A wonderful mountain running race took place on the first Sunday of July on the slopes of the Laconian Parnon, with the village of Vamvakou, Laconia as the starting and finishing point. The sports event was organized for the second time by Vamvakou Revival, as part of the village’s Revival initiative, with an exclusive grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). This year, it was also included in the program of the three-day Vamvakou Experience Festival 2022.
289 runners, mainly from Athens, Sparta, Kalamata, and Tripoli, set their running rendezvous in the village. The runners navigated the Trails of Vamvakou and finished inside the village across two demanding routes: a) 28 kilometers and b) 7 kilometers & relay. The race is non-competitive, aiming instead to reward participation, introduce people to mountain running, and strengthen the local sports culture. However, official timing was provided (see results below). For the first time, visitors to the village ran for a good cause, as there was a symbolic participation fee of 5 euros. The total amount collected from race registrations will be allocated to enhance and support fire protection in the Vamvakou area.
The race concluded with an award ceremony and a grand celebration in the square of Vamvakou, where the runners had fun to the rhythms of Gadjo Dilo. Throughout the day and following the race, they also participated in a multitude of activities taking place in the village as part of the Vamvakou Experience Festival.
We warmly thank the Hellenic Police, the Traffic Police Directorate, the Fire Department, the Sparta Forestry Office, and the Municipality of Sparta for their cooperation in realizing this event. We also extend our gratitude to the volunteer groups that stood by our side, such as the Sparta Red Cross, Etoimoklis, the Hellenic Rescue Team, EOS Spartis, APS Kallisthenis, the Spartan Runners, the Sparta Athletic Motorcycle Club, and all the volunteers who did their part to assist the runners.
We renew our rendezvous for 2023! Until then, don’t forget to head to the mountains.
Organization: Vamvakou Revival Organizational Supervision: Ioannis Dimopoulos Exclusive Grant: Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
