Athens Classic Marathon, Athens

In 490 BC, when the Athenians defeated a huge army of invading Persians, Greek messenger Phidippidesa was sent to deliver news of the victory when the battle ended. Upon his arrival, after running the whole distance from Marathon to Athens, he was only able to pronounce the word nenikikamen ('we have won') before dying of exhaustion. This event is commemorated on the first Sunday of November each year with the Athens-Marathon run, open to all. It starts at the historic battlefield and ends 42 kilometres away at the majestic Panathenaic Stadium.