Marathons in Portugal

Portugal 🇵🇹 is a country of running, where great champions were born 🏆. Among them, Carlos Lopes, a gold medalist 🎖️ at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, Antonio Pinto, a great runner of the '90s and the current holder of the Portuguese record at 2 hours 6 minutes and 29 s during the London Marathon 🇬🇧 (which he won 3 times, no less 😅). But the real legend is Rosa Mota or rather "A Nossa Rosinha" (Our Rosinha)! Gold medalist 🎖️ at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, winner in Boston, Chicago, London, Rotterdam, Tokyo… 🏃‍♀️ She won 14 out of the 21 marathons she participated in! 🤯 She is considered the “greatest female marathoner in history” 👑. Today, Portugal is no longer a leading marathon nation, as its infrastructures are unfortunately less developed than competing countries 🥲. The arrival of African runners in international/European marathons has gradually relegated Portuguese athletes to a secondary elite zone 😬. Nonetheless, Portugal remains a running haven with great races organized all over the country 📍. There are major international events throughout the year 🌍. These are opportunities for all enthusiasts to set a new challenge 💪 and especially to gather for delightful celebrations. Running in Portugal is above all an excuse to party at the bringueeee 🎉.

It's time to introduce you to the Portuguese marathons! 😉

Of course, the must-do is the Lisbon Marathon ☝️. You'll discover a unique atmosphere thanks to thousands of spectators 🤩 and the charm of the capital! 🏙️ Its route allows you to push yourself while skirting the Atlantic coast 🏖️. A common point with another major marathon in the country, the Porto Marathon 🤗. Its route is “more hybrid” and will allow you to skirt the ocean 🌊 and discover the heart of Porto and its most beautiful monuments. A little south of Porto, you'll find joy at the Europe Marathon in Aveiro, another race by the ocean 🌊. You can admire the charming canals of the city and run along the splendid Ria de Aveiro 😎. If you wish to leave the mainland and discover Madeira Island, then you must complete the 42.195 km of the Funchal Marathon. This city of 110,000 inhabitants is, among other things, the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo 🏆, and the capital of Madeira. This marathon is one of the few held in January 🤓. While Europe is in snow ❄️ and rain 🌧️, Madeira enjoys a pleasant temperature of 19°C, perfect for starting the year running ☀️.

Lisbon, for its part, is not content with just one marathon 😝. The Lisbon Eco Marathon, for example, is ideal for those who care about ecology, competition, and social solidarity 🤝. We wanted to end with the most sensational, “the toughest marathon in the world” 😅 according to the organizers… Of course, it's the Extreme Gerês Marathon, unique in its kind, with 1,350 mD+ 📈. It is located in the heart of the Protected National Park of Peneda-Gerês 🏞️. If the challenge isn't big enough for you, there is even an ultra-marathon format with 90 km and 2,729 mD+. We’re skipping it 😆.

You have every reason to find your happiness and your next challenge on the road in Portugal. If you're more into trail running ⛰️, the country has no shortage with races for all levels 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦.