Πότε στ’ αλήθεια ξεκινάει το Σπάρταθλο; Μήπως ξεκινάει όταν κληρώνεσαι για να συμμετάσχεις; Τότε που μαζί με την κλήρωση ξεκινάει και η πολύμηνη προετοιμασία που είναι τόσο επίπονη που το μόνο που την απαλύνει είναι το όραμα του τερματισμού στο Βασιλιά;

This was my third Spartathlon; I previously ran in 2015 and 2016. My 2015 race report is fully detailed, if you are looking for all the intel you can get on the race, and what it's like to experience Spartathlon for the first time.

Those of us who took part in Spartathlon nine days ago, can readily attest to how crazy the planet’s weather is becoming. A hurricane – now known as a Medicane thanks to its Mediterranean location – in Greece… in September. Just when you thought this craziest of races couldn’t do more crazy, it managed to up things to another level of batshit.

It rains when I make a selfie with Albert at the foot of the Acropolis. The outlook for severe storms is uncommon for the Spartathlon. As I wander around restlessly I feel like a tourist who does not know what to do in the face of thousands of years of history. Despite my calm and self-confidence, there is uncertainty about what is to come today.

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Είμαι ευγνώμων στο Θεό και τη ζωή που αξιώθηκα να τερματίσω 3 Σπάρταθλα σε 5 προσπάθειες. Είμαι επίσης ευγνώμων στη γυναίκα μου Πόπη που μου συμπαραστάθηκε με τη σκέψη και από κοντά (2012, 2017) καθώς επίσης και τους υποστηρικτές μου Χρήστο Γεωργάτο (2011), Σταύρο Μπούμπουκα και Στέφανο Κότσιαρη (2016, 2017) που όλοι τους υπήρξαν άψογοι οργανωτικοί και ηθικοί συμπαραστάτες.

The Spartathlon... The ultimate ultra-distance race, the iconic race that makes grown men cry, over a quarter of runners standing on the start line will not finish for various reasons, at least half of runners will cross a point during this journey where they no longer know who they are or what they are doing here, most crew members will shed a tear at some point during the race either through lack of sleep, sheer emotion or the desperate urge to go to the toilet but not being able to find one under the pressure of crewing.

The roads from Athens to Sparta were even more punishing than I had imagined. In fact, by the double marathon mark, about 52 miles (83km) in, just after crossing the engineering marvel of the Corinth Canal, but with over 100 miles (160km) still to go, I began to realise that this was the start of the race and my legs were already in shreds. I reconciled this rather depressing outlook with thought that I was nearly at the first major checkpoint and that hopefully some decent food would be available. The cup of hot soup with noodles I was subsequently offered there was taken with immense gratitude – efcharistó (Thank you!)

I’ve been hanging on for 26km…. I haven’t got another 34 in me’ I pleaded with Claire… ‘you don’t realise how horrible this is!’ she could see the turmoil that I was in but there was nothing she could do except try to encourage me to continue… ‘Walk if you have too but keep going.’ She said calmly… Paul thrust a can of sprite into my hand ‘Drink this, it’ll give you a boost’ I didn’t believe him but gulped it down.

Looking back on this challenge, I have many feelings, relief of finally finishing after 3 failed attempts, immense personal satisfaction, and thanks to my Family, especially Allison, for her encouragement to get out of bed and run for the past 6 months and thanks Martin in helping me get to the finish with just the right advice when things were going pear shaped.

This time I also fully appreciated how much this race means to the other runners, and even more so how much it means to the Greek people who are involved in it and how proud they are of this race and the history it points back. Pheidippides historic run back in ancient Hellas helping change the course of history and turning the tide against the other super power of the age the Persians.

Spartathletes,

I am taking the opportunity to write this as I won’t be able to be alongside your journey this year. After 13 years of education, it is now time to proceed to university. I’m both nervous and excited, but simultaneously gutted as my course starts before the Spartathlon.