Marathon

The cautious have likened it to an attempt to send a manned mission to Mars. However, Yannis Pitsiladis, professor of sport and exercise science at the University of Brighton in the UK, is aiming to achieve it by 2019.

Sotir Qiriaqi was 54 when he started running in order to "escape" the traumas of life as result of being jobless and generally disappointed.

Back in 1991, he entered politics after being in the front line of the student protests that brought down the half-century-old communist system.

Traffic restrictions will be introduced in central Athens on Sunday for the Athens Half-Marathon, which starts at 9 a.m. and is expected to finish by 1.30 p.m.

Motorists should avoid the entire area around Syntagma Square, including Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, the start of Kifissias Avenue and the start of Vouliagmenis Avenue.

Veteran marathon runner Maria Polyzou, Greece's record holder, will attempt to run three entire marathons around Greece on three consecutive Sundays to promote the cause of bone marrow bank Orama Elpidas.

When Barney Spender ran the Athens Marathon in 2002, he probably did not envisage that running in Greece and tracing the legendary steps of ancient messenger Pheidippides would take up more than two years of his life in the future.

The 30th Belgrade Marathon will be held on April 22, featuring ten of the world's greatest athletics legends as promoters, the organizers announced on Tuesday.

Bulgaria's capital Sofia is to host the One Man Party musical marathon for the fourth time on Friday, with iconic D&B musician Limewax to join the 7-h-long performance, organizers say.

One Man Party, scheduled for December 16, will showcase four projects of the electronic music producer and DJ Ivan Shopov.

The photograph of him crossing the finish line of the Athens Authentic Marathon on November 13 is still making the rounds on the web. With a cap and sunglasses hiding his features, and a tight black T-shirt accentuating his portly figure, the 47-year-old seemed to breeze through the last few meters into the Panathenaic Stadium. His time was 3 hours and 31 minutes.

Kenya's Luka Rotich Lobuwan won the 34th Athens Marathon on Sunday in two hours, 12 minutes and 49 seconds for the grueling 42-kilometer course.

The 28-year-old Lobuwan was followed across the line by eight of his countrymen with second place going to Benson Kipruto, who clocked 2:13.24 and Bernard Kitur in third at 2:13.32.

Thousands of people ran in the Vodafone Istanbul Marathon from the Asian continent to the European, commemorating people killed by putschist soldiers during the failed July 15 coup attempt. 

The marathon hosted 90 elite athletes, including 28 top Turkish runners, as well as thousands of people who just want to challenge themselves by running 42 kilometers (26 miles).