Many athletes have their own secret remedies that they say gives them a boost in the sporting world, and 88-year-old Ploutarchos Pourliakas is no different.
The runner proved that age is just a number by completing the Authentic Athens Marathon this month in a mightily impressive time of six hour and 31 minutes – an improvement on his previous attempt of the 26.2 mile event, which he also ran last year. The course, which covers flat, gently hilled and steep routes, starts at the ancient battlefield of Marathon and ends at the Panathenaic Stadium is a tough test for any seasoned runner.
But Pourliakas breezed through this year’s event in less than seven hours despite his age, attributing his successes down to a personal no-smoking policy, a balanced diet and a native drink called tsipouro. Speaking after the event, the runner said: “I managed to finish and even improved compared to last year. I feel younger than my 88 years of age.”
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Pourliakas says that he started running in his hometown of Kastoria, northern Greece, 15 years ago, and his most-recent triumph marks his 12th total marathon in Athens. Detailing his training routine, he noted how he runs between four and five kilometres per day, and up to 20 kilometres on a weekend.
He also explained: “I never smoked. I don’t indulge in excesses, I don’t drink, I don’t stay up late. I eat balanced meals. However, I take a little tsipouro every day, not as a beverage but as medicine.” But what is the secret sauce of tsipouro?
Tsipouro – known as tsikoudia in Crete – is a grape-distilled spirit which can either be made pure or scented with anise. It is traditionally served to guests with an accompaniment of meze. While it was exclusively drunk by winemakers in the past, it has risen in popularity in similar fashion to Ouzo over the years – and is now enjoyed by locals and tourists across the Mediterranean.
The roots of the drink trace all the way back to the 14th century, where it was originally developed by Greek Orthodox monks at Mount Athos in a testament to ingenuity and making the most of resources. That’s because the main ingredient of tsipouro is pomace – which is the solid remains of the grape pressing process during winemaking, inclusive of the skin, seeds and pulp which is otherwise thrown away.
It is distilled to create 40-45% alcohol by volume. It can be consumed on its own, although some prefer to use it to make cocktails instead of drinking it alone. It is also said that tsipouro has a number of health benefits similar to wine when consumed in moderation, including benefits on the digestive system, antioxidant properties, and nutritional values when mixed with vitamins.