marathon

Athens Marathon. The Authentic

Athens, Greece

Athens Marathon. The Authentic Countdown

213

Days

Hrs

Min

Sec

Next Race

November 8, 2026

214

days to go

The Athens Classic Marathon follows the legendary point-to-point route from the town of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, tracing the course of the ancient messenger Pheidippides. Established in its modern annual form in 1972, the course features a sustained uphill climb from kilometers 10 to 31, making it one of the more physically demanding certified marathon routes. It holds a World Athletics Gold Label.

WA Gold Label

Est.

1972

Distance

42.195km / 26.2mi

Course

Point-to-point

Surface

Road

Field Size

~16,000

When

November

Time Limit

THE COURSE

MI 0

KM 0

Marathon Start and Battlefield

The race begins in the town of Marathon at the site of the ancient battlefield where Athenian forces defeated the Persians in 490 BC. Before the start, runners take the traditional marathon oath with right arm raised.

MI 2.5

KM 4

Marathon Tomb (Tumulus)

At km 4, runners turn onto Marathonomachon Street and follow a circular route around the burial mound of the 192 Athenian soldiers who fell in the Battle of Marathon. The loop rejoins the main course at approximately km 6.

MI 11.2

KM 18

The Long Climb to Stavros

From km 10 near Nea Makri, the course begins a sustained uphill grind that continues to the highest point at km 31, gaining roughly 200 meters of elevation. This 21-kilometer ascent, the toughest sustained climb of any major marathon, passes through Pikermi and Pallini.

MI 24.2

KM 39

Vasilissis Sofias Avenue

After the long descent into central Athens, runners turn onto the wide, tree-lined Vasilissis Sofias Avenue at km 39. The final stretch passes the American Embassy, the Athens Concert Hall, and Eleftherias Park before turning toward the finish.

MI 26.2

KM 42

Panathenaic Stadium Finish

The marble Panathenaic Stadium, originally built in 330 BC and restored for the first modern Olympics in 1896, serves as the finish line. Runners enter through the same tunnel used by the 1896 and 2004 Olympic marathoners and cover the final 170 meters on the stadium track.