At 88 years old, Greek runner Ploutarchos Pourliakas completed the 41st Athens Marathon, proving that age is no barrier to determination. The marathon, held every year, follows a historic route that has been in use for over 2,500 years. The course traces the path that the Athenian messenger Pheidippides allegedly ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory. Known as “The Authentic,” it is the original marathon route and was used in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Pourliakas finished in 6 hours and 31 minutes, improving his time by 18 minutes from the previous year. He completed the race at the Panathenaic Stadium, with his family and grandchildren cheering him on.

Pourliakas started running at age 73, inspired by his son, an ultramarathon runner. He trained in his hometown of Kastoria in northern Greece. He credits his success to a disciplined routine, running 4 to 5 kilometers daily and up to 20 kilometers on weekends. He also follows a healthy diet, avoids smoking, and includes a small amount of tsipouro, a traditional Greek drink, as a “medicine” in his daily routine. Pourliakas’s story shows that with dedication, anyone, no matter their age, can reach their goals and achieve great things. His determination is an inspiration to people everywhere.