News & Results
Kouros keeps rewriting record books in Bornholm (433,095km in 48h)
After winning real ultra races with new records in Brno (Czech Republic), Ciserano (Italy), and Gols (Austria) earlier this spring, Yiannis Kouros continued rewriting the record books of ultra running in Bornholm, Danemark, by breaking his own latest 48-Hour World Record set earlier in May (422.630km), covering now 433.095km. En route he also broke some other overall World Records (300km, 200 miles, 36 hours and 400km) which stand as 50+ age group records as well, in addition to his 24-hour split, which is the new 50+ age group record (266.596km). The old record had been set by Etienne van Acker, (Belgium) in October 2003 (264.967km).
Kouros' series of high level back-to-back performances proves that within 55 days he was able not just to win, but also to achieve great performances, especially in his last two 48-hour races where he set new world records, without letting his body recover completely from injuries and muscular fatigue. To most people this is something beyond comprehension if we take into consideration that most of marathon runners do not dare to participate in two marathons within such a short time, but Yiannis completed four victorious Ultras. In those four races he covered 1524km.
In spite of the fact that Yiannis had not completely recovered to his racing fitness and had to stop to take care of his blisters caused by the debris of the course in Bornholm, he was satisfied with his overall readiness to perform and announced after the finish that if the race course had been flat, his performance could have been much stronger and probably could have exceeded 480km. In reality the loop of the course was 1450 meters long –changed in the last moment from 1000 meters- and half of it (725meters) was uneven asphalt and the other half was a cross-country kind of path in the woods. Both sides were hilly and the return corners turned almost 360 degrees, resulting in slower speed and blisters.
It has been Yiannis’ observation that even if race directors inform him that the courses are flat and fast, in an attempt to convince him to come and take part, he is unhappy as in reality he is not lucky with the courses, because a great effort is wasted without showing Yiannis’ real potential, as he wishes and he deserves.
In spite of all that, Yiannis is indebted to all his supporters for the time and effort they devoted to his success of this year running events and especially the last one.
What else? Just after the race in Bornholm, he returned the same day in Copenhagen and then next morning back to Athens, Greece in order to be in Nafplion –Greace’s old Capital- for a motivation talk, addressed to Y.P.O. members from Unites States, after claiming together the 999 steps of Palamidi castle.
The week after the 48h race, and before returning to any training pattern, he participated in a hilly Half Marathon race from Ancient Mycenae to Argos in order to honour a co-athlete, wining his age group category with 1:28:55.
And, the week after that (Sunday, June 8), he was motivated to run from his hometown (Tripoli) to Megalopoli, a very hilly 35km distance, in order to emphasise the importance of our woods and our natural wealth in a seminar about the environment, a year after the area was burned from fires.
New World Record with 422.630km in 48h (Gols, Austria).
In the 48 hour race that took place in Gols, Austria, between the 2nd and 4th of May, 2008, Yiannis Kouros set a new World Record, covering 422.630km. This performance receives extra value as it was achieved in the third back to back race of Yiannis in a period of about a month (Brno, Czech Republic, Indoor 48 h, 408.10km, Ciserano, IT, road 24h, 261,054km), from which he had not recovered yet. But, Yiannis, once again, succeeded in surpassing these earthy obstacles, ignoring his body condition in order to meet his goal, covering 422.630km, a performance that is a new Road World Record in repeated cyclical course of 1000 meters. His previous record of this kind of road racing was 413km, done in the Across The Years race (Arizona, 29-31/12/05). His track 48h W.R. is 473.797km (Surgeres, FR, 1996) and his point to point W.R. is 463km, done as a split in the hilly Sydney to Melbourne race. The Mayor of the town of Gols and the Austrian organisers gave order to ring the bells of their church as Yiannis Kouros was approaching the World Record to express their gratitude for his effort to bring a W.R. in their little town and make it known in the map of the records. Yiannis Kouros dedicated his record to his friends who crewed for him in the races of this year, improving his conditions and developing inner confidence. Before travelling to Austria, Yiannis heard about the loss of Marios Tokas, the Greek-Cypriot composer, who passed away just before the orthodox Easter. In his memory, Yiannis dedicated his effort, as Marios Tokas was one of the few that gives inspiration with his songs.
Course record & victorious again with 261.054km in Italy.
Yiannis Kouros was invited as a guest runner in the National 6, 12 & 24 hr Championships of Italy, that took place in Ciserano, near Bergamo, during 19-20/04/08. He won the 24h division, improving the course record from 241km to 261.054km. The surface of the course was very difficult to keep a good pace, as it had many sharp corners with opposite inclination, parts with gravel road, some very narrow passes and the asphalt was not even. The fact that many participants (of the 6, 12 & 24 h) were competing in the same narrow course affected his performance and did not allow him to cover a much longer distance.
Yiannis Kouros breaks world records in 200m (33:10:08) and age group world records (408.01km) in 48 hours indoor event.
