Meraki Project: Sparta here I come

“Meraki” is a Greek word used to describe when you do something with all your effort, with enthusiasm, with eagerness, with complete love that you leave something of yourself in it. Your essence is forever connected to whatever it is you have done.
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The Spartathlon is one of the most difficult and satisfying ultra-distance races in the world because of its unique history and background, race profile, running conditions and strict cut-off times. The 240km course to be completed in less than 36 hours, includes a 1,000 meters climb of a mountain when 150km into the race.
The field is capped to 390 runners from all around the world, who meet the rigid qualifying criteria.

The Spartathlon traces the footsteps of Pheidippides, the legendary Athenian hemerodrome (“professional-running courier” or “day-long runner”) sent from Athens to Sparta in 490 BC to seek help against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon.
Pheidippides, delivered his message to Sparta’s official only to turn around and run all the way back to Athen with their response. It was about more than running. Had Philippides failed to deliver his messages, Greece would have fallen in the hands of Persians and history would be very different.

On September 28th, I will be one of the four Australians taking part to the 2018 Spartathlon. My goal is to complete the race in the fastest time recorded by an Australian, currently set to 28h:12mins.
The #Merakiproject covers my journey, from training to race where I will leave everything on the course, km in and km out, to have a chance of kissing the foot of king Leonida in Sparta.

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