Procedure:

The stadion is a single length sprint of about 200 meters (according to ancient sources). Adjust your length as needed for your space and students.

Mark the starting line for runners. Ancient Olympians stood with their toes approximately 7 inches apart, so you may want to mark two starting lines, 7 inches apart. Mark the finish line at the appropiate distance.

Ancient Greek runners started standing, with knees bent and arms stretched out in front of them. This may feel silly to your runners, but it adds to the authenticity of your stadion!

In addition to a judge at the end of the sprint, ancient Greeks also had judges stationed along the course called alytai. These judges ensured that athletes maintained good sportsmanship (no pushing or tripping) with their sticks. To minimize damage, your alytai can use pool noodles to remind any runners not to cheat.

To start the race, teach your students the ancient Greek version of "Ready, Set, Go!"

• Poda para poda, πόδα, παρὰ πόδα (“Foot beside foot”)

• Hetoimoi, ἕτοιμοι (“Ready”)

• Apite, ἄπιτε (“Go!”)

The winner of the stadion is the first runner to cross the finish line. There is evidence the stadion was run in heats, so feel free to run it several times before declaring a winner.

Procedure:

The diaulos was run on the same course as the stadion (about 200 meters long) and as the "di" in its name implies, was a race down and back. Adjust your length as needed for your space and students.

Set up is the same as set up for the stadion, with the addition of a kampter, or turning post, at the far end of the course. An easy kampter can be made with a traffic/road cone or a corner goal flag. Runners must go around the kampter before returning to the starting line.

Starting line set up is the same as in the stadion, as is the runner's starting stance.

In addition to a judge at the end of the sprint, ancient Greeks also had judges stationed along the course called alytai. These judges ensured that athletes maintained good sportsmanship (no pushing or tripping) with their sticks. To minimize damage, your alytai can use pool noodles to remind any runners not to cheat.

To start the race, teach your students the ancient Greek version of "Ready, Set, Go!"

• Poda para poda, πόδα, παρὰ πόδα (“Foot beside foot”)

• Hetoimoi, ἕτοιμοι (“Ready”)

• Apite, ἄπιτε (“Go!”)

The winner of the diaulos is the first runner to cross the starting line after running to the end and back. There is evidence the diaulos was run in heats, so feel free to run it several times before declaring a winner.

Procedure:

Hoplites were armored Greek foot soldiers whose primary defenses were their  shield and spears. The hoplitodromos is essentially a stadion race where runners compete dressed in full armor and carrying their shields (no spears!).

If your students created shields during one of the activity stations, they can use their own shields to run this race. Runners would also have helmets and some sort of lower leg protection. These can be bought or made in a variety of ways to dress runners for their hoplitodromos.

Use the same start and finish lines as the stadion. All runners should hold their shields in their left hand.

To start the race, teach your students the ancient Greek version of "Ready, Set, Go!"

• Poda para poda, πόδα, παρὰ πόδα (“Foot beside foot”)

• Hetoimoi, ἕτοιμοι (“Ready”)

• Apite, ἄπιτε (“Go!”)

The winner of the hoplitodromos is the first runner to cross the finish line. This race can be run in heats as well.

Procedure:

Students may already be familiar with the discus event if you have a track and field team! One of the differences between the modern discus and the ancient discus throw is that in the ancient Olympics, throwers would take a short 1-3 step run up to the throwing line (no spinning around).

The grip on the discus is the same from ancient to modern times, and the discus should rest on the forearm with fingers gripping the edge of the discus. One person should throw at a time, and you can measure the throws for distance if you are competing for a winner.

A high school practice discus mimics an ancient discus as determined by archaeological evidence, but you may not have that. A helpful alternative is a frisbee stuffed with paper and taped over to created a solid disc.

Procedure:

Did you know that in the ancient Olympics, the record for the long-jump was supposedly 55 feet? Your students probably won't be able to recreate that feat, but they can try!

Athletes at the ancient Olympics completed the long jump while carrying weights called halteres. How they carried their halteres during their jump is a matter of debate - did athletes hold their weights straight out in front of them as they ran? Did they swing their weights back and forth? Let your students try different techniques and see how far they can jump with a running start.