FEATURED RUN

The Run That Killed Pheidippides | Athens, Greece

Rising at 6 AM with ambitions to conquer 15 miles, I quickly recalibrated my expectations by mile 2, the heat and travel fatigue conspiring against my lofty goals. Settling for a respectable 9 miles seemed wise. Navigating along Athena’ arterial lifeline, Greek National Road 83, I later unearthed its historical significance as the original marathon route. You know the fable they feed us about the origins of the marathon: After the outnumbered Greeks repulsed the Persians at Marathon (or Marathonas), Athenian messenger Pheidippides undertook a harrowing 25-mile run to Athena, where he proclaimed triumphantly at the Acropolis, “Nike! Nike! Nenikekiam” (“Victory! Victory! Rejoice, we conquer!”), before meeting an untimely demise. Myth or reality?