Gkikas Nikolaos (Nick)
Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο
Ημ. Γέννησης: 1980
Γένος: Άρρεν
Σύντομο Βιογραφικό:
Being born in a hospital on Mesogeion Str. and then living in a flat just off Hiera Odos, during the 80's, I was exposed to the History of the Marathon Runner, Pheidippides, and news of Yannis Kouros' marvels from the get go. On both accounts, such people were demigods for mere mortals like myself; idols to use as beacons of the human spirit, and inspiration as we are fighting the daily struggle to be better sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, pupils, students, workers, teachers, scientists, engineers etc. That same struggle to be a better version of myself has been driving me on a very different path in life, along academic, professional and vestial development for the decades between then and now. Despite always maintaining some form of exercise as part of my lifestyle, and some form of running always being there, it was only my original love for the Classics and History that led me to signing up for the Athens Marathon on the 2500th anniversary year of the eponymous battle. Conceived as one-off tribute to the ideals of the Battle of Marathon, and despite finishing in one of the slowest times within the cutoff, that feat has been repeated annually since then and gradually accompanied by more marathon-distance and beyond endurance events. Spartathlon, however has remained in the realm of phantasy until now. A brainworm was accidentally planted by Aykut Celikbas, while reading his race report after his first attempt in 2014. Despite masochistically enjoying taking part in events lasting 24 hours and beyond, Aykut's seed remained dormant for years. Instead of any thought of filling in this application, my involvement with Spartathlon has been one of spending the last weekend in September dot-watching on the internet, watching the live-feed, cheering and supporting the British team, Greek and other international athletes as much as possible before, during and after the race. As anything that's worth in life, just getting to the stage of filling this application in has been a long and arduous journey. It was worth it though; I entered some amazing events both in the UK and in Greece; I met and made friendships with some amazing people from all over the world, be them athletes, volunteers, supporters - all inspiring me in their own way, as much as Phidippides and Yannis Kouros themselves. Just being in the same race with them, makes life special. It is therefore, with respect and awe that I apply for a place in this year's Spartathlon.
PS: As a dual national, I contemplated for long which nation to enter with; on the basis that as an amateur endurance athlete I am the product of my later life in Britain, I wouldn't want to take the place of a local Greek entering the ballot with the dream of starting under the Acropolis next September. I know very well what it means to him/her and I think it would be unfair. I therefore decided to apply as a GB athlete.
