When several months ago the vice president of MGS ETHNIKOS, Costas Pateropoulos, confided in me that he intended to organize a Run Greece race in Alexandroupolis, I confronted him with a slight smile ... and remained rather apathetic. But I was belied on Sunday afternoon, as the results justified everyone who worked systematically and intensively for this purpose.
Sport is health, magic, joy, delight, pleasure. And this is the way it was experienced by over 1700 people, aged between 8 to 84, who wore suits or shorts and participated in the race of Run Greece Alexandroupolis.
From Saturday afternoon until just before the crack of the first starter's pistol, it seemed like the race in the main roads of Alexandroupolis would be a celebration. And so it eventually was ...
Hundreds of people, young and old, all in a joyfull mood, took their place in the starting line. First for the 10 km race, then for the numerous 5 km race (where nearly 1000 people participated) and for the road of 600 meters for primary school children. Among the approximately 1,700 runners participating from Thrace and Bulgaria, were the following "celebrities": the Deputy Foreign Minister Akis Gerontopoulos, the Mayor of Alexandroupolis Vangelis Lampakis , the Prefect of Evros Dimitri Petrovich, the Olympic winner Pigi Devetzi, and the world champion from Komotini Harris Baniotis.
The athletic celebration, apart from its playful character and the fun events organised, also had a strong element of social solidarity, as runners responded to WIND’s call and ran for a good cause. The company provided to the Association of Parents and Friends of Autistic People of Evros "Agios Vasileios", 3€ for every runner of the 5km and the 10km race, who stepped on the special mat of Arc of Love which was located shortly after the start. In total, WIND gave to the Association "Agios Vasileios" and to Mrs Evangelia Mavridis, President of the Association, a check with the amount of 4.000 € .
Regarding the race of 10 km, in the men’s division, the first place won St. Gkatsios (37:38), the second Costas Giannelos (37:39) and the third Costas Triantafyllou (37:59). In the women’s division the first to cross the finishing line was Lito Kalogianni (48:37), the second Fotini Markidou (50:03) and the third Anastasia Lalakis (52:01).
Then followed, the race of 5 km and 600 m. for children. At the 5 km race the first place won Marios Apostolidis (17:06), the second George Rizonakis (17:45) and the third Tsitaki Sali (18:12). In the women’s division, the first place won Fotini Skarlatou (23:20), the second Nadia Bakantinaki (24:26) and the third Iordanka Stoknova (24:39).
The limit of 1,700 entries which was overcome, filled the organizers with great satisfaction, as Alexandroupolis debuted at Run Greece.
The next Run Greece race will take place in Patra on 12th October. However, the race of Alexandroupolis is here to stay. See you next year!
