Course Map
About this Race
Athens Marathon The Authentic retraces the original route of the legendary run, starting in the town of Marathon and following the historic path to a finish inside the marble Panathenaic Stadium of the 1896 Olympics. It is famously one of the hardest of the great city marathons: a long, grinding uphill stretches from roughly 10 to 31 kilometers, punishing anyone who starts too fast. Held in November, it carries unmatched historical weight, drawing runners from around the world to the birthplace of the distance. The climb and the warm-leaning autumn conditions demand patience and respect rather than aggression. It suits pilgrims of the sport who want history and a hard-earned classical finish over any hope of a personal best.
Course Insight
This is the original, run from the plain of Marathon to Athens, and it is gloriously punishing: after gentle early kilometres the road tilts up into a long, grinding climb from roughly 10km that barely relents until past 31km, the most demanding sustained ascent in major marathoning. Forget your flat-course goal time and pace the uphill by effort, because anyone who fights it pays dearly. The reward is a long downhill into the city and a finish on the marble of the Panathenaic Stadium, where the modern Games were born. November timing is usually mild. Respect the climb and the history carries you home.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to significant climbing (335m).
Course Details
- Course type
- Point-To-Point
- Elevation gain
- 335m
- Elevation loss
- 275m
- Highest point
- 248m
- Lowest point
- 6m
- Net elevation
- +60m
- Start
- Marathon (town)
- Cutoff time
- 8h 0m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:10:34 — Edwin Kiptoo (Kenya), 2023
- Women's
- 2:31:06 — Rasa Drazdauskaitė (Lithuania), 2010
Race History
Athens Marathon. The Authentic retraces the legendary route from the town of Marathon to the marble Panathenaic Stadium, the very path linked to the 1896 Olympic marathon won by Spyridon Louis. Held as an annual open race since 1983, it carries unmatched historical weight and was used for the marathon of the 2004 Athens Olympics. The brutally uphill course from roughly 10 to 31 kilometres has made it a pilgrimage rather than a fast race. Run each November, it now draws runners from around the world to the birthplace of the distance.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH)
- Best area to stay
- Syntagma and Plaka for proximity to the stadium finish and atmospheric hotels, Kolonaki for upscale stays, and Koukaki for trendy, better-value digs below the Acropolis.
- Getting to the start
- It's point-to-point from the town of Marathon; board the official athletes' buses from central Athens in the early morning for the ride out to the start.