The Houston-Athens Marathon Exchange (HAME), a project of THE HCC-SW, is the only program of its type in the United States.
Founded in 1988 by George Sarantopoulos, an avid runner who participated in the Athens and Houston marathons, and several fellow Greek-Americans, the HAME was envisioned as an exchange program linking the ancient Greek running tradition with the modern international marathons to foster goodwill between two great nations. The idea was so successful it was created with the full blessing and support of Melina Mercouri, Minister of Culture in Greece. The marathon organization has continued this unique exchange and is now in its 31st year.
The Athens Classic Marathon
Founded in 1982, the Athens Authentic Marathon attracts Greek runners as well as many international runners. The finish line is located at the Panathenaic Stadium, where a crowd of 70,000 spectators once cheered Spiros Louis to victory and the 2004 Olympic Games marathoners. Its course approximates the run by Pheidippedes in 490 BC and Spiros Louis in 1896.
Buy online tickets here
2500 Years of Marathon History
490 B.C.
The ancient Greek messenger, Pheidippides, runs from Marathon to Athens to announce the Athenian victory over the Persians.
1896
The Greek runner Spiros Louis wins the first modern Olympic marathon, running the distance from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in 2 hours, 58 minutes and 50 seconds.
Sunday, November 8, 2016
Tony Miller and Sara Olague, winners of the random drawing from the 2015 Chevron Houston Marathon, competed in the 33rd Athens Classic Marathon.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Attend the 29th Annual Pastichio Dinner to honor the Houston-area and Greek runners who participate in the Houston-Athens Marathon Exchange.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Two trips to compete in the 2017 Athens Authentic Marathon on November 8, 2017 will be marking the 30th year of this cultural event for Houston runners in conjunction with the 2017 Chevron Houston Marathon.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Two runners who finish under 4 hours are selected at random to run in the 35th Athens Authentic Marathon in Athens. 2017 is the 30th year for this cultural exchange program.
2019 Chevron-Houston Marathon
Weekend Schedule of Events
Thursday, January 17
31th Annual Pastichio Dinner
S.P. Martel Hall
3511 Yoakum – 7 pm
Admission: $30 in advance
$35 at the door * $15 Children 12 & under
Friday, January 18
Memorial Hermann
IRONMAN
Sports Medicine Institute EXPO
George R. Brown Convention Center
Hall A3
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday, January 19
Memorial Hermann
IRONMAN
Sports Medicine Institute EXPO
George R. Brown Convention Center
Hall A3
8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday, January 20
Chevron Houston Marathon &
Aramco Houston Half Marathon
Start at Congress & San Jacinto
6:45 AM Marathon & Half Wheelchair Start
7:00 AM Marathon & Half Marathon Start
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In conjunction with the 2017 Chevron Marathon The Houston-Athens Marathon Exchange
Will Award Two Prizes!
Round-Trip Tickets From Houston to Athens Including six night’s accommodations & sightseeing & Entry into the 35th Athens Authentic Marathon Prizes will be awarded through a random drawing of a male and female finisher from the Houston area finishing in 4 hours or less. |
Thursday, January 17th Come eat a meal Fit for the gods.
It’ll put wings on your Feet To run a marathon
31th Annual Pastichio Dinner Thursday, January 17, 2019 / 7pm S.P. Martel Hall / 3511 Yoakum, Houston TX $35 at the door * $15 Children 12 & under Since the beginning of the Houston-Athens Marathon Exchange, volunteers have sponsored an annual pastichio (or Greek pasta dinner) on the Thursday night prior to the Chevron Houston Marathon. Funds from this dinner, which includes pastichio, Greek salad, baklava and one complimentary beverage, are used to defray the costs of sending runners from Houston to Athens. Admission to the dinner is $30 in advance, $35 at the door and $15 for children ages 12 and under. The runners from Greece participating in the Chevron Houston Marathon, and any Houston winners of the trip to Greece in attendance, are introduced to an audience of local runners and members of the Greek-American community and other guests. This event has been attended in recent years by many of the international runners participating in the Houston Marathon, including several of the male and female runners who have won the marathon a few days later. Pastichio Power!!! For more information about the dinner please contact:
