It was epic undertaking; a victory that changed the course of history. Without these six days our very civilization would have been different. Although well-documented, this story has not sparked the same interest as others such as Philippides. By the way, who was he? Did he actually exist? Was his name Philippides or Pheidippides? Did he run from Marathon to Athens? Or from Athens to Sparta? Herodotus only fleetingly mentions of the “Imerodromou”, and much has been created of the myth of the “Marathon” and “Spartathlon”. There are other details as well that make us question the origins of the modern marathon.
In the real first Ultramarathon there was not only one runner, as in the Greek story, in fact there were more than 6,000 men, with more than two thousand spectators. Along the 500 kilometer trail, the audience was even larger and more vocal than what one can find in the New York Marathon. The restaurants along the route were plentiful and supplied everything to the runners. It was an ultra event, meticulously planned and brought to completion with tactical intelligence, courage, anger and suffering. The result of impeccable planning – the perfect functioning of our state government indeed has antique origins!
It was not run in the year of our Lord, 207, because for the previous eleven years Hannibal had been waging fierce battles throughout Italy. No, it was actually completed in the year 218, after Italy had been conquered by Sagunto (Dum Romae Dicitur, Saguntum Espugnatur), who crossed the Pyrenees, southern Gaul and the Alps with strategic trickery, to which, the Romans were not accustomed. He had fought in Ticino (November 218), in Trebbia (December 218), and in Trasimeno (June 217). In August 216, he had been directed to Apulia to obtain supplies of corn, wheat, and reeds, and with a perfect maneuver, had destroyed the legions of the consuls of Terentius Varro and Paolo Emilio, killing 50,000 Romans.
He continued to fight through good weather and bad in an attempt to cut off the cities south of Rome. He was also ordered to attack the heart of the city, but realized that he didn’t have the men or the means to encircle and besiege such a well fortified city. Reinforcements were requested from Carthage as he continued to destroy, loot, and burn entire cities to the ground. Reinforcements arrived in 207, and, commanded by Hasdrubal they duplicated the exact route that had been used by Hannibal as they traveled to Placentia to join Hasdrubal brother in Southern Umbria in order to march together against Rome.
It was of utmost importance to the Romans to prevent the unification of these two armies. The consul of M. Livio Salinar, stationed in Piceno, move to cut off his path: would they would have been able to beat the large army of Hasdrubal , who had shown great military capabilities and had crossed the Alps even faster than Hannibal?
Another consul, Gaius Claudius Nero, was stationed in Apulia in order to combat Hannibal, and conceived an incredibly daring plan which would eventually give rise to the ultramarathon. He selected 6,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry soldiers and, at nightfall, left for Piceno to help his colleague, leaving the rest of his army in Canosa under the command of Lieutenant Quinto Cazio, and recommended he simulate an attack on a random hill to mislead Hannibal, so he would not suspect such a daring expedition was occurring that same night. If Hannibal had known that the southern army was without a commander that night, he could have easily attacked and destroyed their entire line!
The event began in Herdonia, and anyone who visits the communal gardens of this city (Ordona) can see a plaque commemorating the event. Nothing was left to chance: their organization was set to advance modern fighting. The legionnaires left their bags (itineribus expeditis), which contained between 30-35 kg of weapons, food, blankets, water bottle etc. and ran towards Gaul (Marche) taking nothing. Because they would need proteins, lipids, salts and liquids, the Consul sent messengers ahead to Larino and Marrucini, Frentani and Petruzi to prepare the restaurants along the way. They also used horses and other animals to serve as “bus sweeps” for the participants who were more tired.
The soldiers flew along the Adriatic to fight the invading army in one of the most advanced military movements in history. They ran up and down hills, crossed rivers, and their feet sank into swamps while ruins bloodied their legs.
Current decathletes? Let us compare! Termoli, Atri, Ponte sul Tronto, Fermo, Loreto, Senigallia, and Urbino. Forced to walk without sleep, barely any time to meet the most basic of needs, they marched. All this without the motivations and reasons that, nowadays, we see in people like Maurizio Crispi and Stefano Accorsi, but what other thoughts must have passed through their heads! These soldiers were well aware that victory would depend solely on them, and that thought alone must have been able to give them the same mental boost as lactic acid provided to their muscles. They had to do two things swiftly and perfectly: destroy the army of Hasdrubal and quickly return to Puglia to rejoin their ranks and defend the city.
The fans in New York cheer the marathoners on because they do not know what happened – not just 42 km and a few hours – but for six days and 500 km, these runners were greeted by men and women on both sides of the road who are came out of their fields, sending wishes, prayers and praises with the soldiers. They called them defenders of the state, avengers of the city. In their hands they held salvation for their freedom and for their children. The citizens screamed for the army of Rome to have a quick victory over the enemy. Whole towns joined in the cheering: veterans who had finished their military service, as well as a young Claudio Nerone (Tiberio) who joined the runners, choosing the fastest, most vigorous group.
At nightfall they reached the camp of the consul Livio Salinatore. The next morning saw a vicious war, which had been planned and briefed to them before their ultramarathon. The consul Claudius Nero was adamant: “we must fight now to not lose the surprise factor!” His legionnaires had no need of “recovery”, they were ready to fight a brutal battle! The clash occurred right on the bank of the Metauro, near the Furlo Pass. 56,000 Carthaginians were killed and among them, the Hasdrubal himself.
The consul of Claudius Nero left the night following the battle, and again in just six days, reached their army in Apulia. When they arrived, the head of Hasdrubal was thrown into Hannibal’s camp.
Nero had accomplished a great victory. In six days he and his men had crossed the entire peninsula and attacked Hasdrubal; so fast that Hannibal still believed that the console remained in Apulia. A single console had fought two generals and two armies, destroying one army’s morale, and another’s entire force.
Hannibal continued to plunder the southern regions. The ancient Roman army defended their territory nad it became clear that the battle of Metauro was the beginning of the end. In 203, he was called home and left Italy, never again to return to its shores. He accused Gods and men, and the Carthaginian Senate, saying they had cursed himself and his life. But he was wrong! It was not even the beauty of women of Capua that had been his ruin. Forget the girls! The fatal blow had been dealt by those legionnaire ultramarathoners: a deadly mix of Romans organized with brute force. And history continued its natural course.
The war over, the first thing the Roman Senate decided to do was construct the Via Emilia. Never again would someone cross the Alps and invade the heart of the republic with impunity. Legionnaire ultramarathoners, quick as lightning would have again been sent to stop another such a crossing by an invading army.
We still see the benefits of those six days. Where sloping hills fall toward the sparkling sea and wind shakes the palms along walking trails is where real supermarathoners were born. Including those we see today such as: Nunzia Patruno, Cosimo Di Giulio, Carmen Fiano, Giuseppe Palumbo, Massimo Falei, Pasquale Giuliani, Mario Fattore, Valentino Caravaggio , Enrico Vedilei, Carmelo Passiatore, Ulderico Lambertucci, Alberto Fusari, Francesco Capecci Ferdinand Gambelli, Annibale Montinari, Manfrini Leonardo, Giuseppe Di Luzio etc..
This event must be recorded for anything but academics!
Just to stay on the subject of Latin attitudes and organizations, we can all follow this simple idea: from theory to practice. Long Live the Spartathlon!