In 490 BCE Pheidippides ran for 36 hours straight from Athens to Sparta to seek help in defending Athens from a Persian invasion. He was hailed as a hero and his run stands enduringly as one of greatest physical accomplishments in history.

Dean Karnazes honours this achievement and his own Greek heritage by attempting this ancient journey in modern times. His account of running the gruelling Spartathlon, fuelled only by the figs, olives and meats available to Pheidippides, will captivate even the most sedentary readers.

A remarkable and inspiring memoir that will have casual and serious runners cheering. * Publishers Weekly *
An engaging read for runner and nonrunner alike. * San Francisco Chronicle *

Dean Karnazes is the author of the bestsellers Ultramarathon Man, Run! and 50/50. TIME Magazine called him one of the 'Top 100 Most Influential People in the World,' and he has been featured in Runner's World, TIME, Newsweek, People, GQ, The New York Times, USA TODAY, The Washington Post, Forbes, and many others. He's travelled the TV and radio circuits as well, logging miles on The Today Show, 60 Minutes, The Late Show with David Letterman, CNN, ESPN, NPR's Morning Edition, and the BBC, among others. He lives in California.