The Spartathlon, first run in 1983, retraces the roughly 246-kilometer route the ancient messenger Pheidippides is said to have covered from Athens to Sparta to seek military help before the Battle of Marathon. Runners must finish within 36 hours, and the course's heat, hills and cumulative distance have made it one of the most demanding ultramarathons in the world. The race was inspired by a British RAF team that proved the run was physically possible in 1982.
Record no. MRB-2026-005872
One of the world's toughest ultramarathons
Reference Record – Not Certified
This record is compiled from publicly available sources for reference. It has not been examined or certified by The Book of World Records.