Marathons in Portugal

Portugal 🇵🇹 is a country with a rich running tradition, home to some legendary athletes 🏆. Among them, Carlos Lopes, who won Gold 🎖️ at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and Antonio Pinto, a celebrated runner from the 90s and current Portuguese record holder with a time of 2 hours 6 minutes and 29 seconds at the London Marathon 🇬🇧—which he won three times, no less 😅. But the true legend is Rosa Mota, affectionately known as "A Nossa Rosinha" (Our Rosinha)! She won Gold 🎖️ at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and triumphed in Boston, Chicago, London, Rotterdam, Tokyo… She has won 14 out of the 21 marathons she has competed in! She is considered the "greatest female marathon runner in history". Today, Portugal is no longer a powerhouse in marathon running as it once was, largely due to less developed infrastructure compared to competing nations. The rise of African runners in international and European marathons has gradually pushed Portuguese athletes to a secondary level of elite competition. However, Portugal still offers many running opportunities with fantastic races organized all over the country 🏞️. There are major international events throughout the year, providing runners with new challenges 💪 and serving as wonderful gatherings. Running in Portugal is above all an occasion to celebrate and have fun 🎉.

Let's dive into the Portuguese marathons! 🏃

The must-do event is the Lisbon Marathon. Experience the unique atmosphere brought to life by thousands of spectators 🤩 and the charm of the capital city! 🏙️ The course will push you to your limits as you run along the stunning Atlantic Coast. Another major marathon is the Porto Marathon, which has a "hybrid" course that allows you to run along the ocean 🌊 and explore the heart of Porto, discovering its beautiful monuments. Just south of Porto, the Europe Marathon in Aveiro is another delightful coastal race 🌊. There, you can admire the charming city canals and run along the beautiful Ria de Aveiro. If you prefer escaping the mainland, you can take on the 42.195 km of the Funchal Marathon on Madeira Island. Funchal, a city with 110,000 residents and the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo, is the capital of Madeira. This marathon is one of the few held in January. While Europe is covered in snow ❄️ and rain 🌧️, Madeira enjoys a pleasant 19°C, perfect for starting the year with a run ☀️.

Lisbon doesn’t just host one marathon. The Lisbon Eco Marathon is perfect for those who care about ecology, competition, and social solidarity 🏃. And we have to mention the most sensational one, “The World’s Toughest Marathon” 😅 according to the organizers… Of course, it’s the Gerês Extreme Marathon, unique in its kind, with 1350 meters of elevation gain (and loss) 📈. It takes place in the heart of the protected Peneda-Gerês National Park 🏞️. If that's not challenging enough for you, there's even an ultra-marathon version with 90 km and 2729 meters of elevation gain. We'll pass on that one 😆.

You have everything you need to find your happiness and your next road challenge in Portugal. If you prefer trail running ⛰️, the country also offers races for all levels.