Certified modern day Spartans will go head-to-head in Sunday’s Melbourne Marathon, while Manny Karageorgiou runs to keep the Melbourne Marathon Spartan dreams alive.

Achieving the Melbourne Marathon Spartan title is no mean feat, with runners having to complete a minimum of 10 Melbourne Marathons. Manny Karageorgiou, discovered this when he ran the inaugural Melbourne Marathon as a bright-eyed 22-year-old.

“It’s one of those crazy things you do when you’re young,” Manny tells Neos Kosmos on why he entered the first marathon, “I just thought it was a good idea at the time and gave it a go.” Karageorgiou has since gone on to become one of 10 Spartan Legends who have completed all 33 consecutive Melbourne Marathons since the first marathon from Frankston to Melbourne in 1978.

The 55-year-old Spartan runner said the course has changed considerably since his first marathon, with runs now spanning across the city through around the MCG, and through St Kilda Road and Albert Park.

“The marathon is not as easy as it was, but it’s still a great challenge. It’s no longer about how quick I can do it, but whether I can do it at all,” he said. Karageorgiou said he hasn’t been training much for this year’s marathon. Nevertheless, he will be joining fellow Spartan Legend runners as they don their distinctive singlets at the marathon’s starting line with the wording “I’ve done the lot” inscribed on the back.

The Melbourne Marathon Spartans Club was formed in 1987 to recognize the level of commitment, dedication and determination it takes to have completed 10 gruelling marathons.