A LOCAL athlete will take part in the ‘world’s most gruelling foot race’ this weekend, running 153 miles in under 36 hours in the Spartathlon race in Greece.
As part of a team of 25 British runners, Daniel Masters from Wanstrow, will compete in a field of 390 athletes from around the world this Friday, 28th September to make the 153-mile journey from the Acropolis in Athens to the statue of legendary King Leonidas in Sparta.
Along the way, Daniel will have to battle strict cut-off times, heavy traffic in Athens, extreme heat, exhaustion, and then have to conquer a 1,000 metre mountain at the 100 mile mark, before completing the final 50 miles to Sparta. The conditions are so tough, less than 50 per cent of the starters complete the journey.
“This will be the longest and biggest international event that I have taken part in,” Daniel told Frome Times. “For four to five years I’ve been competing in ultra events – my main ultra distance is 100 miles, so 153 miles will be the furthest I’ve ever run.
“I’m feeling nervous and confident. Nervous as it’s such a long way and there is lots that can go wrong. Confident as I have had six months of training, put in some good mileage – so I’m feeling good and ready to get going.
“I’ve done a couple of races as part of my training – I came third in the UK trail running championships in August, which involved running 86 miles along the Ridgeway trail – that was a great confidence booster.
“My main goal for the Spartahlon is to finish! Training has been a sacrifice – work, family, time – so I want to make that worthwhile. I would love to be one of the top Brits back, I might not be the first – I’m probably too old for that – but to be one of the first back, under 30 hours would be an acceptable good time.”
The race follows in the footsteps of Athenian messenger Pheidippides, who ran the distance in advance of the 490BC Battle of Marathon to ask for Spartan help against invading Persian forces.
According to the Pheidippides legend, he came across the god Pan at the mountain peak – and runners will have to call on their own deities to help them reach Sparta.
In an era when even the smallest participation marathons have been commercialised, Spartathlon remains steadfast to Olympian ideals: runners are not allowed to bear sponsors’ logos, and there is no prize money for the winner: Spartathletes run for the distinction of taking part and to fulfil a dream challenge.
