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38-408: As the race grew more popular, stringent entry criteria were implemented to ensure participants were fit enough to run the course. The race has 75 checkpoints where race officials disqualify runners who fail to meet time cutoffs or who are too tired to continue. In 2023, Camille Herron set a new women's course record of 22h 35min 31s, an improvement of 2h 12min 53s under the previous course record and

76-748: A bus and taken to Sparta together. The race begins at 7:00 am, roughly when dawn breaks, at the foot of the Acropolis of Athens , near the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Agora of Athens . The runners head westwards and the first major checkpoint is at 80 kilometres (50 mi), at the Corinth Canal on the Isthmus of Corinth that connects the Peloponnese to mainland Greece. Runners then proceed to

114-568: A day and a half (36 hours). Three runners were successful in completing the distance: John Scholtens (34 30 ), John Foden (37 37 ), and John McCarthy (39 00 ). Since 1983 it has been an annual footrace from Athens to Sparta, known as the Spartathlon , celebrating Pheidippides's run across 246 km (153 mi) of Greek countryside. Another run inspired by Herodotus's account, the Authentic Pheidippides Run, makes

152-459: A former elite runner and college coach. She attributes her success in ultrarunning to her scientific knowledge and training approach, which prioritizes short, frequent runs to accumulate high volume consistently. Herron has worked as a research assistant in bone imaging and osteoimmunology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center , co-authoring several scientific papers. Herron

190-405: A lottery system. Camille Herron set a new women's course record in 2023 with a time of 22h 35min 31s, an improvement of 2h 12min 53s under the previous course record set by Patrycja Bereznowska in 2017. She became the first woman to run under 24 hours and placed third overall, the second time a woman has placed on the overall podium. She led 3 women under 24 hours and into the top 10 overall for

228-476: A prosperous state, they built a shrine to Pan under the Acropolis , and from the time his message was received they held an annual ceremony, with a torch-race and sacrifices, to court his protection. On the occasion of which I speak – when Pheidippides, that is, was sent on his mission by the Athenian commanders and said that he saw Pan – he reached Sparta the day after he left Athens and delivered his message to

266-523: A run from Marathon to Athens occurs in the works of the Greek writer Plutarch (46–120 AD), in his essay "On the Glory of Athens". Plutarch attributes the run to a herald called either Thersippus or Eukles . Lucian , a century later, credits one "Philippides". It seems likely that in the 500 years between Herodotus's time and Plutarch's, the story of Pheidippides had become muddled with that of

304-410: A running race of approximately 40 km (25 mi) called the marathon. In 1921, the length of marathons became standardized at 42.195 km (26.219 mi). Based on Herodotus's account, British RAF Wing Commander John Foden and four other RAF officers travelled to Greece in 1982 on an official expedition to test whether it was possible to cover the nearly 250 kilometres (155 miles) in

342-415: A turning point, and began running longer distances on Sundays as a way to celebrate life. In 2024, Herron was diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . Herron's unusual running gait and arm swing are attributed to an extra bone in her foot and twists in her arm and femur. Herron returned to competitive running as a road racer under the guidance of her husband, Conor Holt,

380-660: Is a 50 kilometres (31 mi) downhill segment to the town of Sparta. The end of the race is a statue of Leonidas I , the Spartan king who died at the Battle of Thermopylae fighting the Persians ten years after Marathon, which is placed at the end of the main street in Sparta. Runners who finish the race receive a laurel wreath and water from schoolgirls dressed in chitons , and have access to medical tents. The national anthem of

418-465: Is reported by Pausanias , Plutarch , and Lucian , writers who had read this name in their versions of Herodotus , while in most of Herodotus's manuscripts the form appears Pheidippides. Other than Herodotus's manuscripts, the form Pheidippides is only attested in Aristophanes 's The Clouds (423 BC). Many historians argue that Aristophanes willfully distorted the real name so as not to use

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456-416: Is saved, thank Pan , go shout!" He flung down his shield ran like fire once more: And the space 'twixt the fennel-field and Athens was stubble again, a field which a fire runs through, 'till in he broke: "Rejoice, we conquer!" Like wine through clay, joy in his blood bursting his heart – the bliss! This poem inspired Baron Pierre de Coubertin and other founders of the modern Olympic Games to invent

494-477: The International Association of Ultrarunners World Record/World Best performances at the following events: Pheidippides Pheidippides ( Ancient Greek : Φειδιππίδης , Ancient Greek pronunciation: [pʰeː.dip.pí.dɛːs] , Modern Greek : [fi.ðiˈpi.ðis] lit.   ' Son of Pheídippos ' ) or Philippides ( Φιλιππίδης ) is the central figure in

