The Athens Half Marathon is an event co-organized yearly by the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) and the City of Athens. The Athens Half Marathon was organized for the first time in 2012 (with about 3,500 runners at that time) and this year it will be held for sixth time on 19 March 2017 with more than 20,000 participants.
From 2016 and on, the Athens Half Marathon is always held on the 3rd Sunday of March, at the dawn of the Greek sping. The Athens Half Marathon aims at attracting the interest of the thousands of experience runners in Greece and abroad that are ready to run a Half Marathon race, as well as the novice ones who just want to experience what taking part in such a popular running event means, running either the 5km or 3km Road Race.
The ultimate goal of the Organizing Committee is to turn the Athens Half Marathon into a global, unique sport event of cultural, entertaining and youthful character, so appealing to the young people around Europe and the rest of the world, so that they choose to make the most out of their “spring break” tasting the amazing Mediterranean cuisine, enjoying the sun, the sea and the beauties of Greece, experiencing the culture, the history and intense life of Athens, and participating in a popular running event in the center of one of the most historical cities on earth.
It should be noted that the Athens Half Marathon (www.athinahalfmarathon.gr) has no connection or cooperation with another event held also within spring in Attica, but not within the borders of the City of Athens , while using in its name and website the wording “Athens Half Marathon” («athenshalfmarathon»), without being held in Athens nor having the approval of the City of Athens and SEGAS.
The Athens Half Marathon is a full member of AIMS (International Association of Marathon Races and Distance Running), and it is organized under the auspices of the National Greek Tourism Organization, branded through the trademark GREECE.
The Athens Half Marathon event includes three (3) different races with timing services and one (1) more with no timing services for kids and people with disabilities.
(1) Half Marathon Race (21,100m.)
(2) 5km Road Race NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE
(3) 3km Road Race WIND (& Family Run)
(4) 1000m Race for Kids and people with disabilities
All races start and finish in the heart of Athens, at Syntagma Square, in front of the Greek Parliament, running different courses in the historic city centre and passing by the main attractions of the city. All races are held on secured and safe roads (see the relevant Maps), with the assistance of the Hellenic Police and thousands of volunteers who offer their valuable services through the Volunteers Program of SEGAS, in which a significant number of volunteering organization participates, such as the Volunteers Samaritans Rescuers and Lifeguards Corp of Hellenic Red Cross, the Radio Amateur Association of Greece, RSF Hellas, the Voluntary Rescue Crisis Group, the Volunteers groups “ATHENS 2004 Continuers” and “Ethelousioi – Sport and Culture Volunteers”
ERGO is the Major Sponsor of the Athens Half Marathon event, while it is broadcasted live by the National Television (ERT) and it is supported by all the Grand Sponsors, the Official Sponsors and Supporters of SEGAS as well as its Media Sponsors and State Partners, which contribute a lot in the promotion and staging of the event.
Registrations in any of the Athens Half Marathon Races may be submitted individually or in group (at least 10 runners), while the possibility of Family registration (for 4 family members) is also available in the 3km Road Race.
Each participant may choose one of the three (3) available Registration Levels, with different registration fee per race:
(1) Basic Level
• Personalized Race Bib (only in case the registration is submitted with specific time period)
• Timing Chip (embedded in the race bib)
• Safe Clothing Management Services
• Accident Insurance during the race (ERGO)
• Medical Services by Medical staff and Paramedics of the Hellenic Red Cross
• Feed zones along the course, where isotonic drinks by POWERADE (only for those running the Half Marathon Race), bottled water by AVRA, bananas by CHIQUITA, etc
• Fnishers’ Medal
• Isotherm blankets by DHL Express
• Massage services
• Race Results (both final and net time)
• Participation Certificate (to be downloaded)
(2) Advanced Level
• All the above plus the Official t-shirt of the Race (adidas running shirt)
(3) Full Level
• Everything included in the Advanced plus a card offering free use of all Public Transport Means within the Region of Athens for a period of six days (that is three days prior and two days after the event) and discount in the entrance fee at the Acropolis Museum.
Upon submission of the entry form for any of the Athens Half Marathon races (individual, group or family), the runners may choose to donate any amount they wish to any of the Charity Organizations that are part of the Athens Half Marathon Charity Program.
Furtermore, 24 hours after the event, runners may view and order/purchase their personal photos and videos during the event in various applications, if they wish so, through the website of the world-known Photo Agency Marathon-Photos.com, which cooperates with the Hellenic Athletics Federation and which has the exclusive rights of such photo services to the participants of the Athens Half Marathon.
Registrations for the Athens Half Marathon usually open about 2-4 months before the event and runners may register through the event’s webiste (www.athinahalfmarathon.gr). The registration fee may be paid either via credit card, bank wire or cash at SEGAS Headquarters.
The registered runners will collect their race bib and timing chip as well as their kit bag from the Athens Half Marathon Registration Centre which is hosted along with the Athens Hal Marathon EXPO at the HELEXPO MAROUSSI Exhibition Centre.
In order to get more information regarding the races course, the registration procedure, the services offered to the runners, the co-organizers, the Athens Half Marathon EXPO, the event’s Sponsors and State Partners, the Charity Program and the rest of the Athens Half Marathon aspects, you may refer to the specific sections of the current website.
