Japanese runners "dominate" in SPARTATHLON 09.
RYOICHI SEKIYA wins for a seccond time in 23.48'.24".
SUMIE INAGAKI is the first woman finisher in 27.39΄.49΄
The International SPARTATHLON Association wishes to inform you that a new Board of Directors has been set up for the next two years, following the annual elections, last November.-
We are convinced that the new Board will do their utmost to bring about a successful SPARTATHLON ’09, on September 25 & 26, 2009 by means of well-organized teamwork all the year round.
Here are the names of the new Board of Directors:
| President: | Mr. Panagiotis Tsiakiris, ex Manager of the Commercial Bank |
| Vice President: | Mr. Evagelos Polymeris, Mech. Engineer |
| General Secretary: | Mr. Kostis Papadimitriou, Retired |
| Treasurer: | Mr. Panagiotis Alikaniotis, Retired |
| Members: | Nikolaos Gouvatsos, Lawyer |
| George Kanalntzakos, Architect | |
| Anastassia Dellopoulou, Retired | |
| Kostas Fatseas, Retired | |
| Christine Papastavrou, Household |
In 1879 the English poet Robert Browning wrote the stirring poem Pheidepeides. It is said that the poem so inspired Baron Pierre de Coubertin and other founders of the modern Olympic Games that they were prompted to create a foot race of 42 km which would be named the Marathon.
Archons of Athens, topped by the tettix, see, I return!
See, 'tis myself here standing alive, no spectre that speaks!
Crowned with the myrtle, did you command me, Athens and you,
"Run, Pheidippides, run and race, reach Sparta for aid!
Persia has come, we are here, where is She?" Your command I obeyed,
Ran and raced: like stubble, some field which a fire runs through,
Was the space between city and city: two days, two nights did I burn
Over the hills, under the dales, down pits and up peaks.
Read the full version by following this link: Pheidippides – by: Robert Browning