532-506: The University of Tulsa , where she was a Top 10 Senior and earned a bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science in 2005. She began doing scientific research in college to understand why she had stress fractures as a young runner. Herron obtained a masters degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Oregon State University in 2007. Her research focused on identifying the optimal anabolic stimulus for musculoskeletal health, emphasizing

570-567: The Battle of Marathon (in particular with the story of the Athenian forces making the march from Marathon to Athens in order to intercept the Persian ships headed there), and some fanciful writer had invented the story of the run from Marathon to Athens. The first recorded account showing a courier running from Marathon to Athens to announce victory is from within Lucian 's prose on the first use of

608-512: The Spartan government. "Men of Sparta" (the message ran), "the Athenians ask you to help them, and not to stand by while the most ancient city of Greece is crushed and subdued by a foreign invader; for even now Eretria has been enslaved, and Greece is the weaker by the loss of one fine city." The Spartans, though moved by the appeal, and willing to send help to Athens, were unable to send it promptly because they did not wish to break their law. It

646-445: The account he gave the Athenians on his return, Pheidippides met the god Pan on Mount Parthenium , above Tegea . Pan, he said, called him by name and told him to ask the Athenians why they paid him no attention, in spite of his friendliness towards them and the fact that he had often been useful to them in the past, and would be so again in the future. The Athenians believed Pheidippides's story, and when their affairs were once more in

684-491: The day after he departed. Herodotus wrote: "On the occasion of which we speak when Pheidippides was sent by the Athenian generals, and, according to his own account, saw Pan on his journey, he reached Sparta on the very next day after quitting the city of Athens." Based on this account, John Foden, an officer of the Royal Air Force and a long distance runner, went to Greece in 1982 with four officers to test whether it

722-417: The elements of the story known in modern culture as the "Marathon story of Pheidippides": a messenger running from the fields of Marathon to announce victory, then dying on completion of his mission. Robert Browning gave a version of the traditional story in his 1879 poem "Pheidippides". So, when Persia was dust, all cried, "To Acropolis ! Run, Pheidippides, one race more! the meed is thy due! Athens

760-533: The first time in the race's history. Mary Larsson holds the record for most wins by a woman with 5 wins. Fotis Zisimopoulos set a new men's course record in 2023 with a time of 19h 55min 2s, the first runner under 20 hours and his third win. Yiannis Kouros holds the most wins by a man with four wins. In 2005, he decided to trace the steps of Pheidippides completely and ran—out of competition—the Athens–Sparta–Athens distance. Hubert Karl of Germany holds

798-488: The first woman under 24h. Fotis Zisimopoulos won for the third time and set a new men's course record in 19h 55min 9s, becoming the first athlete under 20h and broke the longheld record set by Yiannis Kouros in 1984. The Spartathlon aims to trace the footsteps of Pheidippides , an Athenian messenger sent to Sparta in 490 BC to seek help against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon . Pheidippides, according to an account by Greek historian Herodotus , arrived in Sparta

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836-408: The importance of frequent light mechanical stress interspersed with infrequent high-intensity stress. Herron was born with central auditory processing disorder and hearing loss and had a near-drowning incident at the age of three. In 1999, when she was 17, Herron and her family lost their home and possessions during the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak . She stated that she found the event to be

874-558: The name of the hero of Marathon in his play, or as a play on words meaning "save horses". However, given that the name Pheidippo is attested in the Iliad , the existence of a Pheidippides cannot be excluded, but according to many this form remains an error of the copyists of the manuscripts. The traditional story relates that Pheidippides (530–490 BC), an Athenian herald , or hemerodrome (translated as 'day-runner', 'courier', 'professional-running courier' or 'day-long runner' ),

912-411: The past and a ballot introduced, since the increasing prestige of the race and the gradual increase in the number of qualifying athletes mean that it is now always oversubscribed; however, elite athletes who can exceed the criteria by a large margin (25%, formerly 20%) are able to avoid the ballot and qualify automatically. Entries are now capped at 400 each year with non-automatic qualifiers chosen through

950-503: The record for most finishes with 23. András Lőw of Hungary meanwhile holds the record for most consecutive finishes with 19. In 2017, the 35th anniversary competition had a record 264 finishers under the 36-hour cut-off time. In 2018, the later stages of the race were substantially disrupted by the Medicane Zorbas, though almost all runners capable of finishing within the cut-off time were eventually able to do so. Following are

