After the first day and a half of her seven-day, 540-kilometre run from Athens to Sparta and back, Maria Polyzou has covered 120 kilometres as she was just outside Ancient Nemea, to the south of Corinth on Tuesday afternoon.

Polyzou, who has embarked on reviving the run of ancient messenger Pheidippides, keeps going after the first 36 hours on the road. She is now halfway through to Sparta and is expected to reach the Peloponnesian city by Thursday.

The Greek record holder in the marathon has begun to feel the pains of her grueling effort, as all sorts of problems are coming up.

Her body is beginning to protest at the huge test she is putting it through, with pains on her legs an blisters on her feet, but her willpower remains untamed and strong. She is not going to allow any minor injuries get the better of her, it seems.

"As soon as we solve one problem, another comes up, but I believe in her; mentally she is as strong as ever," Polyzou's hudband, Apostolis Mavrogiannis told sportingreece.com.