In 490BC a great battle took place on the Plains of Marathon that altered world history. The Athenians defeated a much larger Persian army in a real turning point. If they had lost then there would have been no Classical Greek civilisation and western world as we know it.
According to legend, a messenger called Phedippides ran the 26 miles to Athens to proclaim the victory and the Marathon run was born!
Its a packed edition - I am in Marathon for the opening ceremony of the Athens Classic Marathon and the start of the celebrations of the 2500th anniversary year in 2010. We hear from the Mayor of Marathon is a special wish exclusively recorded for the listeners to this podcast. We also catch up with a few of the participants and hear the sounds of Athens and my explorations, plus of course my report from the race.
The chap above is Gregoris Lambrakis, a Greek athlete and democracy campaigner who started a Peace Marathon along the same route in 1963. He was assassinated shortly afterwards but through his actions inspired modern democracy in Greece. We hear his inspirational story as we explore the terrific new running musuem at Marathon.
Many thanks to Spyridon Zagaris, Mayor of the Municipality of Marathon, Greece for his message and to his nephew for telling us the story of Gregoris Lambrakis.
Also thanks to T.Batjargal and Jantsan Batbayasgalan representing the marathon and the city of Ulaanbaatar for telling us about the Mongolian International Marathon.
Thanks also to Roy Pirrung for a great chat and sharing the bus ride to the start line!
http://www.athensclassicmarathon.gr/ site of the Athens Classic Marathon
http://www.mongoliamarathon.com/ the first Mongolian International Marathon
To the organisers of the Athens Classic Marathon for putting on such a unique and inspirational event
Feel free to mail me chopper@amilewith.me.uk, visit my website for all the previous editions and shownotes at http://www.amilewith.me.uk/ and follow me on Twitter @SteveChopper
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