Dr. Sidy Diallo ran his 311th marathon and 102nd barefoot marathon on the footsteps of first marathoner Pheidippides, i.e. from the Greek city of Marathon to Athens.
The 2021 Athens Marathon
Barefoot Country # 48
Date: November 14, 2021
My Time: 4:38:08
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
The Athens Marathon starts from the Greek city of Marathon, follows the original course and finishes in Athens inside the Panathenaic Stadium, which is on the site of an ancient stadium, where for many centuries nude male athletes of the cradle of Western civilization participated in several competitions.
The “marathon” is named after Pheidippides’s last run. Pheidippides, one of the greatest barefoot runners, ran in few days about 560 km (348 mi) in 490 BC, including 40 km (24.6 mi) from Marathon to Athens to inform the Athenians of their unexpected victory over the Persian invaders, which makes Pheidippides the first marathoner and the Athens Marathon the only authentic one. Any 42.2 km (26.2 miles) race held elsewhere is therefore a “virtual” marathon, and running with shoes annihilate the remaining authenticity, because the authentic way to run a marathon is to do it like the ancient Greek runners, i.e. barefoot.
The 2021 Athens Marathon medal remarkably features Pheidippides with the caption “Runner-messenger 490 BC.” It was a tremendous honor for me to run my 102nd barefoot marathon—and my 10th barefoot marathon in 9 weeks—on the footsteps of the greatest barefoot runner recorded in history.
Sadly, many people, including in modern Greece are naively associating barefoot running with Bikila who ran only 2 barefoot marathons, then became a shod runner and later sustained serious injuries that terminated his career.
On the other hand, there were great barefoot-runner couriers, known as hemerodromes in Ancient Greece, where the barefoot culture was a fundamental feature of their lifestyle, and where the word “barbarian” (βάρβαρος) was originated to describe all non-Greek-speaking peoples, thus including all other Europeans.
Pheidippides’s example should inspire not only runners, but every one of us, and this article will hopefully help some people think again, get rid of stereotypes and act accordingly to stay fit, healthy and happy.
As I thoroughly explain in my book Running Barefoot for Human Survival, running keeps us fit, healthy and very young for our age, while running barefoot prevents pain, injury and fatigue so much so that doing a marathon turns into a walk in the park. Find out how and why in the book. I started running barefoot at 60, which means there is no excuse.
Postscript: I’d not recommend the Authentic Marathon for barefoot beginners. Shod runners may not understand why. Barefoot means, of course, naked feet, since there are not such things as “barefoot shoes.”
Date: November 14, 2021
My Time: 4:38:08
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
The Athens Marathon starts from the Greek city of Marathon, follows the original course and finishes in Athens inside the Panathenaic Stadium, which is on the site of an ancient stadium, where for many centuries nude male athletes of the cradle of Western civilization participated in several competitions.
The “marathon” is named after Pheidippides’s last run. Pheidippides, one of the greatest barefoot runners, ran in few days about 560 km (348 mi) in 490 BC, including 40 km (24.6 mi) from Marathon to Athens to inform the Athenians of their unexpected victory over the Persian invaders, which makes Pheidippides the first marathoner and the Athens Marathon the only authentic one. Any 42.2 km (26.2 miles) race held elsewhere is therefore a “virtual” marathon, and running with shoes annihilate the remaining authenticity, because the authentic way to run a marathon is to do it like the ancient Greek runners, i.e. barefoot.
The 2021 Athens Marathon medal remarkably features Pheidippides with the caption “Runner-messenger 490 BC.” It was a tremendous honor for me to run my 102nd barefoot marathon—and my 10th barefoot marathon in 9 weeks—on the footsteps of the greatest barefoot runner recorded in history.
Sadly, many people, including in modern Greece are naively associating barefoot running with Bikila who ran only 2 barefoot marathons, then became a shod runner and later sustained serious injuries that terminated his career.
On the other hand, there were great barefoot-runner couriers, known as hemerodromes in Ancient Greece, where the barefoot culture was a fundamental feature of their lifestyle, and where the word “barbarian” (βάρβαρος) was originated to describe all non-Greek-speaking peoples, thus including all other Europeans.
Pheidippides’s example should inspire not only runners, but every one of us, and this article will hopefully help some people think again, get rid of stereotypes and act accordingly to stay fit, healthy and happy.
As I thoroughly explain in my book Running Barefoot for Human Survival, running keeps us fit, healthy and very young for our age, while running barefoot prevents pain, injury and fatigue so much so that doing a marathon turns into a walk in the park. Find out how and why in the book. I started running barefoot at 60, which means there is no excuse.
Postscript: I’d not recommend the Authentic Marathon for barefoot beginners. Shod runners may not understand why. Barefoot means, of course, naked feet, since there are not such things as “barefoot shoes.”
Dr. Sidy Diallo's book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).