At 88 years old, Greek runner Ploutarchos Pourliakas finished the 41st Athens Marathon, showing that age does not limit determination. The marathon follows a historic route that has been used for over 2,500 years. This path is believed to be the one Athenian messenger Pheidippides ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce a Greek victory. Known as “The Authentic,” the route was also used in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Pourliakas completed the race in 6 hours and 31 minutes, improving his time by 18 minutes from the previous year. His family and grandchildren cheered him on at the Panathenaic Stadium. Pourliakas began running at age 73, inspired by his son, an ultramarathon runner. He trained in his hometown of Kastoria, northern Greece, running 4 to 5 kilometers daily and up to 20 kilometers on weekends. He credits his success to a disciplined routine, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking. He also enjoys a small amount of tsipouro, a traditional Greek drink, as a “medicine.” Pourliakas’s story proves that with dedication, anyone, regardless of age, can achieve great things.