Athens Classic Marathon 2013
Rendez-vous with Olympia was set on 10 November 2013
Borda crew participated with 13 members between runners, supporters and chief helpers.
Only Greek Gods know what really happened in Athens that mystic week-end.
Here are few lines we received from an unknown ancient messenger sent to us.
He arrived exhausted, poor guy, we had to feed him with fries and beers.
Enjoy the reading.
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'...New god (of beermaking), Umbertollo, said
it was “the day Borda International made new ancient history”. Looking smug and
comfortable in his new turquoise toga, if somewhat glassy-eyed, he told me all
about the amazing weekend in Athens, when ten mortal athletes pounded the roads
of Athens and changed the world and the high heavens forever.
It all started back in May in Brussels
after the 20K and 184 bottles of Super Bock lager, when it was agreed that Borda
would field a large team at the Athens Classic marathon. Umbertollo was a bit
vague about what happened next, but was able to pick up the story the day
before the race when the team visited the Parthenon. “We climbed the hill and
were disappointed to find that the building was pretty dilapidated, with random
stones cluttering up the site. No cafe or even toilets at the top!". An unknown entity showed up then, followed by a thunder and slapped him twice.
Race day. The grown-ups headed to Marathon
before sunrise. They sat at the back of a big red bus. Hefortistus pointed out
a house and a lorry. Afrancodite ate some sandwiches. The bus driver dropped
them off in the wrong place. They had to
walk for an hour to get to the start-line. It was cold and they had to wrap up
in plastic shopping bags to keep warm. The organisers had lit a flame but it
didn’t work.
The kids stayed in bed for a couple of
hours, then headed off for the egg and spoon race, picking up McDonalds
breakfasts on the way. They raced through the streets of Athens. They all wore
shoes.
Kostios (fate and feta cheese) and Hefortistus
(altruism) started the marathon near the front. They are Greek. They know
people. Umbertollo, Afrancodite (solitude), Isabellos (happenstance), Kikios
(boxing) and Billeus (wind) didn’t know anybody and had to start in
Thessaloniki. They ran up hill quite a long way. Some of them walked up hill
quite a long way. Then they ran down hill quite a long way and it was done.
They were safely back in Athens at the Panathenaic Stadium where the kids were
waiting. And the helpers and hangers-on. Kostios’s family were there with
pastries made out of feta cheese. They were asked to leave when the food ran
out. Ms Natassa Diamond-Dealer was also there, her brother ran a restaurant close-by
(about 15km out of town) where they later ate dinner.
These brave athletes were resting quietly
and re-hydrating with tasty beverages made out of beer when there was a flash
of lightening and a crack of thunder. Zeus, the daddy of the gods, stood before
them. “Dudes”, he said, “the time has come to throw out the old and bring in
the new. I saw how you all battled and fought today. I witnessed your fortitude
and counted the energy bars you forced down your necks, and I smiled when you
clapped all the cripples home with patronising grins on your faces. Greece
needs people like you. Athena and Hermes and all the other schmucks have
brought the country to its knees. So I have decided to make you all Greek gods.
Bring your Borda magic to this land.” And he was gone before anyone could ask
him who he was.
A bit later, when Kostios was eating another
kebab, they discussed how best to use their new godly powers. After drinking
their first miracle, they decided that the marathon was just too long,
so they cut it down slightly to 10km and made it a rule that it could
only be run downhill with a following wind.
They agreed that they would do something about the European financial
crisis but quickly lost interest after they realised that they could make
chocolate dogs out of dogs.
I asked Umbertollo what Borda was going to
do next. “Well”, he said, “I don’t know.
We might buy some bicycles and sort out the Tour de France. Or we might not.
We’re gods, you see?” I left him turning the Acropolis into a paint-ball park.....'
Note for editors:
The Kids are Chamillos (polyglotism),
Guillaia (corner-shops) and Sarayx (puddings). They can all sing.
The chief helpers were Julia and Simone. They
were not made gods. They are quite sad about this. They can also sing.
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Here below, few pics of this breath-taking (in every sense) experience, to see the full album check our FB page: BordaInternational TintoriTeam !!!
Few days later - Fiumicino Airport - Rome
Marathon Gold Medal in Athens 2004 Olympics Mr Stefano Baldini was approached by Mr Mark Milan, one of our BordAmbassadors, for a nice chat in which the adventures of our special team were presented to one of the undiscussed heroes of worldwide athletics.
Here's a nice pose, welcome in the team!
See you soon for other marvellous bordadventures!!!
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