This. Is. Spartathlon!

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Let’s dive in, shall we?

The background

Ultras are spectacles in and of themselves. Few, though, offer an experience as profound as Spartathlon, a historic footrace from Athens to modern-day Sparta. This 152-mile ultra retraces the footsteps of an ancient Greek who ran from Athens to Sparta before the battle of Marathon to seek help from the Spartans against the invading Persians.?

Spartathlon's brilliance resides in the very thing that makes it challenging. Unlike many ultras, which are on soft trails, Spartathlon is mainly a road race, minus a brief 1,200m ascent of Mount Partenio. The undulating course wreaks havoc on your legs. However, the support and sound of applause from the locals ease your suffering.

To the people of Greece, the Spartathlon is more than a footrace. It's a celebration of their cultural heritage and a significant event in their history. As a result, Spartathlon attracts teams from every corner of the globe who are eager to participate in history.

"It's important to the people of Greece," explains Anna Brown, a long-time ultra runner who completed the Spartathlon as a member of the British Spartathlon team. "There are 75 checkpoints every two miles or so, all run by local communities and families. Kids are asking for autographs from the runners in the evenings. Everyone is shouting, ‘See you in Sparta!’ It's just brilliant.”

Runners begin in Athens near the Acropolis, the most striking and complete ancient Greek complex still existing today. It contains the remains of several ancient buildings of historical significance, the most famous of which is the Parthenon.?

From there, runners have 36 hours to reach modern-day Sparta. Throughout the course, there are a series of 75 checkpoints, complete with personal supplies, food, and water. Fail to reach a checkpoint by a specific time, however, and you're disqualified.

36 hours is a tight cut-off, meaning you can’t linger too long at any rest stop. But the desire for rest is a powerful notion, especially when you’re fighting the unrelenting Greek heat. Temperatures can hover around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which may not sound like much, but extrapolate that over a day and a half, and it’ll wear you down like water against rock. Those who reach Sparta, though, earn a place amongst the Gods.

"I've never done anything so hard in my life," says Anna. "The last 20 miles were the most horrendous thing I've ever done in my life. But it showed me that I can push myself to that point. But as you enter Sparta, you run through the crowd at the very end. People are out on their balconies, clapping and cheering for you. Kids are running alongside you. It's an amazing atmosphere."?

The training

We spend a lot of time indoors. According to the EPA, the average American spends 90% of their time inside. This is in stark contrast to an event like Spartahlon, where you're outside for a day and a half. So, when preparing for an ultra of any distance, it's paramount that you get used to spending a lot of time outdoors. Doing so yields several benefits. We'll discuss two here.?

Time on feet

Nothing in your training will replace running. However, activities like hiking and rucking have immense value. You won't be at an all-out sprint during an ultra, so you must get used to moving at a slow, steady clip for an extended period. Hiking and rucking are excellent ways to achieve this without putting too much stress on the body. Another way to increase your time on feet is to reframe your commute like Anna did.?

"A lot of my training was the same as I've always done, which is just miles. You don't need to do anything particularly technical to train for Spartathlon because it's on the road, so I was just getting regular miles. My work is only four miles away, so I would have to run longer to get 10 miles before work."?

Training your stomach

Preparing for a race of any distance requires more than training your body. You must also train your stomach to handle the inevitable stress. However, most training runs don't last long enough to simulate how you'll feel on race day. So, it's critical you include a few days where you're on your feet for long enough for your stomach to potentially become an issue, as Anna did.?

"I went up to a few six-hour training runs to practice fueling. Much of Spartathlon is about maintaining your body because it's hot. With ultras, people tend to have stomach issues later in the race, but you often don't get to practice that part of the race. So, anything you can do to push yourself to a point where you need to fuel properly and, therefore, practice stomach discomfort is important."?

The nutrition?

Assuming you've put in the work, how well you maintain your body during a race will determine your success. Experiment with different nutrition approaches during training so you know what works best for you. Some prefer to stick with performance fuels, like gels and gummies. Others opt for real food only. Some, like Anna, take a hybrid approach.?

Hybrid nutrition?

"I started using a product called Precision Fuel and Hydration, which is a UK-based sports performance nutrition company. I planned to go for about 50% of my nutritional requirement from gels, chews, and their products. The remaining calories I'd get from real food from my crew at checkpoints, like bananas and pasta."?

The critical point here is that everyone must develop an individualized nutrition plan. Your body will react differently to the runner next to you. That said, a good starting point for a calorie-per-hour target is between 200 and 300. Where those calories come from is up to you, so take time to experiment during training.