"Athens Marathon - The Authentic is brought to you by the Chinese tour operator zx42195 as a guaranteed entry for international runners.*** The Athens Marathon is like no other on Earth. According to legend, it covers the same ground that the Athenian messenger Phiedippides ran when he brought news of victory from the battlefield of Marathon 2,500 years ago. The finish line is in Athens’ magnificent Olympic Stadium, the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games. Those who run the Athens Marathon say it is an experience they’ll never forget. The Athens Classic Marathon is an annual marathon road race held in Athens, Greece normally in early November. The Athens Classic Marathon began in 1972 as a joint venture between the Greek tourist board and atheltics association. The marathon course is based on the myth from which the race gained its name: Pheidippides, a messenger in Ancient Greece ran from the Battle of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greeks’ victory over the Persians.

Source: World's Marathons.