well as at the finish point there will be isotonic drinks (POWERADE) apart from the bottled water. Personal drinks will be placed at the two front tables in stations 5,10,15.20. 30,35 and 40 km. Personal drinks must be delivered at the Divani Caravel Hotel to the judge in charge on Saturday afternoon (time 19.00) so as to be transferred to the course. On the bottle, the bib number and the kilometer the athlete wants to receive the drink must be written
distinctly. Furthermore, there will by sponges and bottled water at
7,5-12,5-17,
5-22,5-27,5-32,5-37,5 km.
Medical
Services:
All athletes that will take part in the marathon must have a medical test on their responsibility. The
Organizing Committee bears the responsibility of medical care by organizing and creating medical stations and units. There will be also an emergency vehicle along the course.
Medical Stations will be: A) At the starting point (Marathon)
There will be an
organized
medical station with 1 doctor, 1 physiotherapist and 1 nurse, that will offer any medical service needed. Athletes will have the opportunity (whenever needed) to pass a final clinic and laboratory test (cardiogram).
B) During the course
1 5th km TYMVOS 1 doctor
2 10th km N. MAKRI 1 doctor
3 15th km MATI 1 doctor
4 20th km RAFINA 1 doctor
5 25th km PIKERMI 1 doctor
6 30th km 1 doctor
7 32,5 km AG. PARASKEVI (Start of Mini Marathon race 1 doctor and 1 physiotherapist
8 40th km AMERICAN EMBASSY 1 doctor
C) At the finish point (Panathinaiko Stadium) there will be:
1 fully equipped Medical Room, 1 unit of cardiovascular recovery, 1
unit
for trauma recovery with doctors of various
specializations
(traumatologists, cardiologists, anesthesiologists) physiotherapists, nurses.
There will also be 4 ambulances: one at the middle of the course one that will escort the last athletes
Two motorcycles will also be moving alongside the route for emergency cases
An ambulance unit will be at the finish line
One hospital and two Health
Centers
(Nea Makri and Spata) will also be at a stand by position.
Personal
Refreshments
and
Clothing:
Plastic bags will be issued for all participants when they collect their race numbers and chips to put in all their extra clothing items. These will be put in the buses before the beginning of the race and will be transported to the race finish in the Panathinaiko Stadium.
Personal drinks will be available on the last two tables of each drinks station (excluding the 25km station).
Transport:
Bus transfers will depart from
our
Herodion
Hotel
to the Marathon Start (town of Marathon) between 6.00 a.m. and 6.30 a.m.
Finishers
T-Shirt,
Medals
and
Certificates:
All finishers receive a medal and certificate, key ring, poster and T-shirt.
Weather
Conditions:
On
the
day
of
the
Race,
November
7th
| Average
Maximum
Temperature |
20°C
|
68°F
|
| Average
Minimum
Temperature |
13°C
|
55°F
|
| Average
Temperature |
17°C
|
63°F
|
| Sunrise |
6.52
|
| Sunset |
17.25
|
Mini-Marathon (9.2km):
At
the
same
time
with
the
Athens
Classic
Marathon,
a
Mini
Marathon
Race
will
take
place.
The
start
of
that
race
will
be
at
the
Agia
Paraskevi
square
and
the
finish
will
be
at
the
Panathinaico
Stadium.
The
course
of
that
race
will
be
the
last
part
of
the
original
marathon
course.
The
Mini
Marathon
Race
has
been
organized
since
1998.
The
idea
of
the
Organizers
was
to
give
the
chance
to
those
who
can
not
run
the
whole
marathon
either
because
of
their
age
or
because
of
their
physical
condition,
to
feel
the
joy
of
finishing
a
race
inside
the
Panathinaiko
Stadium.
The
start
time
is
9.00
a.m.
Complete
Information
On
Web
Site:
The
above
is
a
summary
of
the
information
on
the
Athens
Classic
Marathon
web
site
and
is
not
intended
to
replace
your
review
of
all
details
that
are
there.
If
any
information
conflicts
with
their
web
site,
needless
to
say
their
information
is
final
concerning
the
marathon.
For
their
web
site
please
click
here
Athens
Classic
Marathon
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