ATHENS, Greece (November 10, 2013) -- Warm temperatures, seamlessly never-ending hills and the requisite 26.2 miles (42.195 kms) of pavement were only a few of the challenges Multinational Battle Group-East soldiers faced as they attempted to complete the historic Athens Classic Marathon Nov. 10.
Despite the challenges, 44 soldiers from MNBG-E completed the demanding race on what is considered to be the original marathon course.
According to legend, in 490 B.C. a Greek soldier ran from the coastal town of Marathon to Athens to announce with his final breaths the Greek's victory over the Persians in the Battle of Marathon. To commemorate the messenger's sacrifice, the marathon race was introduced during the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896 with runners starting in Marathon and finishing in the Panathinaikon Stadium in Athens.
It is this history that motivated U.S. Army Lt. Col. Eric Petersen, the MNBG-E Command Judge Advocate and Utah National Guardsman, to organize for MNBG-E soldiers to participate in the historical race.
"I've run in several marathons in the United States and what a great opportunity to happen to be in this part of the world and have the opportunity to do the run on what started the whole marathon tradition to begin with," said Petersen, a Salt Lake City native. It's just great for all of us who ran in Athens."
Although Petersen, who has been on the All-Guard Marathon team for the last 10 years, completed his 50th marathon in Athens, the race was the first marathon for many of the MNBG-E soldiers.
"I thought it was a great event for the team that went down there," said Petersen, "This was my first international marathon and over half of those who ran from MNBG-E were first time marathon runners, so there were firsts for many of us, which made it all the better."
One such marathon rookie was U.S. Army Spc. Aaron Gentapanan Angulo, a medic with Task Force Med, who said the history behind the Athens course is what drove him to run his first marathon.
"The course, knowing it was the original Athens Marathon, that's what really motivated me to run this race," said Angulo, a native of San Antonio.
For U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tigh Freestone, a Colorado Springs, Colo. native who finished his fourth marathon, the opportunity to run the original course was too good of a deal to pass up.
"It's one on my bucket list," said Freestone. "I can always look back and say I was able to run the original marathon."
Though the soldiers had spent the past three months preparing, not everyone knew what to expect the morning of the race.
"I was definitely nervous," said Angulo. "I was asking myself did I hydrate properly? Did I eat healthy the night before? The week before? Stuff like that, so I was definitely nervous, but I was motivated from all the spectators out there. They definitely motivated us."
Petersen was equally impressed with the crowd support compared to some of the other races he has competed in.
"There are a lot of big races where you don't get as good fan support," said Petersen. "Here [Athens], through most of the villages we ran through the streets were well lined, kids were giving high fives and adults were giving out olive branches."
The crowds and knowing he was about to complete a historic race kept Angulo going throughout the toughest parts of the course.
"Knowing that you're going to get the medal at the end, knowing that you are finishing the original marathon course I think motivated us," Angulo said.
Despite the numerous challenges and the months of tireless preparation, Angulo said he thoroughly enjoyed his experience at the Athens Classic Marathon and is already looking forward to running his next race.
"I definitely want to do another one [marathon]," said Angulo. "If it is anything like the Athens Marathon I definitely want to participate in another one."
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