A small organization was formed, its members tapped into their own contacts, and they quickly launched a trail run, named after the mountain dominating this island, Rock Solid.

The trail run is supported by the Hellenic Olympic Committee. On the one hand, this lends prestige to the event, but it also indicates that the run meets certain standards such as safety for the runners. “But Rock Solid is about Kastellorizo,” says Vassilis. “I see it like this: the mountain, the rock, dictates the race. As a runner, you have to think differently. I hike a lot in the mountains myself, but here, on Kastellorizo, it’s different. The mountain dictates your rhythm; it’s like a dance. When participants ask me for tips, I always say that I can’t tell them much, but one thing is important, respect for the mountain.” He laughs as he says, “I also tell the participants to observe the animal that lives in the mountains, the goat. Look at how a goat moves over the mountain.” “Rock Solid is a race you can’t just run; sometimes it’s jumping from stone to stone, a dance. That requires patience and perseverance.” And then, a bit philosophically, “I think the mountain is the most important thing for this island, not the sea. The mountain shapes the character of this island and its people. That’s why the name Rock Solid was chosen, like the English expression.” Rock solid means very stable, unbreakable. “As a runner, you don’t break the mountain, but the mountain breaks you; it breaks your ego.”