Yiannis Kouros added a new victory to the list of his Ultra races. He won the indoor 48-hour race in Brno, Czech Republic, held from 28 to 30/03/08. He covered 408.010km, which is a new age group record. Beyond 200m, which is an overall Indoor World Record (33:10:08), he achieved some more World Best performances: 250km (24:35:35), 300km (30:33:59), 350km (37:15:43). En route he broke several other age group records, like the 24h split (246.542km), 100km (8:39:59), 150km (13:35:59), 100m (14:36:11), 200km (18:56:02), 150m (23:16:20), 250km (24:35:35), 300km (30:33:59), 200m (33:10:08), 350km (37:15:43) and 400km (46:22:53). [Other splits:50km (04:12:20), 50m (06:52:25), 6h (70.500km), 12h (134.250km)]. These performances were achieved by Yiannis under the effect of suffering from flu, which had started before the race and became worse during the run. In addition, the hard concrete surface affected his legs, leading to shin-splints. He was actually running much faster than it seems from his hourly splits, due to the fact that some competitors kept the inner lane by walking from the start, so he had to cover extra distance by running in the outside lanes and did many zigzags, which eventually created blisters and he had to stop to treat them. These facts distracted him from his goal to achieve a much higher world record and thus disappointed him.
Yiannis
Kouros makes a comeback in 2007 with marathons, plus…
Yiannis Kouros in his running activities of the year (2007) even if he was untrained and injured since the 2005 Colac 6-day race (W.R. 1038.851km), in March 18 he ran a half Marathon in Volos, Greece (1:25:55), on April 1st the “Alexander the Great Marathon” in Thessalonica (2:55:56), then the Vienna City Marathon (April 29th) where he achieved 2:50:25, placing him in the 1st position in his age group category. In June 9 he ran the Stockholm Marathon (Sweden) on a very hot day, finishing in 2:52:31 and placed 2nd in his age group. He added a better performance for the year in the Athens Marathon, on November 4th, where he ran a 2:49:40, placing him again in the 1st position of his age group. The year ended with the half Marathon of Larisa, Greece, where he won his age group category, timing 1:18.45.
As a Multi World Record Holder of Ultra-running he was honored to start with the elite marathon runners in the above mentioned international marathons. Yiannis took part, acting as a moving advertisement, wearing a T-shirt with the logo: “Run the Original” and in the back was the website of the Athens Classic Marathon. For a couple of days before these marathons, Yiannis was promoting the Athens Classic Marathon at the EXPO of the Vienna City Marathon and that of Stockholm. He was available to inform other athletes, offering entry forms and other useful information about Greece. Many of his admirers were able to take a picture with him or get his autograph.
Yiannis participated in a race called UltraBalaton (June 23-24) (212km, but he did much more, because he lost the track about 21 times, as the marks of the course were missing) and then in July 21-22, he took part in his only Ultra for 2007, the Worschach (Austria) 24h road race. He was completely unaware and had no intention to participate in any event. He was in his hometown and just informed the night before, traveled to Athens and took the plane the next morning for Vienna and arrived in the racing field just after the race was started. In spite of all that, he managed to win the race covering 250.61km, even if he had a broken toe, something that was discovered in a diagnosis, few weeks after the race.
Yiannis
Kouros Competes in the Athens Marathon
Y. Kouros completed the Athens Marathon in a time of
2:51:29 without any special preparation. He came 1st in the Age group
of 50-54 amongst the Greek competitors. The Athens Marathon committee
honoured him with the No 1 for his contribution to Greek Athletics.
He also gave the "promise of the athlete" before the start
of the clasical Marathon wich was dedicated to the pacifist Grigoris
Lamprakis.
The week before he was running for 3 days visiting vilages and schools
in Cyprus for charity for kids with special needs.
King
Kouros crowned in Colac
Greek Ultramarathon Champion Yiannis Kouros broke six world records
in yet another triumph for the legendary athlete. Click
here to read more.
Recent
half Marathon and future events
Yiannis
Kouros recently competed in a half Marathon in Trikala. He won the
event for his age group with a time of 1:19:15. The astounding point
of this victory is that he has had little time to recover from "Phipides"
due to his hectic schedule with interviews.
Yiannnis is now planning to run in this weekends 3 day Cyprus charity
run. He will then run in the Athens Marathon on Nov. 6th. After these
events Yiannis has stated that he would love to run in the 6-day race
in Colac, Australia (20-26 Nov.), or the Sunsmart 500 miles. He is
also thinking about running in the San Diego 24hr or the 3 day race
across the years in Arizona. 18-10-05
ROAD
RACE: ATHENS – SPARTA – ATHENS
A MODERN RE-RUN BY YIANNIS KOUROS
Athens 7/9/05 - Yiannis Kouros the well known Ultra
marathon World Record Holder and holder of numerous other records
has had the vision since 1983 of the total rebirth of Phidipides’
glorious triumph (Athens – Sparta – Athens 500km) through
the mountain Parthenio as quoted by historian Herodotus. Click
here to read more.
2002
USA 24 Hour Championship
Extracts from article published on American
Ultrarunning Association.
Yiannis Kouros Breaks his personal World Record on his way to 172.37
miles
in this 24 hour Ultrarunning event. Click
here to read more.
