21st ANNIVERSARY OF EUCHIDIOS ATHLOS 6-8 AUGUST 2021

INTERNATIONAL HISTORIC ULTRA DISTANCE RACES

EUCHIDIOS HYPERATHLOS, DELPHI-PLATEA-DELPHI 215 km

EUCHIDIOS ATHLOS, PLATAEA-DELPHI 107.5 km

9 MUSES RACE – URANIA, AGIA ANNA-DELPHI 59 km

29TH EUCHIDIAN TORCH RELAY – LIGHTING OF THE DELPHIC FIRE

The international club Euchidios Athlos  “Euchidas” is pleased to announce the organisation and celebrate the 21st  anniversary of Euchidios Athlos. 

An international historic ultra-distance foot race.

Α Euchidios athlos unique, anniversary, festive!

479 BC-2021 AC !! 2500 years from the heroic battle of Plataea, 2500 years from the feat of Euchidas!

We are in the beginning of our third decade. We are proud of these 20 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 backround, 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 three historic international races that will take place on August 6-8 , 2021. 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 28 years now since the first torch relay, and 21 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 sprinter 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 Euchidios Athlos 107.5km, Plataea-Delphi, 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 HyperAthlos 215km, Delphi-Plataea-Delphi, is organised every second year where the history of day sprinter and hoplite Euchidios is revived. It is the first and only 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 HyperAthlos 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.

This year, the lighting of the Delphic fire and the torch relay will take place on Sunday 8 August 2021 at 09:15 in the morning before the awards ceremony.

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. So,  this year’s medal will depict the honoured Muse, Urania  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, 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