Athens Marathon 5km road race
Sunday 12th November 2023
AH3 R*n #2217
Hare: Some trail designer at OPAP (or the ghost of Pheidippides)
R*nners: Strawberry4Skin, Chocolate Dip, Mad Dog
Photos: Mad Dog (mostly)
BEFORE THE RACE
Strawberry4Skin and Mad Dog meet up at the bag check next to the Zappion building
Looking at Block 3 from Block 2.
Special strollers for running with the disabled competitors.
Moving up to the start
Almost there. The music is playing loudly.
VIEWS ALONG THE ROUTE
Passing the parliament building -
- and Syntagma Square
Team of cheer leaders encouraging the runners
Passing the Military Museum on Vassilias Sophias (or Queen Sophia) Ave.
Approaching the Hilton Hotel
The hotel is presently undergoing renovations (again).
The Running Man sculpture is still going strong but never arrives.
More encouragement by these rather serious drummers
These girls were fun!
Straight on to the marble stadium
Guards outside VIP residences
The final bend before the stadium comes in sight
And there
it is! Crowds lining the street are cheering.
Loud music and announcements are heard coming from the stadium loudspeakers
The stadium
has not filled yet as most people come later to see the Marathon runners arrive
as it is now only just a little after 9.00 am. But there is some cheering
to be heard.
END OF THE RACE
Queuing to receive participation medals
Exiting the stadium and heading for the refreshments.
A welcome snack
AFTER LEAVING THE STADIUM TO COLLECT KIT BAG
Back to the Zappion building to collect kit and change of t-shirt
Music stage
Everything is well organised & it needs to be with so many competitors
RETURNING TO THE STADIUM TO WATCH THE MARATHON RUNNERS
A clever name for this food stand
PowerAde tunnel
The OPAP dome
The stadium can be seen in the distance
Inside the OPAP dome a runner's treadmill with virtual reality goggles challenges visitors
Our sponsor AVRA drinking water's stand
The DJ with mini sound controller
AVRA girls outside the stand
Aegean Airlines giving away caps
Dole inflatable bananas were a big hit with the public. There was a long queue for them.
The footbridge for those exiting the stadium
View of the runner's refreshment area at the stadium entrance.
PANORAMIC VIEW from the top of the stadium >>>>>> SCROLL RIGHT >>>>>>
MEETUP AT THE STADIUM
Mad Dog poses with participation medal
Our GM
Jacket Off brought beers for us
Cheers!
VIEWS OF THE STADIUM AND RUNNERS
The young runners who have completed the 1,200 metre race can be seen entering the stadium.
Likavitos hill with the white church on top can be seen in the background.
The Marathon runners start to arrive with the Kenyans leading in front as usual (see green arrow).
Stitched panoramic view. Palestinian supporters can be seen holding up flags opposite and at the right hand end.
Runner from Kenya
LUNCH AT THE JAMES JOYCE
Clitoria's fish and chips
Strawberry4Skin's roast beef lunch ( available after 1pm on Sundays)
Mad Dog's Steak and Guiness pie
OFFICIAL RESULTS AND PHOTOS
Average of 8.3 km/hour
Average of 7.9 km/hour
Average of 6.8 km/hour (while taking the photos)
THE TRAIL
The course
as recorded on Mad Dog's Strava app.
The course is actually a little over 5km
90m to 122m - a 32 metre height range along the course
Location map of the course
EXAMPLES OF MARATHON KIT AND MEDAL
The kit bag for the 5km contestants
Our sponsor t-shirt
The official Marathon t-shirt
This year a wrist band was required to be worn by the runners (for security purposes?)
The envelope containing the BIB and safety pins + number to stick on the bag
To be attached to the kit bag - for identification in the bag storage area
The BIB
BIB reverse showing the timing chip
The particpation medal - celebrating the 40th year of the Athens Marathon
AH3 MISDIRECTIONS TO THIS EVENT
Date: Sunday 12TH November – 08.15-ish….
ATHENS CLASSIC MARATHON – 5K run
Run: 2217
Hare: : Pheidippides
On
Inn: James Joyce Irish Pub [details below] – aim to be there after 12
noon..
MisDirections:
READ CAREFULLY – I will only write this once!
Some imbecilic brave hashers are doing the official 5K run with numbers and bibs and everything – it starts at 08.15hrs so they may be in sore need of a beer afterwards!
Those who want to watch the end of the Marathon will all meet in the Stadium to watch some of the first Marathon runners arrive and then go to the James Joyce for lunch after the run as is normal.
So, for any confused hashers, AS YOU LOOK AT THE STADIUM from the road - on the right hand side facing the stadium and about half way down, as usual = see below ? X sort of marks the spot to gather!
IF LOST - YOU ARE LOST – just go home…..or meet at the James Joyce Irish Pub in Thiseio after 12.00 noon
The James Joyce Irish Pub website (for directions): http://www.jjoyceirishpubathens.com/
The address is Astiggos 12, Thiseio and is located about half way between the Monastiraki and Thision metro stations. Astiggos street leads off from the main street Ermou.
There will be a lot of NOISE around so don’t expect people to answer phones – best advice is to ask questions / or whine a lot / or try to liaise on AH3 Chat & Social WA group..
Please use your "Back" Button (Top Left) to return to the previous page