Hoplitodromos
The hoplitodromos, also called the hoplitodromia was another ancient foot race during the Olympic Games and Panhellenic Games. While the stadion was the only event for the first 13 years of the Olympic Games and the diaulos was introduced to the Olympics on the 14th year, the hoplitodromos did not join the ancient foot race family at the Olympics until more than half a century or 51 years 
later – during the 65th Olympics way back at 520 B.C. This was recorded to be the last of the ancient foot races. While all of the events during the Olympic and Panhellenic Games were played in the nude with the players and athletes completely naked, hoplitodromos added a twist to the attire or the athlete’s “uniforms” – it was bulked up, one might say.
Known as the armor race, this ancient foot race required athletes to run the length of two stadions dressed in nothing less than a soldier’s full armor. This included a helmet, an armored suit, a shield and a spear. The total weight added to each runner’s body was a burdensome fifty pounds – that’s practically half the weight of another human being! Since 450 B.C., the suit and the spear were no longer required for the runners, but the weight of the shield and the helmet did not make things any easier for the athletes.
The hoplitodromos can be compared with the diaulos, which was an ancient foot race where runners were required to run the length of a stade turn mid-race at the end of the track, and run the remaining length, finishing the race at the starting point. The task of turning was made even more complicated and more difficult by the runners’ shields, which affected their balance greatly. This ancient foot race was indeed a true test used to determine one’s athletic prowess.