Thessaloniki: Alexander The Great Marathon

By Areti Kotseli

The Alexander the Great Marathon, first held in 2006, is a very important annual event for the city of Thessaloniki, marked by the participation of famous Greek and foreign athletes.
The 42-kilometer  race is once again providing a link between the past and the present, as the participants run across 2,500 years of ancient Greek and Macedonian history. The marathon takes place for the seventh time on the 1st of April in the city of Thessaloniki.
Pella, the birth-place of Alexander the Great, sets the start point of the race and Thessaloniki, the present capital city of Macedonia, offers the finish line to the marathon runners. On the same day in April, there will be additional fun runs of 5 and 10 km, as well as races of 1000 m for students of elementary schools.
The international marathon is organized by the athletic club “MEAS TRITON” of Thessaloniki, and is meant to honor all nations through which Alexander the Great traveled.