Event Overview
| Date | Nov 19-23, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Athens to Sparta and back, Greece |
| Format | 200+ Mile |
| Terrain | Road |
| Region | Europe |
| Distance / duration | 485.3 km (Athens–Sparta–Athens); 524.9 km option to Marathon |
| Course model | Out-and-back |
| Edition note | Applications closed on September 30, 2026, and the organizer’s registration page now says registration is closed. The live tracking link will be announced before the race. The organizer gives 485.3 km for the 2026 route, while DUV lists every past edition as 490 km and the regulations are still headed “Athens – Sparta – Athens 490 km”. The 93-hour cutoff at the Ancient Agora in the regulations applies only to runners continuing to Marathon; the Athens–Sparta–Athens limit is 98 hours. |
| Elevation gain | 6,479 m (DUV figure) |
| Cutoff | 98 hours (8:00 AM Monday, November 23) for Athens–Sparta–Athens, with cutoffs at the main stations: Megara (39.4 km) at 5:30 hours and Sparta (242.5 km) at 43 hours. The Marathon option allows 100 hours (10:00 AM Monday) but requires reaching the Agora within 93 hours. |
| Start | 6:00 AM Thursday |
| Field size | No limit is published. The official 2025 results list 68 entrants: 28 finishers, 31 DNF and 9 DNS. The 2024 results list 23 finishers, 37 DNF and 3 DNS. |
| Sanctioning | IAU Bronze Label |
| Highlights | Athens–Sparta–Athens Non-Stop, IAU Bronze Label |
Authentic Phidippides Run winners by year
First man, first woman and number of finishers at each edition. The race was not held in 2020 or 2023.
| Year | Men | Women | Finishers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Werner Roels, 72:52:29 | Irina Masanova, 66:29:39 (1st overall) | 28 |
| 2024 | Ivan Zaborskii, 52:52:28 | Irina Masanova, 66:41:09 | 23 |
| 2022 | Łukasz Sagan, 65:22:14 | Francesca Ferraro, 88:07:55 | 18 |
| 2021 | Łukasz Sagan, 65:53:20 | Zsuzsanna Maraz, 67:54:12 | 19 |
| 2019 | Łukasz Sagan, 69:22:17 | Tina Andersen, 98:57:20 | 20 |
| 2018 | Łukasz Sagan, 75:36:57 | No female finisher | 5 |
| 2017 | Martin Hokes, 78:22:18 | Amalia Matthaiou, 101:24:22 | 13 |
| 2016 | Ludo Depoortere, 77:12:58 | Brenda Guajardo, 74:35:43 | 7 |
| 2015 | Marco Bonfiglio, 78:48:10 | Amalia Matthaiou, 99:43:34 | 12 |
2024 and 2025 come from the official RaceResult lists; earlier years from DUV, which lists every edition at 490 km. Some early winning times are over the current 98-hour limit, so the time limit has changed over the years.
Sources: Official 2025 results (RaceResult); Official 2024 results (RaceResult); DUV: Authentic Phidippides Run editions and winners.
Course & Terrain
Out-and-back road race from the Ancient Agora of Athens via Elefsina, Megara, Ancient Corinth, Agios Vasileios, Ancient Kleones and Ancient Nemea, then Malandreni, Lyrkeia and Karya, over Mount Artemisio to Nestani, Tegea and the Tripoli–Sparta road, turning at the statue of Leonidas in Sparta. The return follows the same course. The organizer gives 242.5 km for the outbound leg and 242.8 km for the return. A second race, “In the Footsteps of the Athenian Army”, adds 39.6 km from the Agora to Marathon for 524.9 km.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Start and finish at the Ancient Agora of Athens
- Megara at 39.4 km, the first cutoff
- Ancient Corinth and Ancient Nemea
- Mount Artemisio at 1,227 m, with a 4 km off-road climb
- Turn at the statue of Leonidas in Sparta (242.5 km)
- Kapi Kinetas rest station at 54.3 km and 430.9 km
A road race except for a 4 km off-road climb on Mount Artemisio, which runners cross in both directions. The organizer publishes elevation profiles only as images; DUV gives 6,479 m of climbing.
The organizer’s guide warns that weather in Greece can change sharply in November and advises packing for both heat and cold. The 2018 edition had snow and flooding, and DUV lists only five finishers that year.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | No qualifying standards. Runners must be 18 or older and hold a medical certificate issued no more than six months before the start. The Marathon option is open in 2026 only to runners with a previous valid finish; from the next edition it will require a previous finish at the Agora within 93 hours. Fees were €600 until February 28, 2026 and €700 from March 1 to September 30 (€700 for the Marathon option at any time), with 50% off for permanent residents of Greece. Refunds were available until September 30, 2026; after that an entry can only move to the next year. |
| Support model | The organizer lists 77 aid tables in each direction with water, isotonic drinks and snacks, and 11 main stations that serve hot meals (with vegetarian options) and have rest facilities. Timing is electronic, and every runner carries a GPS tracker with an SOS button. Doctors, rescuers, EKAB emergency crews and Hellenic Red Cross units cover the route, with hospitals in Athens, Elefsina, Corinth, Argos, Tripoli and Sparta on the emergency plan. |
| Crew / pacers | Crews are optional. They may help only at official aid stations, at least 30 m from the tables, and help between stations means disqualification. Support vehicles must be declared and marked, and are banned between aid stations 22/56 and 25/53 in both directions. Runners may rest in their support vehicle within 30 m of a checkpoint after telling the station official, but staying in any hotel or lodging during the race means disqualification. The regulations do not mention pacers. |
| Drop bags | Runners can send personal supplies to the 11 main stations, labeled with bib and table number. Bags are handed in the evening before the race and may be inspected. |
| Logistics note | The race starts at 06:00 on Thursday, November 19, 2026 at the Ancient Agora of Athens. Registration and drop-bag hand-in take place the evening before. The finish closes at 08:00 on Monday in Athens and 10:00 in Marathon. The organizer’s guide says most runners arrive two nights before and leave on Tuesday, after the finishing ceremony on Monday night. The fee covers timing, medal, shirt, drop-bag transport, medical services, transport for non-finishers, aid-station food and rest facilities, but not hotels or companions’ meals and transport. |
Why This Race Matters
The Authentic Phidippides Run turns the Athens–Sparta road into a round trip: runners go from the Ancient Agora of Athens to the statue of Leonidas in Sparta and come back on the same route, 485.3 km without stages. The organizer describes the route as the most faithful to the one taken by Pheidippides. It is a separate race from Spartathlon, which runs one way from Athens to Sparta in late September with a 36-hour limit and qualifying standards. The Phidippides Run is held in November, has no qualifying standards and allows 98 hours. It is run by a non-profit association founded in 2024 to continue the race. DUV lists editions since 2015, and the organizer dedicates the 10th edition in 2026 to Takis Skoulis.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- Men’s record: Ivan Zaborsky (Russia), 52:52:28 in 2024 (Zaborskii in the official results). It is more than 12 hours faster than any other winning time in DUV’s list.
