Spanish Eusebio Bochons wins Dolichos Ultra Marathon race for 2nd consecutive year

Spanish runner Eusebio Bochons won the 4th edition of the Dolichos Ultra-Marathon Race from Delphi to Olympia on Sunday for a second consecutive year, breaking his personal record.

The 48-year old ultra-marathoner covered non stop the tough 255-kilometer course from Delphi in central Greece to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games in western Peloponnese peninsula, in 37 hours and 49 seconds.

In 2014 he had run the course in 38 hours, 38 minutes and 2 seconds.

Johan Bogaert from Belgium, 54 years old, and Greek runners Evangelos Bakas and George Zachariades crossed the finish line in front of the ancient stadium at Olympia together, sharing the second place, clocking 39 hours, 2 minutes and 28 seconds.

Once again the three ultra-marathoners proved that in such long distance races, when one competes against him/herself rather than fellow athletes, ranking is of minor importance.

A total of 25 runners, among them two Greek women, took part in Dolichos this year.

In 2014 Chinese runner Chen Penbin finished third in the first participation of a Chinese national.

Dolichos, which is linking two of the most significant spiritual and sports centers of Ancient Greece, is considered as one of the most demanding long distance races worldwide.

Running through uphill asphalt roads and dirt rails non stop participants are awarded with an olive wreath from the land of the first Olympic Games winners twenty five centuries ago.

About a quarter of participants finish Dolichos each year.

All of them, regardless of the results, teach spectators and volunteers along the course the most valuable lesson in sports and life, according to the organizers: keep trying, never give up. Endi