Olympus Marathon
Olympus Marathon 44K
Dion → Litochoro
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The Olympus Marathon 44K is one of Europe's most mythically charged mountain races, climbing from the ancient archaeological site of Dion at 12 m above sea level all the way to 2727 m on the flanks of Greece's highest peak before descending into the coastal town of Litochoro. Covering 44 km with 2930 m of positive gain, the race is a full-altitude mountain effort compressed into a course that barely gives you time to acclimatise before hurling you above the treeline. From the ruins of a sanctuary built to honour the gods who supposedly lived here, to the rocky ridgelines of Olympus itself, every kilometre carries genuine consequence — this is not a race you improvise.
Course & Terrain Overview
The route runs point-to-point from Dion (12 m) to Litochoro (0 m), meaning almost all the climbing is front-loaded and the back half is a long, leg-shredding descent. The first 21 km gain nearly 2623 m of altitude, rising through dense pine and beech forest on rough mountain trails, rocky switchbacks and exposed ridgelines. After the high point near Skourta (2635 m) and the traverse across the Plateau of the Muses at 2254 m, the final 23 km descend more than 2250 m via the Enipeas gorge trail and river path into Litochoro. Surfaces range from compacted forest track in the lower sections to loose scree, boulders and narrow exposed paths at altitude. Technical footing is required throughout, particularly on the upper mountain and during the rocky descent from Prionia.
Decisive Climbs and Where the Race Is Won or Lost
The race's defining challenge is the sustained climb from Orlias (9 km, 787 m) through Koromilia refuge (14 km, 1647 m) to Petrostrouga refuge (18 km, 2357 m) and on to Skourta (21 km, 2635 m). This 12 km section gains nearly 1850 m with almost no respite, and it arrives early enough that runners who go out too hard in the forest will be wrecked before the summit ridge. The stretch between Petrostrouga and Skourta is particularly exposed — if the weather turns, there is nowhere to shelter and the footing is technical. The descent from Skourta through the Plateau of the Muses (25 km, 2254 m) and all the way down to Prionia (32 km, 1007 m) covering 1627 m of descent in 11 km is where races are either salvaged or destroyed: strong technical descenders can make back significant time here, while runners with tired quads or poor foot placement will struggle badly on the loose rocky trail.
Pacing & Strategy
Start conservatively from Dion and treat the first 9 km to Orlias as a warm-up, keeping your heart rate disciplined even though the early gradient is manageable. From Orlias onwards, shift into a pure hiking mindset on the steeper pitches — running the climb to Skourta is a mistake for almost every competitor. Use Koromilia (14 km) and Petrostrouga (18 km) as mental milestones and nutrition checkpoints rather than pace targets; the goal is to arrive at Skourta (21 km) with something left. Once you crest toward the Plateau of the Muses at 25 km, reassess your legs and begin the descent with control — the 19 km from the plateau to Litochoro is long enough that blowing up on the upper descent will make the final flat kilometres into town genuinely painful. The finish cut-off in Litochoro is Saturday 18:05, so plan your checkpoint splits accordingly and do not underestimate the descent time from Prionia.
Fuelling & Hydration
With checkpoints at Orlias (9 km), Koromilia (14 km), Petrostrouga (18 km), Skourta (21 km), the Plateau of the Muses (25 km) and Prionia (32 km), you are rarely more than 7 km from support — but the gaps at altitude can take 60–90 minutes or more in tough conditions, so carry at least 1 litre of fluid capacity on the climb. Eat proactively on the ascent from the valley floor: the altitude above 2000 m suppresses appetite in many runners, so taking on calories at Koromilia and Petrostrouga before you feel hungry is essential. Real food at the refuges is common and worth using. On the descent, prioritise fluids and easily digestible carbohydrates as your stomach will be more cooperative once you drop below 1500 m. Arrive at Prionia (32 km) with a clear fuelling plan for the final 12 km into Litochoro, which — while largely downhill — takes longer than its profile suggests on tired legs.
Weather & Conditions to Expect
Olympus is notorious for rapid and violent weather changes. Even in summer, temperatures at 2700 m can drop sharply with wind chill, and afternoon thunderstorms are common on the upper mountain — race day is typically held in late June or early July, but that offers no guarantee of benign conditions above 2000 m. Pack a mandatory windproof or waterproof shell regardless of the morning forecast in Dion, where it may be warm and sunny at the 12 m start. Snow lingers into early summer in the couloirs and shaded aspects above 2400 m, potentially making the approach to Skourta and the traverse around the Plateau of the Muses icy or slippery. In the valley sections, particularly the Enipeas gorge descent toward Litochoro, humidity and heat can build through the afternoon, so runners arriving at Prionia late in the day should prepare for a warm, exposed finish.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 12 m · —
4 km · 147 m · —
7 km · 396 m · —
10.5 km · 973 m · Sat 08:25
12.5 km · 1331 m · —
15.3 km · 1880 m · Sat 10:05
17.7 km · 2290 m · —
20.8 km · 2607 m · —
25 km · 2254 m · —
31.2 km · 1129 m · Sat 15:35
34.1 km · 847 m · —
41 km · 0 m · —
44 km · 0 m · Sat 18:05
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