An Amateur’s Take on the Authentic Athens Marathon

As the big M-Day approaches, a next-door runner shares tips to cross the finish line

There are just a few days left before the big day for about 50,000 runners who are arriving from all over the world for the 34th Athens Authentic Marathon. The tough, historic course of 42,195 meters, starting in the town of Marathon (northeast of Athens) and ending at the Panathenaic Stadium, follows the same route taken by Athenian soldier and runner Pheidippides in 490 BC to announce that the Persians had been beaten at the Battle of Marathon. After breathlessly uttering nenikekamen -“we have won,” he collapsed and died.

The truth is that the course of the Athens Marathon is not for everyone. But then not everyone who runs it is looking to finish first. One of those is Vassilis Masselos, who tells his story from an insider’s perspective. He has taken part twice and simply enjoys running, even though when he first started training, he weighed more than 120kg.

Why do you run?

I started in 2003 because I weighed almost 130kg and had to do something about it. But, more importantly, to better deal with stress. . Initially I run on a treadmill and later outdoors. I ran 3 to 4k every morning. It was hard at first because both my body and mind had to get used to it. But the human body adjusts surprisingly quickly. The thing is that you feel great afterwards. The endorphins that are released are particularly pleasant, what is known as the “runners’ high”.

What do you think about when you are running?

Depends on the day. Sometimes, hélas, about work.

How did you end up at your first marathon?

I tried the 10k race at first, in 2003. It was exciting. Back then, there were less than a tenth of the runners that participate in the full marathon today. It was funny because bystanders didn’t really understand what we were doing. Back then, running in Greece was seen as eccentric. Now, there’s a running boom.

Why did Greeks start running?

The sudden increase has taken place over the last five years. The time was ripe because there was such great interest internationally. It’s therapeutic. It doesn’t cost much and also the stress caused by the financial crisis pushed people in this direction. Nowadays, running enjoys incredible popularity. I just hope it doesn’t all peter out.

What kind of people do you meet at the marathon?

All kinds.  Things have changed over the years, and there is more –shall I say-  anthropological diversity now that the hoi polloi has joined the ranks of runners. There are still quite a few odd birds though. When I ran the full marathon in 2012, at one point I remember that wherever I passed, the crowd got very excited. As soon as I appeared, everybody clapped like crazy. Just when I started to wonder if something was wrong with me, I looked right behind and there was a guy clad like an Ancient Greek running barefoot complete with a spear and a shield. In terms of people watching, the marathon is really very interesting.

What sacrifices does someone who is not a pro have to make?

When I started training for the full marathon, it was hard. In the beginning couldn’t even finish  5k without walking part of the distance. In the last three months, I was training three to four times a week, running at least 40k per week; professionals do 70. Until two weeks before the race, you have to do a number of “long runs,” which means doing up to 32k in a single day. And you have to rest, so you don’t want to overdo it. Training for the marathon is like a pyramid. You increase the distance and then decrease it. You also have to watch your diet. In the last stage, I just ate protein and for four to five days before the race, only carbohydrates. In the end, on the big day, I managed to finish in 5 hours and 1 minute.

What was the most difficult point in the 42k?

The hard part comes after 30k. That is when you start to really feel tired and  have no energy left. Many people have hit what the call the marathon runner’s “wall”, and if you haven’t managed your energy well, you literally come to a standstill. That is why you need energy gels and good hydration. You need a plan. Almost anyone can complete a marathon if he or she follows such a plan both during training and on the race day.

That’s maybe why marathon running is a more of a middle-aged sport, because you are more mature, but also – let’s face it – because it is often a reaction to mid-life crisis. During my first marathon I saw, with a certain amount of schadenfreude, many very fit looking young guys who probably didn’t train properly, and had to quit the race.

And what is the best part of the course?

It’s like a big party with a lot of enthusiasm everywhere. You get carried away by the whole mood.Sometimes you see people you know along the way, many onlookers cheer and encourage you; you have a lot of support. Naturally, when I saw the finish line arch, I burst into tears. I was both tired and emotional.

INFO: The 34th Athens Authentic Marathon takes place November 13 under the auspices of the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS). There are about 50,000 registrants. Even if you are not running, it is worth coming to encourage those who are, since positive energy is catching. They will be running through much of Athens. See the route and much more at:www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr