Olympian Race from Nemea to Olympia 115,6 Miles (186km), Greece
Nemea – Olympia, a course over 186km crossing the Peloponnese. This course has not the historical background like the Spartathlon or the Marathon, which remind at greek messengers during the war with the Persian. But it is a symbol for the link between the two cities through the Olympic games. The Games was first organized in Nemea and was displaced later to Olympia.
Meeting point for this spektacel was on Thurthday afternoon the Kallimarmaro Stadium, where 1986 the first Olympic games our times was organized. By bus we traveled to the Kalamaki Beach hotel in Isthmia, Corinth. There we stayed the night before the race. The rooms were allocated after a small welcome drink. Like on other races two till three runners shared one room. At 6:30pm there was the issue of the race numbers, the medical-check and a briefing. Because the race was organized by Greeks and French this were the main languages. For the rest of runners, which did not speak this languages, was a small English briefing. Afterwards there was dinner and thereafter a dancing show of a Greek single dancer at the lobby.
Friday before noon, after an extensive breakfast, was departure to Nemea. With a special permission we were allowed to start at the antic stadium. Normally these historical places are opened for publicity/tourism, but events are not permitted. Before the start the American archeologist Steve Miller guided us through the stadium. He excavated the stadium. After the traditional speeches every runner was named. He was departed by some drummers and trumpet players.
There was 93 runners (starter list) of 15 countries singed in.
|
Country |
GRE |
FRA |
UK |
FIN |
BEL |
SP |
LUX |
MOR |
AUS |
CZ |
GER |
RUS |
NED |
DAN |
JAP |
å |
|
Male |
19 |
46 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
84 |
|
Female |
2 |
6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
9 |
|
å |
21 |
52 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
93 |
In the end there were only 84 runners at the start line. 57 of them arrived the entry of the antic stadium in Olympia in less than 28 hours.
Despite start was at 2:30pm, the sun was burning merciless till ca. 7pm. The ones of you which have done the Spartathlon know, that there are not very much shadow. There was a wooded mountain at km 60, but at this time it was already dark. So the trees were more a shield against the wind instead of the sun. The temperature was between 16-17,5 F (26-28°C) in the daytime and 4-5 F (6-8°C) at night. So it was necessary to depose a light and warm cloth, too. The half way of the course was on street. The rest was on stony and rocky trails. The unusual distance up to 30km between the 19 checkpoints was a result of the old times. In this times the athletes was used to get food and drinks at the middle of cities. Because of this it was necessary to pick-up a bottle or a Camelbak. The only problem at the course was the marking on long parts. Although there were big arrows on the floor, bands or light sticks (at night) at splits, but at long ways without splits there were not any markings. So you have to walk many miles without a marking, which confused people. The course was not directly from Nemea to Olympia, because the organisers want to display the beauty of the area. The main course was from Nemea via Aidonia, Platani, Skotini, Kandila, Levidi, Vytina, Magouliana, Valetesiniko, Topea-Doxa-Kalliani to Olympia.
The first at the finishing line was the Greek Vlassis Karavassilis in 19:46:40. Followed by the French Patrick Degeyter in 20:34:43 and me in 22:28:23. The first woman was the French Chantal Haton in 23:30:50. Followed by the Greek Panayiota Gati in 25:18:49 and the Dane Helle Mortensen in 25:42:29. The second German finished in 27:43:36. After the finish every runner was presented with a toe of laurels. After this the runners drove to the Amalia Hotel in Olympia. There was although the award party before the dinner. After the first three male and female finisher everybody gets a bronze medal and a document (given at the next day). During the dinner there was a dancing show from a group of Greek dancers at the garden.
On Sunday morning, after the breakfast, there was a guided tour at the antic stadium in Olympia. After this we had lunch at the hotel, before we travelled back to Athen at 3:30pm
More information at the homepage of the organisation.