The Spartathlon Ultra Marathon race is an historic ultra-distance race that takes place in September of every year in Greece. It is one of the most gruelling and challenging ultra-distance races in the world because of its terrain, length, and route. The total distance covered is a whopping 250km (roughly 155 miles) and is completed over a period of 36 hours with racers running through the night. 

Spartathlon is rooted in history and was first developed by John Foden, a British RAF Wing Commander. As a lover of Greece and student of ancient Greek history, Foden was reading ancient Greek historian Herodotus' account of Pheidippides, the man who inspired the original Marathon race. It is fabled that before his famed run to Marathon, Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta, a distance of 250km, overnight. This inspired Foden to wonder whether it would be possible for a modern man to achieve this incredible feat, and so the Sparthalon was born.

The Spartathlon revives the footsteps of Pheidippides, an ancient Athenian long distance runner, who in 490 BC, before the battle of Marathon, was sent to Sparta to seek help in the war between the Greeks and the Persians. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Pheidippides arrived in Sparta the day after his departure from Athens.
From 1984 the International Association "Spartathlon" was founded, which since then has continuously organised the race each September. The choice of this month is because that is the time reported by Herodotus for Pheidippides’ run to Sparta.

The Spartathlon course sees racers pass through some of the most beautiful and historically significant parts of Greece, including The Parthenon, The Temple of Athena Nike, and The Acropolis. The elevation climbs a total of 1,200 meters (3,937ft) from sea level, which will certainly test the legs. The weather conditions can be a factor in the difficulty of the race, and each checkpoint has a time cut-off. Racers who arrive to the race control point after the cut-off time will not be able to continue the race.

As an international race, athletes from all over the world descend upon Greece to tackle this amazing challenge. The fastest winner of the race to date, Kouros Yiannis, did so in its very first year, 1984, in a time of 20:25:00. Only 18 racers took part that year, a number which has grown over the years to 370 in 2016. 

Date: 11th-13th May 2018

Location: NEC National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, B40 1NT

Event Type: Fitness Expo

Entry Price: From £30

Bodypower is the largest indoor fitness show in the world. It takes place each year at the NEC in Birmingham and is expected to attract 100,000 visitors in 2018 for its 10th anniversary. There are bodybuilding and fitness competitions, famous fitness models and bodybuilders, stands from your favourite fitness and nutrition brands, and lots of games and competitions. It is said to be the largest weekend in the fitness calendar. 

Date: 20th of May 2017

Location: Hanningfield Reservoir, Billericay, Essex, CM11 1WT

Event Type and distance: 

Sprint Triathlon: 750m swim - 24km bike - 5km run

Standard (Olympic) Triathlon: 1500m swim - 36km bike - 10km run

Amenities: Aid stations, catering, chip timing, distance markers, numbered racking, results on website, secure transition, toilets

Entry Price: Sprint £40, Standard £60, Relay Team £25 each

The Hanningfield Triathlon is organised by Essex & Suffolk Water and is in support of WaterAid, a charity which Sundried also supports. Sponsorship is encouraged for this race as it aims to raise money for WaterAid which does fantastic work for underprivileged children in developing countries. 

For more information about this event and to enter, please visit: http://www.wateraid.org/uk/get-involved/events/events/hanningfield-triathlon

Sundried will be at the event providing all competitors with goody bags with additional treats from our partners.

Date: Sunday the 3rd of September 2017

Location: Tri20 Swim Centre, Kirtons Farm Rd, Burghfield, Reading, RG30 3UN

Event Type and distance:

Sprint Distance Triathlon 750m swim - 22km bike - 5.4km run

Standard Distance Triathlon 1500m swim - 44km bike - 10.8km run

Amenities: Chip timing, parking, refreshments, secure transition

Entry Price: From £65

Reading boasts being the birthplace of triathlon, with the first ever event being held there in 1983. The event was reborn in 2010 and is now in its seventh year. 

The event could be known as "The 110% triathlon" as the bike and run sections are 10% over the standard distances, but the organisers see it as you getting more for your money!

The Olympic Distance swim will be a 2 loop course and the Sprint Distance race will be a single loop. 

The bike course starts on a closed road from the hotel grounds before heading out into some beautiful Berkshire countryside; it’s gently undulating but no more than that! For the Sprint you’ll complete one lap of 22km and it’s two 22km laps for the Standard Distance.

The run is 3 laps around a lovely lakeside trail for the Sprint event and 6 laps for the Standard distance. 

Sundried will be providing all event competitors with goodie bags which include additional treats from trusted businesses.

Date: Sunday the 19th of February 2017

Location: Perry, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 0BX

Event Type and distance:

Sprint Duathlon:       5km run / 20km bike / 5km run  

Standard Duathlon:  10km run / 40km bike / 5km run

Amenities: Chip timing, camping, prizes, secure transition

Entry Price:

The Anglian Water Duathlons are two of the first of the season and give racers a chance to break out of the winter hibernation and get moving. The picturesque setting in Cambridgeshire attracts first-timers as well as those that have raced for national titles and Great Britain Age-Group qualification slots over the years.

This is a race for everyone and suited to all abilities. Whether you’re doing the sprint or the standard distance, you’ll race along the tracks around the lake and woodland and enjoy one of the most picturesque settings for a duathlon that you are ever likely to race on. Both run sections take place on hard compound tracks and feature steady climbs at the outset, which means you’ll be running downhill to the first transition and the finishing line. The bike course is along some of the smoothest roads. The long stretches will allow you to test your speed and the hill climbing will allow you to test your strength. 

Sundried provided all event competitors with goodie bags which include additional treats from trusted businesses.