- Women’s best: Irina Masanova (Russia), 66:29:39 in 2025, when she was first overall. She was second overall in 2024 in 66:41:09.
- Most wins: Łukasz Sagan (Poland), four (2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022), per DUV.
- 2025: Masanova won overall ahead of Werner Roels (Belgium, 72:52:29) and Lenka Berrouche (Czech Republic, 76:26:51). 28 runners finished.
Preparing for a Race Like Authentic Phidippides Run
The 200-mile race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- 200-mile race strategy: Pacing, sleep loss, aid stations, navigation, crew and feet, with a worked Moab 240 plan.
- Sleep strategy for multiday races: An individual sleep plan with safe locations and clear stop criteria.
- Crew and aid-station strategy: Crew tables, aid stops, drop bags and runner preferences.
- Foot-care kit for multiday running: Tape, lube, socks, blister pads and simple hot-spot rules.
Best Fit
- Experienced multiday road runners ready for up to four days on foot
- Runners who want the Athens–Sparta road without Spartathlon’s qualifying standards
- Spartathlon finishers who want to run the route both ways
Planning Notes
- Prepare for sleep decisions, weather swings, and aid-station discipline. The distance is only one part of a multi-day fixed-distance race.
- Repetitive surfaces can expose fit, friction, and loading problems. Check in when symptoms or conditions change, and use only footwear already tested for the course.
- The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
- Cutoffs at every main station, starting with Megara at 5:30 hours
- No hotel stays during the race; rest only at stations or in a crew vehicle beside a checkpoint
- From sunset to sunrise, bright or reflective clothing, a headlamp and a red rear light are required
- Audio devices are banned, and a lost GPS tracker costs €150
- November weather can bring heat, cold, rain or snow
Event FAQs
What is the Authentic Phidippides Run?
A non-stop road race from Athens to Sparta and back, 485.3 km in 2026, with a 98-hour limit. Runners start at the Ancient Agora of Athens at 06:00, turn at the statue of Leonidas in Sparta and finish back at the Agora. The 2026 race on November 19–23 is the 10th edition and carries an IAU Bronze label.
How is the Authentic Phidippides Run different from Spartathlon?
They are separate races. Spartathlon is a one-way 245 km race from Athens to Sparta in September with a 36-hour limit and qualifying standards. The Phidippides Run, organized by its own association, runs to Sparta and back in November, allows 98 hours and has no qualifying standards. Both pass Megara, Ancient Corinth, Ancient Nemea, Nestani and Tegea on the way to the statue of Leonidas, but the Phidippides Run crosses Mount Artemisio, while Spartathlon goes over Mount Parthenion.
Do you need to qualify for the Authentic Phidippides Run?
No. Runners must be 18 or older and have a medical certificate dated within six months of the start. Only the 524.9 km Marathon option needs a previous finish. Registration for 2026 closed on September 30.
What are the Authentic Phidippides Run records?
Ivan Zaborsky ran 52:52:28 in 2024, the fastest time on record. Irina Masanova holds the women’s best with 66:29:39 in 2025, when she won overall. Łukasz Sagan has won four times.
Related Preparation
- Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
- Open the 200+ Mile format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated October 20, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official 2026 race announcement (English) — https://authenticphidippidesrun.com/?page_id=303&lang=en
- Official 2026 race announcement (Greek) — https://authenticphidippidesrun.com/?page_id=280
- Official rules and regulations — https://authenticphidippidesrun.com/?page_id=297&lang=en
- Official route information — https://authenticphidippidesrun.com/?page_id=301&lang=en
- Official race guide — https://authenticphidippidesrun.com/?page_id=986&lang=en
- Official results page — https://authenticphidippidesrun.com/?page_id=1186&lang=en
- Official registration page (closed) — https://authenticphidippidesrun.com/?page_id=307
- Official 2025 results (RaceResult) — https://my.raceresult.com/372321/results
- IAU race calendar, Greece (Bronze label for both 2026 races) — https://iau-ultramarathon.org/race-calendar/?race-type=&race-label=&race-country=Greece&race-month=&race-year=
- DUV event page for the 2026 race — https://statistik.d-u-v.org/eventdetail.php?event=124540
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.