Spartathlon Reflections: Redemption on the Road to Sparta

By Michael Van Der Klei

Now that the dust has settled and the fog in my head has finally lifted, it’s time to step off the cloud I’ve been floating on and share some reflections on the incredible journey that was Spartathlon 2025.

Gratitude First

Before diving into the race itself, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who dot-watched, followed the race on YouTube, Facebook, or any other platform. Your support—through messages before, during, and especially after the run—meant the world to me. Knowing so many people were cheering me on was deeply moving and incredibly motivating.

Back at the Start Line

This was my second time standing at the most magical start line in the world—right in front of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, beneath the Acropolis in Athens. In 2023, I stood there feeling nervous, insecure, and battling imposter syndrome. That year, I got injured early, had to walk, and missed the cutoff at CP59.

But this year? A completely different story.

A New Chapter with a New Coach

In 2024, I started working with Nathan Flear, and since then, I’ve set two Dutch veteran age group records—24hr and 100 Mile. That gave me a huge confidence boost. Nath assured me I was ready, and while Spartathlon is always unpredictable, I felt prepared.

Race Day: Out for Sweet Revenge

Saturday, 7AM—we kicked off. I had a solid pacing, fueling, and hydration plan, crafted with the team at Precision Fuel & Hydration. The goal:

• Nutrition: Two 90g gels + two packs of chews every 3 hours (≈80g carbs/hour)
• Hydration: 600ml PH1000/hour + plain water at checkpoints

It worked beautifully… until it didn’t (more on that later).

Early Wins and Unexpected Cramps

The weather was perfect—around 28°C, breezy, and ideal for running. I aimed to hit CP22 in 8:45, but arrived in 8:15. A bit fast, but 30 bonus minutes in the bank felt great.

At Hellas Can, I took a longer break—yogurt, coffee, and good chats with Jan Muller. But around 85km, cramps hit out of nowhere. I had to slow down and walk stretches. At 90km, Richard from TrackTrail flagged me down—my tracker had failed and needed swapping. That forced stop turned out to be a blessing: when I got moving again, the cramps were gone.

Flow, Mistakes, and a Souvlaki Surprise

Picked up my headlamp and reflective gear in Ancient Corinth and cruised through to Nemea. Quads were tightening, so I got a quick rubdown. While resting, a Greek runner passed by eating a souvlaki. I admired it, and he handed it over with a smile. Small gesture, huge joy.

But here came my first big mistake—I skipped my drop bag in Nemea. Thought I had enough on me. Then, at CP40 (Melandreni), I forgot my drop bag again—too deep in the flow. At CP41, I realized I was out of fuel. Thankfully, I stayed calm and improvised: tea with three sugar sachets, soup, and any hot food I could find.

Rain, Cold, and the Golden Prom Dress

After Lyrkia, the weather turned nasty—torrential rain and wind. It hit at 1AM instead of the expected 4AM. My rain gear? In the drop bag at mountain base. At Kaparelli, I was soaked and freezing. I entered the CP shivering uncontrollably, unable to open a gel. They wrapped me in a space blanket, and I sat for 10–15 minutes to warm up.

I climbed the mountain with Anna Brown, had a nasty fall on the descent, and arrived at Sagkas battered. The medic patched me up, and I pressed on—wrapped in my space blanket like a golden prom dress. Must’ve been a sight!

Final Push and the Longest Kilometers

Still ahead of schedule, I eased off a bit and enjoyed the company of Marsh Pullen (GB) and Anairs Kumpins (Lat). Left them just before Tegea. Walked most of the long 7km uphill after Tegea. For the final 30km, I tried a “5 minutes on / 2 minutes off” strategy—worked reasonably well.

At CP72, I stopped for a quick leak and my quads completely seized up. I didn’t risk it—walked the final 8km. At that point, I didn’t care if I finished in 34:30 or 35 hours. Finishing was everything.

At CP74, I picked up my Dutch Team shirt. The volunteers said, “Just 2km to go!” And here’s something I learned: in my Couch to 5K groups, someone always says, “That was the longest kilometer of my life.” I used to reply, “A kilometer is a kilometer.” But now? I get it. The more exhausted you are, the longer they stretch!

The Finish Line: Fulfillment Beyond Words

Finally, after 35 hours and a bit, I kissed the foot at the most fulfilling finish line in the world. I’ve never felt so complete.

Spartathlon – MvdK 1-1