Spyros Gianniotis
mounted a racing bicycle. It was my first time ever! Equally special –and of great value – is the fact that Spetses has turned running into a pleasure I share in company of good friends. We run at a comfortable pace and have the time to enjoy the natural scenery – as well as tease each other with a joke every now and then! I enjoy the great pleasure of participating in the games rather than feeling the pressure to win. At the same time, I never cease to be surprised by the growing number of people who come up to me in Athens and ask me to train them for Spetses. There is no other marathon in Greece that attracts so many people’s interest. And this is another aspect of Spetses games’ huge success: they have drawn many people into sports, and motivate them to train with a specific goal in mind – be it running the full round or finding teammates for the group triathlon. I am currently training about 80 amateur athletes for the mini Marathon. At the same time, I am trying to set my own next big goal. It is a common truth for most athletes that we need to set a specific goal in order to avoid getting left behind. Goals work like mind therapy! " Giving it our best "The event’s huge success never stops its organizers from striving for continuous improvement. I would like to thank Marina Coutarelli, along with Spetses’ committed team of volunteers, for their devotion to the games. Their passion inspires all of us competing athletes to contribute even more to each successive Spetses mini Marathon." Favourite Spetses spots "I truly enjoy the serene view of the sea from far above, while crossing the island’s pine-clad hills. In my personal records, I have countless photos of all different views of the island and its mainland."
Kostas Nakopoulos, Greek running champion, 800m
“Spetses is all about every-day people’s love for the games.” "Spetses is all about the people’s love for the event. The volunteers’ energy and enthusiasm is something that cannot possibly go unnoticed. There are, however, some very special moments that remain unknown to most. A unique moment I experienced while running the mini Marathon was one that few people got to witness, as it did not happen near the start or finish line. It was a quiet moment during the race when, passing by some houses in the island’s mainland, people came out onto their balconies to cheer for me. The expression on their faces was so happy and warm that you could tell they were doing it out of pure love for the games. They cheered with passion and love. It’s the best way to encourage an athlete to keep up with his or her effort. Along with the people of Spetses, I would also like to thank my sponsors for their support: Nike Pournaras, Harris Security and Olympos." Athletes of all ages "Also very special to me is the fact that people of all ages participate. I honestly admire them and hope that I myself will continue to be as active when I grow older. At the same time, I also look up to Olympic champions who take part in the Spetses races. Among them, Pericles Iacovakis is a very dear friend who is participating this year." A moment of summer
"One more thing I like about the games on Spetses is that they make you feel that the summer actually lasts longer. With the exception of the first Spetses mini Marathon, all subsequent years have been incredibly warm and sunny." Favourite Spetses spot "When not running, I enjoy cooling down at Cielo Mar all-day bar and grabbing a bite at one of the Clock Square eateries."
Spyros Gianniotis, open-water swimming world champion
“ ’Will you be racing with us?’ they asked me in amazement!” "I will never forget the first reaction of my co-athletes at my first race on Spetses: “Will you be racing with us?” they asked me in amazement. It is a great experience for amateur athletes to have champions participating in the race. The event becomes a fest that encourages all alike to share their love for sports and training. The enthusiasm is so great that it becomes contagious! Spetses mini Marathon is such a unique event. It is impeccably organized and brings together a huge family of sports enthusiasts. It is very different from a championship, it is a sports festival!" It’s not about the ranking "I particularly admire those non-professional athletes for whom the race represents a huge challenge. There are people who strive hard in order to do the full five kilometre swim, and yet they manage to outdo themselves. It’s all about managing to complete the race, rather than the ranking. Each participating athlete, from the one who finishes first to the one who completes the race last, deserves congratulations." A warm-up for the 2016 Olympics "For me personally, this year’s Spetses mini Marathon is a warm-up for the 2016 Olympic Games. My goal is to make it to the Rio Olympics and to have my final big race in Brazil. It has been an unfulfilled dream for me to win a medal at the Olympics and I will be giving it my best. It is an ambitious goal, but one has to keep trying!" Favourite Spetses spot "The entire island is picture-perfect. Both my wife and I are fans of Spetses’ beautiful architecture, its scenic seafront and the warmth of its people. " Spetses Spotlight 63
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