988-552: The running of the first Open International Spartathlon Race. The event was run under the auspices of SEGAS , the Hellenic Amateur Athletics Association. Forty-four men and one woman from twelve countries were entered into the first Spartathlon in 1983. The Spartathlon is usually held around late September. Runners have 36 hours to run 246 kilometres (153 mi), roughly the equivalent of six consecutive marathons , between Athens and Sparti ,

1026-401: The site of ancient Corinth . Runners ascend the 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) high Sangas mountain pass on Mount Parthenion , and then descend towards Tegea , which is about 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the start of the race. According to Herodotus, Pheidippides had a vision of Pan at Tegea, in what may be the first recorded case of exercise-induced hallucination . The rest of the race

1064-404: The site of ancient Sparta . Runners have to deal with the Greek heat in the day, the cold of the night, and the mountainous terrain. There are 75 checkpoints along the way, where runners are disqualified for safety reasons if they fail to meet time cut-offs. Many runners have crews that support them during the race, such as helping them resupply at the checkpoints. Any non-finishers are picked up by

1102-447: The story that inspired the marathon race . Pheidippides is said to have run 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the victory of the Battle of Marathon , and, according to Herodotus , to have run from Athens to Sparta . This latter feat also inspired two ultramarathon races, the 246-kilometre (153 mi) Spartathlon and 490-kilometre (300 mi) Authentic Pheidippides Run. The name Philippides

1140-459: The winner is also played. No monetary award is given to any of the finishers, but winning the race is considered prestigious and generates publicity that is helpful in attracting sponsors. Unlike Pheidippides , none of the runners have to make the return run back to Athens. In order to run in this race an individual must have recently performed at least one of a number of qualifying feats, such as: The criteria have been tightened at least once in

1178-720: The winners of the Spartathlon: Time = hours:minutes:seconds Camille Herron Jacquelyn Camille Herron is an American ultramarathon runner and scientist. She has 12 world records in ultramarathon distances. Herron was born in Norman, Oklahoma . She attended Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City , where she was a three-time All-State recipient in cross country, a three-time State Champion in track and field, and valedictorian . After receiving academic and athletic scholarships, Herron attended

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1216-527: The winners') and then collapsed and died. The Greek historian Herodotus was the first person to write about a Athenian runner named Pheidippides participating in the First Persian War . His account is as follows: Before they left the city, the Athenian generals sent off a message to Sparta . The messenger was an Athenian named Pheidippides, a professional long-distance runner. According to

1254-578: The word "joy" as a greeting in A Slip of the Tongue in Greeting (2nd century AD). Most accounts incorrectly attribute Lucian's story to Herodotus, who wrote the history of the Persian Wars in his Histories (composed about 440 BC). However, Magill and Moose (2003) suggest that the story is likely a "romantic invention". They point out that Lucian is the only classical source with all

1292-419: Was an actual historical figure. However, Miller also asserts that Herodotus did not ever mention a Marathon-to-Athens runner in any of his writings. Whether the story is true or not it has no connection with the Battle of Marathon itself, and Herodotus's silence on the evidently dramatic incident of a herald running from Marathon to Athens suggests that no such event occurred. The first known written account of

1330-651: Was partnered with Lululemon Athletica , with whom she collaborated on product development and initiatives such as the launch of a women's trail shoe and the lululemon FURTHER program, which included a 6-day ultramarathon for women in March 2024. On September 26, 2024 Lululemon ended its association with Herron in the wake of a controversy in which she and/or her husband were found to be removing positive information about other athletes from Misplaced Pages while adding positive information about herself. Herron and her husband manage an online coaching business. Camille Herron holds

1368-579: Was possible to cover the nearly 250 kilometres (155 miles) in a day and a half (36 hours). Three of them were successful in completing the distance: Foden himself in 37 hours and 37 minutes; John Scholtens in 34:30, and John McCarthy in 39:00. The following year a team of enthusiastic supporters (British, Greek and other nationalities) based at the British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce in Athens and led by Philhellene Michael Callaghan organised

1406-449: Was sent to Sparta to request help when the Persians landed at Marathon, Greece . He ran about 240 km (150 mi) in two days, and then ran back. He then ran the 40 km (25 mi) to the battlefield near Marathon and back to Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persia in the Battle of Marathon (490 BC) with the word νικῶμεν ( nikomen 'We win!'), as stated by Lucian chairete, nikomen ('hail, we are

1444-412: Was the ninth day of the month, and they said they could not take the field until the moon was full. So they waited for the full moon, and meanwhile Hippias , the son of Pisistratus , guided the Persians to Marathon. — Herodotus According to Miller (2006), Herodotus, only 30–40 years removed from the events in question, based his account on eyewitnesses, so it seems altogether likely that Pheidippides

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