25th AUTHENTIC OF EUCHIDIOS ATHLOS 10-11 MAY 2025

INTERNATIONAL HISTORIC ULTRA DISTANCE RACES

CLASSIC EUCHIDIOS ATHLOS, PLATAEA-DELPHI 107.5 km

9 MUSES ULTRA RACE - THALIA, AGIA ANNA-DELPHI 59km

33rd EUCHIDIAN TORCH RELAY – LIGHTING OF THE DELPHIC FIRE

The international club Euchidios Athlos  “Euchidas” pleasurably and honorably announces the conduct of 25 th authentic Euchidios athlos, historical, international ultra races.

Α Euchidios athlos unique, authentic, with a bouquet of historical beautiful races for all!!

We are in the middle of our third decade. We are proud of these 25 years thanks  to all of you and we are waiting for you to experience together unique moments.

The Hellenic character of the race, its historical background, its difficulty, the natural beauty of the route, its friendly atmosphere with the feeling of companionship make this race special, almost unique!

Join the team and live the experience. Go beyond your own limits. Be a modern Euchidas...

The Euchidios athlos Club “Euchidas” and the organizing committee invite you to participate in one of the two  historic international races that will take place on May 10-11, 2025.
Overcome yourself and take part in a great celebration of sport, culture and ultra-distances.

The transfer of the Delphic fire to Plataea 2500 years ago, has been a reference and starting point for 33years now since the first torch relay, and 25 years since the first Euchidios Athlos for thousands of runners who ran this historic route.

The historic battle of Plataea and the feat of day runner  Euchidas, who ran from Plataea to Delphi and back, to carry the sacred Delphic fire for purgation right after the battle of Plataea. The feat of Euchidas is the incentive for every runner to run this historic route. The Delphic fire carried by Euchidas to Plataea will always be an imperishable symbol of purity and cleansing; a purgation that helps us to carry on stronger.

The awe and the excitement of runners when they face the centre of the earth from above, is great. Even greater is the joy when at the finish a laurel wreath is waiting with a unique symbol and trophy like the unique torch of Euchidas.

All the above, mark a milestone in every runner’s life.

The races of our club:

The Euchidios Athlos 107.5km, Plataea-Delphi  (or opposite direction), is organised every year on the second weekend of May. It is a historic, ultra-distance event of high standards, continuously growing with participants from Greece and abroad. It is a particularly challenging event, perhaps the most difficult asphalt race in Greece (mountain race in asphalt), demanding a high standard performance from participants.

The Euchidios Hyper Athlos 215km, Plataea-Delphi-Plataea (or opposite direction), is organised every second year where the history of day sprinter and hoplite Euchidios is revived. It is the first race in Greece where the feat of an ancient day sprinter is coming to life.

Runners ascend and descend the two historic mountains of Helicon and Parnassos.

The Euchidios Hyper Athlos is a race of will, determination, patience and excellent preparation that makes any ultra-runner proud on finishing. A dream is fulfilled when finishing this race with Euchida’s torch illuminating your soul.

Every year since 1993, the lighting of the Delphic fire is taking place in a humble ceremony. Shortly after that the torch relay follows in the town of Delphi.

 Nine Muses ultra race: In May 2018 the Nine Muses Race was organised for first time. It was a spectacular race and an innovative idea as we always do.

The Muses were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosene. Their number (9) is squared three (3^2); The number that symbolised perfection, the number of beauty, analogy and unification, in antiquity.

Mnemosene appointed Apollo as the Muses’ mentor and stayed at the most beautiful mountain in Boeotia, Mount Helicon; an appropriate place for their divine ancestry. For this reason the Muses are also called Heliconiades nowadays.

The Nine Muses were deities and initially protected poets and musicians, and later arts and sciences.

Clio: protector of history.

Euterpe: Inventor of the flute, lyric poetry and protector of music.

Thalia: protector of comedy, agriculture, geometry and architecture.

Melpomene: protector of tragedy, oratory and ode.

Terpsichore: inventor of harp, dance and education.

Erato: protector of love poetry, the art of ancient dancing and dialectics.

Polymnia: protector oh hymns, the lyre and theatre.

Urania: protector of astronomy.

Calliope: protector of heroic (epic) poetry.

The Nine Muses race is dedicated every year to one of the nine Muses. In 2018 the race was dedicated to Clio, in 2019 the race was dedicated to Erato, protector of love poetry, the art of ancient dancing and dialectics, in 2021 the race is dedicate to Urania, protector of astronomy, In 2022 the race was dedicated to Kalliopi  protector of heroic poetry, In 2023  the race was  dedicated to Euterpe, in 2024 the race is dedicate to Terpsichore and in 2025 the race will dedicated to Thalia. So, this year’s medal will depict the honoured Muse, Thalia, making each year’s medal special and collectible. Runners who get to finish all nine races will be awarded when the first cycle of nine years comes to an end.

RUN WITH EUCHIDAS, MEET THE MUSES IN HELICON MOUNTAIN, PURIFY YOUR BODY AT THE SPRING OF CASTALIA, WEAR THE LAUREL WREATH AND ENTER THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO AS A WINNER.

              All the very best with your preparations.

              The Organising Committee