‘We all can do it,’ says 88-year-old runner after completing 12th marathon at The Authentic
Ploutarchos Pourliakas’ latest race took place at the site where a messenger ran to bring the news from Marathon battlefield 2,500 years ago
At 88, Greek runner Ploutarchos Pourliakas has proved yet again that age is just a number and poses no barrier to determination after he completed the 41st edition of the Athens Marathon on Sunday, his 12th marathon.
The race, also called The Authentic, is organised annually on what is believed to be the same ground that the Athenian messenger Pheidippides ran to bring the news of victory from the battlefield of Marathon 2,500 years ago.
Recognised as the original marathon course, the same route was used in the 2004 Olympics held in Athens.
“I achieved to finish and even improved on last year,” Pourliakas said moments after crossing the finishing line at the historic Panathenaic Stadium of Athens, as his family and grandchildren cheered and congratulated him.
This year he completed the race in six hours and 31 minutes – 18 minutes faster than last year.
“I feel younger than my 88 years,” he said, reflecting on his achievement.
This marks his 12th time completing the iconic 42.195-kilometre (26.22-mile) race from the Tomb of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium.
