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Athens Marathon. The Authentic
8 November 2026 · Athens, Greece
iconicscenic
The Athens Marathon retraces Pheidippides' route from the town of Marathon to Athens — with a climb spanning twenty-one kilometers starting almost right after the gun. Many call it the toughest course among major marathons: even the fast downhill finish doesn't spare tired legs. The finisher medal changes every year — a 2019-to-2027 collector's series of eight medals, each bearing one letter of the word MARATHON and a scene from Olympic marathon history. The reward for all those hills is entering the track of the Panathenaic Stadium, host of the first modern Olympic Games.
Course records
Men
2:10:34
2023 · Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo · Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
Women
2:31:06
2010 · Rasa Drazdauskaitė
Weather in November
Early November usually brings 10–18°C, but conditions swing widely year to year — from hot, cloudless sun to a cool headwind.
Starter pack 2022
- Техническая футболка Adidas
- Рюкзак и полотенце с логотипом забега
- Финишная медаль из коллекционной серии 2019–2027
Genuine replicas of the 1896 Olympic medal are sold separately as a collectible — they're not the same as the standard finisher medal.
Pacers & bib pickup
6:006:30
Bib pickup
Faliro Indoor Hall & Exhibition Centre
day before the race only
The expo sits on the coast south of central Athens — go early to save time on race day.
Registration opens
24 April 2026
Registration closes
25 September 2026
Course map
Route not added yet
What’s nearby
Walking
Храм Зевса Олимпийского — Ten minutes from the stadium.
Национальный сад — Borders the stadium directly.
30 minutes
Плака — The old pedestrian quarter at the foot of the Acropolis.
Акрополь — The city's icon, about a twenty-minute walk from the finish.
2 hours
Мыс Сунион — The Temple of Poseidon over the sea, about an hour's drive.
Дельфы — The Oracle and the Temple of Apollo, two to two and a half hours by car.
Dinner before the race
There's no single runner-favorite spot, but tour groups often organize a shared pasta dinner at the hotel the night before.
After the finish
Water, isotonic drink, juice, and bananas at the Panathenaic Stadium forecourt right after the finish.
Reviews
Gareth Richards (Medium)2022
The toughest stretch was eight miles of climbing, 332 meters of gain. The worst part was a dip down and back up under a motorway flyover, but with sensible pacing it was entirely manageable.
Doctor Will (JustRunLah)2017
Every time I thought that was the steepest hill, Greece had another surprise around the next turn. And the downhill afterward hurts just as much — just differently.
Registration open until 25 September 2026