Scott Jurek to defend Spartathlon title; Run in the footsteps of Pheiddipides at Trail Fit

Click here for the Lead Stories

Scott Jurek to defend Spartathlon title; Run in the footsteps of Pheiddipides

Posted September 19, 2007 at 04:49 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: Destinations, International, News, Ultramarathons

scott jurek badwater ultramarathon In a recent blog post, America’s top ultra-elite runner Scott Jurek writes about his plans to defend his title at the 25th annual Spartathlon.

The Spartathlon is a legendary, 152.85 mile (246 km) ultramarathon race held in Greece since 1983 between Athens and Sparta. Now in it’s 25th year, the Spartathlon will take place from September 28-29, when in excess of 300 international runners will participate in the classic event.

In 2006, Jurek became the first American man to ever win the Sparathlon; crossing the finish line in a time of 22:52:18.

In his blog entry, Jurek writes:

I’m happy to officially announce I will be going back to Spartathlon this year. It is coming up quickly and I have been able to get in excellent training upon returning from France. Valmir Nunes of Brazil, a previous Spartathlon winner, is in top shape this year after dropping last year due to injury. Another previous winner, Jens Lucas of Germany, will also be running, but possibly slightly tired after a stellar second place finish at UTMB. Markus Thalmann of Austria is one more past champion helping to stack the field. American 24 Hour record holder Mark Godale is also in great form this year and I expect many more great competitors to be ready to give it their all.

This year, Jurek will once again try and challenge Sparathlon icon Yiannis Kouros. Kouros won the inaugural Spartathlon and still holds the record time at 20:25:00. Kouros competed in four Spartahlons, won all four and holds the four fastest times ever recorded. In 2005, he decided to trace the steps of Pheiddipides completely and ran - out of competition - the Athens-Sparta-Athens distance.

To read Jurek’s entire blog post, please visit: www.scottjurek.com/blog

11 comments, add yours |

Permalink |

Share this article

Tags: athens, jens-lucas, mark-gosdale, markus-thalmann, pheiddipides, scott-jurek, sparta, spartathlon, ultramarathon, valmir-nunes, yiannis-kouros

Like what you see? Subscribe to our feed!

11 Responses to “Scott Jurek to defend Spartathlon title; Run in the footsteps of Pheiddipides” (Leave a reply)

Motorcycle loans said:

Good article, thanks
July 21, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Motorcycle Fairings said:

I would like to know, from the 300 competitors, How many finish the race? Tha’ the best part of the game.
September 11, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Outdoor Furniture said:

Definitely is a big challenge and requires a hard training but I guess just 15% of the competitors finish the race.
September 21, 2008 at 11:17 AM
rb 4085 said:

Scott Jurek is a great athlete so it would be easy for him to defend the title.
October 3, 2008 at 01:23 PM
teak furniture from Canada said:

Scott Jurek is really a great athlete.
October 10, 2008 at 09:57 AM
cool cars from canada said:

this is really unbelievable mam..
how can a girl run such a long distance..great..
cool cars
November 13, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Singles Digest from finland said:

Yup i agree that Scott is a great athelet but i am not sure that he’ll defend title
regards
Singles Digest
December 1, 2008 at 04:22 PM
cooking roast beef said:

This guy sounds like a beast. Go man go.
December 25, 2008 at 10:05 PM
online tv said:

Scott Jurek to defend Spartathlon title; Run in the footsteps of Pheiddipides, watch tv online - free tv
February 20, 2009 at 09:57 AM
Sakti from Barbados said:

Could you help me. Because we don’t think about future generations, they will never forget us. Help me! I can not find sites on the: drug rehab treatments. I found only this - drug treatment center houston. Addiction treatment services provides detox, residential and outpatient drug and alcohol treatment, transitional housing and jail alternatives for those. Challenges drug treatment rehabilitation center in fort lauderdale florida specializes in confidential cocaine, heroin, drug addiction, substance abuse. Thank you very much :-). Sakti from Barbados.
May 19, 2009 at 09:48 AM
Trish from Guinea-Bissau said:

Hey. By the time I’d grown up, I naturally supposed that I’d be grown up. Help me! Please help find sites for: Ambien imitrex drug interactions. I found only this - imitrex company. Imitrex order no prescription imitrex is found in breast milk. Reddy laboratories nyse rdy today announced that it has launched the authorized generic version of glaxosmithkline imitrex sumatriptan succinate. With respect :rolleyes:, Trish from Guinea-Bissau.
June 21, 2009 at 03:39 AM