The road to Sparta : running in the footsteps of the original ultramarathon man /
Dean Karnazes.
- New York : Rodale, 2016.
- 289 p. : ill. (b&w) ; 24 cm.
"The Road to Sparta chronicles three different stories interwoven into one seamless narrative. Famed ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes eplores his own Greek ancestry while consulting with the foremost scholars on Ancient Greece to tell the story of the world's first marathon, all while recreating the historic 153-mile run from Athens to Sparta in one of the most difficult ultraraces in the world - the Spartathlon. In 490 BCE Pheidippides ran for 36 hours nonstop from Athens to Sparta to seek help in defending Athens from a Persian invasion. Pheidippides was hailed a hero for saving the development of Western civilization, and his run stands enduringly as one of the greatest physical accomplishments in history. Karnazes honors both Pheidippides and his own Greek heritage by completing the treacherous course and describing it in gripping detail. He reenacts the ancient run by abstaining from contemporary endurance nutrition and eating and drinking only what was available in 490 BCE (figs, olives, sesame paste, cured meats, and plain water). Through vivid description and internal dialogue The Road to Sparta offers a rare glimpse into the mindset and motivation of an extreme athlete during his most difficult personal challenge to date. Karnazes includes tales of the people and places he encounters on his epic journey, while detailing the emotional and physical pain he endures. This intimate and stirring account is sure to captivate and inspire readers whether they run great distances, or not at all."-- Publisher's description.