The city of Athens celebrates today. More than 30.000 runners participate. The community responds, greets the runners warmly, cheers them with bravos and applause. The sun is warm, the sky is blue.

I saw runners praying to their gods. I saw a runner in bare foot and a girl crying because she had to give up shortly before the termination at the Kallimarmaron Stadium.

I saw tears as runners were embraced by their children, at the hug of their mothers and partners. I saw co-runners supporting each other, massaging the legs of one another after reaching the end.

The strongest scenes resist to be photographed or to be put into words.

I saw runners chatting lively in groups outside the Stadium. And I saw runners walking by themselves. No one was alone. We all shared a feeling of belonging today.
The Athens Classic Marathon stands as a metaphor for bringing the best out of every one of us, the best we have in our hearts and in our characters. The best of the individual and the best of the community. For a day the unknown is not a stranger.

To all of you who were participating today we are grateful; you put smiles on our faces and faith to our hearts.

official site for Athens Classic Marathon: http://goo.gl/3v6Z7m

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