Anthony Kouzounis – 713.522.2300 Dennis Moustakis – 713.977.6143 or 832.978.3762 cell Sophie Stenis – 713.686.2084
The Houston-Athens Marathon Exchangea project of Hellenic Cultural Center of the SWThe Consulate of Greeceand thePappas Restaurants, Inc. |
| Ten Reasons to Visit Athens . . . Besides the Marathon |
| 1. Beautiful sunshine and many happy smiles greet you as you land in Greece. |
| 2. The great deep blue Athenian skyline provides a sensual sense of relaxation. |
| 3. Visit the Parthenon and the New Acropolis Museum. |
| 4. Walk through the city’s historic center in the Plaka District and the Monastiraki Flea Market. |
| 5. The Athenian coastline is 7 miles from the city center where swimming is possible even in the fall. |
| 6. Visit the Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion only 1 hour from city center. |
| 7. See the Panathinaikon Stadium home of the 1896 Olympics and the venue of the Athens Marathon |
| 8. Walk through the Gazi area where the party goes on until daybreak. |
| 9. Homestyle restaurants feature unique Greek cuisine combining mainstream and traditional recipes at reasonable prices. |
| 10. A positive attitude is the real essence of Greeks in the city where western civilization was born. |
| 11. Handrian’s Arch was a tribute to the Roman Emperor Handrian, who contributed many things to the welfare of the city. Admission: Free |
| 12. Syntagma Square is known as a location for demonstrations and it’s located across the street from the Parliament building. |
| Winners from Athens to Houston | Year | Winners from Houston to Athens | Year |
| John Zorzos / Magda Poulimenou | 1989 | Peter Baird / Margaret Ferrara | 1988 |
| Nikitas Markakis / Magda Poulimenou | 1990 | Peter Baird / Shirlie Lindsay | 1989 |
| George Malliaris / Sophia Sotiriadou | 1991 | Peter Baird / Nancy Prejean | 1990 |
| George Malliaris / Takis Skoulis | 1992 | Names Unavailable | 1991 / 1992 |
| Yiorgios Sikalos / Yiannis Sirpas | 1993 | John Martinez / Sheila Hall | 1993 |
| Nikolaos Polias / Yiorgios Sikalos | 1994 | Joe Flores / Melissa Becker | 1994 |
| Elefterios Argyropoulos / Klaire Stavropoulou | 1995 | Vincent Dietsch / Jennifer Fisher | 1995 |
| Christos Baxevanis / Panayiota Nikolakopoulou | 1996 | Mark Prinzel | 1996 |
| Nikitas Markakis / Panagiota Petropoulou | 1997 | Matt Fontaine / Melissa Hurta | 1997 |
| Makis Kokotos / Sophia Kassimis | 1998 | Joe Flores / Joy Smith | 1998 |
| Vasilios Zambelis / Eleni Spiropoulou | 1999 | James Lawrence,Jr. / Angie Sparacino | 1999 |
| Yiorgos Sikalos / Georgia Ambodzidou | 2000 | James Lawrence, Jr. / Melissa Hurta | 2000 |
| Vasiliki Sikopeti / Christos Sotiroupoulos | 2001 | James Lawrence, Jr. / Whiz Bayou / Lisa Krsten | 2001 |
| Panayiotis Ioannidis / Aristea Nikolopoulou | 2002 | Drew Prisner / Jacklyn Rzcki / D.Keinz / T. Coiner | 2002 |
| Lampros Zaragas / Evangelia Vatikioti | 2003 | Dan Shaw / Barbara Stoll / Roger Buak / Cortney Rica | 2003 |
| Gerasimos Kokatos / Magda Karimlis | 2004 | Victor Curo / Heather Walker / Elizabeth Byers | 2004 |
| Ioannis Maris / Magda Karimalis | 2005 | Pam Goodson | 2005 |
| Dimitrios Theodorakakos / Ekaterini Fotopoulou | 2006 | Tom Geczik / Vera Heg | 2006 |
| Makis Kokotas / Anna Binasi | 2007 | Glenn Winnier / Angela Han | 2007 |
| Ionannis Chamodrakas / Deena Stephanopoulou | 2008 | Steve Wisner / Bethany Walker | 2008 |
| Ionannis Chamodrakas / Heidrun Diakoumopoulos | 2009 | Ross Harrison / Jody Beray | 2009 |
| Dimosthenis Evangelides / Evangelia Donta | 2010 | Mark Giourard / Carol Schmidt | 2010 |
| Konstantinos Poulios / Maria Kalentzi | 2011 | Jamie Demary / Melinda Davis | 2011 |
| Konstantinos Pouliopoulos / Vasiliki Karageorgaki | 2012 | Eric Lin / Mar ina Carroll | 2012 |
| Antonis Papadimitriou / Theoni Louvi | 2013 | Amber Swan / Benjamin Stamets | 2013 |
| Antonis Papadimitriou / Adriani Domvrou | 2014 | Peter Haney / Shirin Farahani | 2014 |
| Konstantinos Poulios / Sofia Rigas | 2015 | Tony Miller / Sara Olague | 2015 |
| Kyriakos Symiriotis / Georgia Louvi | 2016 | Sean Weaver / Amy Fry | 2016 |
| Antonis Papadimitriou / Stephania Leondiadou | 2017 | Julien Debard / McKenzee Salazar | 2018 |