The word "marathon" brings to mind the difficult and arduous challenge that runners must overcome through perseverance. That's something of a misnomer. "Marathon" actually is a battleground where the Greeks and Persians fought 2,500 years ago. The one who actually ran to announce the Greeks' battlefield victory was Pheidippides. After a two-day, 150-mile run, he gave the news to the Athenians and then collapsed from exhaustion and died. By the way, couriers in those days usually ran naked. Something to do with military togs being too cumbersome.
Well, that’s the idea these modern-day naked runners have in mind. Running free without cumbersome clothing (and even running shorts fall in that category). Fortunately none of these men appear to be Pheidippides-like couriers. And they do look as though they’re having a much better time than poor Pheidippides did.
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| This fellow actually is Greek; he is protesting the visit of German Prime Minister Angela Merkel, who has been demanding the Greek government impose austerity measures to control its financial crisis. |
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