WILLIAM TACKLES EPIC RUN FROM ATHENS TO SPARTA IN WORLD'S LONGEST RACE

Sanday ultra distance runner William Sichel makes his first trip to Greece this week in an attempt to be the first Scottish runner to complete the notoriously difficult, 153 mile "Spartathlon" race from Athens to Sparta.

William will stand on the steps of the Acropolis at 7am on Friday 30th September as part of a multi-national field of about 280 starters intent on touching the feet of King Leonidas in the main square in Sparta, within the 36 hour time limit, in this, the world's longest point-to-point race.

The event commemorates the epic run by Pheidippides, the Greek runner/messenger, who, in 490BC, ran from Athens to Sparta to request reinforcements against the invading Persians.

After the 'Battle of Marathon' Pheidippedes ran back to Athens to announce"Victory is ours". He then collapsed and died from his exertions. This latter run spawned the development of the classic marathon event, which now enjoys world-wide popularity.

The Spartathlon is a recreation of Pheidippedes' first great run - all 153 miles of it. Resurrected in 1983, after three RAF runners attempted to trace the steps of Pheidippedes' original journey and succeeded - much to their amazement.

Three great challenges face William in his attempt to finish this classic ultra distance race - the heat (and cold); the distance and the time limits.

Temperatures during the day can be expected to be in the 30's centigrade dropping to cold at night on the 4000 foot mountain tops (the same as Mount Snowden). The distance, almost six back to back marathons, is equal to William's 24 hour road best, set over 5 years ago, on a flat road circuit in Switzerland. The Spartathlon crosses two mountain ranges in the dark, requiring head lamps and torches. About 90% of the route is on tarmac with the remainder being dirt roads and 'goat tracks'.

Runners must reach Sparta within 36 hours. There are also strict cut-off points along the route - these become more lenient as the race progresses.

Start too fast and you are unlikely to make it to Sparta – too slowly and you may not make the time limits and be eliminated. It's a difficult balance to strike.

For William there is also additional interest – he will celebrate his 52 nd birthday during the race - hopefully well on his way to Sparta.

"I have always wanted to have a go at this event. It is really something completely different for me. Nowadays I specialise in 24 hour events on the road or track, but the Spartathlon is one of the real classic races and the opportunity arose this year to have a go at it - so here goes."

William currently lies 5 th on the "All time" list of British road performances with his run of 153.3 miles in 2000 and remains this year's Great Britain No1 with his Phoenix performance of 136.4 miles.

William is a member of the Orkney Athletic Club and was voted Orkney's 'Veteran Sportsman of the Year' in November 2004. He has represented Great Britain 11 times at ultra distance running since 1996.

William set new Guinness World Records for both 100 miles and 24hrs on the treadmill in December 2002. With his wife, Elizabeth, he runs the Orkney Angora mail order knitwear and yarn business in Sanday, Orkney.

William is grateful to sponsors: The Ayre Hotel, The Orcadian, Crantit Dairy (Orkney Ice Cream), dion_networks and Loganair.

William's result will be posted on his web site as soon as practicable after the race and can be found at www.williamsichel.co.uk

End.

Comment from Orkney Athletic Club: please contact Ronnie Johnston ronnie.johnson@orkney.uhi.ac.uk

Making contact:

William Sichel, Upper Breckan, Sanday, Orkney KW17 2AZ. Tel/Fax: 01857 600421. Mobile (whilst travelling only) 0794 128 3506. william@williamsichel.co.uk Running web site: http://www.williamsichel.co.uk/

Photographs:

Newsline Scotland (Press Agency). Tel 01224 594000. photos@newsline-scotland.co.uk

Ken Amer, Orkney Photographic. Tel 01856 873574, Mobile 07808 961780 info@orkneyphotographic.co.uk

William Sichel, ‘Free to use' photographs can be down loaded from my on-line photo album. Go to: http://www.williamsichel.co.uk/ and click on ‘Photos'.

23/09/05