A unique mountain run took place on Sunday June, 11 on the slopes of Mount Parnon in Lakonia, with the village of Vamvakou as the starting point and finish line. We crossed gorges, forest roads and trails, starting from an altitude of 950m. to reach an idyllic mountain setting at 1,600m. after following a route of varied landscape. Together we surpassed our limits, gazed at the mountain landscape, ran, laughed, hugged each other and set up our meeting for next year. The sports event was realised for the third time by Vamvakou Revival, within the framework of the initiative for the revival of the village with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
This year, 388 runners from Athens, Sparti and the wider area of Lakonia, Kalamata and Messinia, Tripoli, Corinth and Pyrgos, Elis gathered in the village of Vamvakou to participate in the run. The runners moved throughout the Paths of Vamvakou and finished at the square of the village after following two demanding routes, of 28 km and 7 km respectively. The run does not have a competitive profile, but has as its purpose to reward participation, to spread the word about mountain running and enhance the sports culture. However, official electronic timing did apply (you can see the results below).
This time as well, the participants ran for a good cause, as there was a symbolic participation fee of 5 Euros and the total amount raised from the registrations will be provided to cover the expenses of the trip of “Northside” robotics team from the 3rd General Vocational Senior High School of Sparti, which will represent Greece in the international competition FIRST® LEGO® League Asia Pacific Open Championship that will take place in Australia.
We would like to thank for their support and sponsorships the Peloponnese Region and the local businesses, Euronics Fountas Ioannis, Laconia Travel, Luxury Transfer, Ministry Music Hall, NRG Energy sports, Viral, Adamakos grocery store, Minakakis graphic design, Crescendo Theodoropoulos cellar, Theodoropoulos super market, Spyros Kapakos music house, “Symmetron” Sparti Club, Oinognosia, Pantazopoulos-Tsouvalis, Christakos-Galatas gas station.
We would also like to express our gratitude to the following for their collaboration towards the realisation of the event: Hellenic Police, Road Traffic Police, Fire Service, Forest Service of Sparti, Municipality of Sparti, as well as all the teams of volunteers we had by our side, such as the Red Cross of Sparti, Etoimoklis rescue team, Hellenic Rescue Team, Hellenic Mountaineering Association of Sparti, Kallisthenis Sports Cultural Association, Spartan Runners, Moto Club of Sparta, Spartan Gross Gym and all the volunteers, each one personally, who did their part to attend the runners.
So, we are setting our meeting for 2024, and, until then, make sure you head to the mountains!
Organised by: Vamvakou Revival
Organisation supervised by: Ioannis Dimopoulos
With the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
