Destination Race

The Lisbon Marathon, Portugal

Dest inat ion r aces a re a lways exc it ing events, but wit h so many places to see and races to run, it can be tough to decide where to go next. If you’re looking for an international race, consider the Lisbon Marathon. Held every October in Port ugal ’s fascinat ing capit al cit y, t he Lisbon Marathon is an iaaf Gold Standard event, just like the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

In years past, the Porto Marathon has been held just a few weeks after Lisbon, so you may want to double up and take a run at both. Porto is just upcountry from Lisbon, a couple of hours by car or train, and it’s an equally appealing destination.

Despite its appeal, Lisbon is not even listed in many marathon calendars. It’s hardly new to the scene, though, dating back to 1986. Ethiopians won both the men’s and women’s races in 2018 and 2019, taking over from Kenyans, who dominated from 2013–2017, so it’s an international draw, too. Record times are 2:06:00 for the men (set in 2019) and 2:24:13 for women, a couple of minutes faster than any Canuck has managed.

The race offers a spectacular course, which is “f lat, fast and incredibly scenic” in t he words of organizers, g iving runners a great view of the Portuguese Riviera. The course winds along the coastal road parallel to the turquoise blue Atlantic Ocean from chic Cascais, with its luxury hotels, resorts, beaches and casino, to the city centre. En route, runners will pass through Estoril and Belem and near the fabled Jeronimos

Monastery, which dates back to 1495 and is a unesco World Herit age site. The statue of Christ the King is unmissable, too, just across the water as you approach the capital. You’ve got six hours to bring it home, so even those who like to stop and gawk at the scenery should be able to manage it.

The half-marathon may be even more intriguing, as it takes runners over the spectacular Vasco da Gama Bridge, among the longest on the planet, many times longer than the VerrazanoNar rows Br idge , t he New York Marathon’s launch point. There’s also a “mini marathon,” 8.5k in all, which follows the same course as the half.

Lisbon is a delight, even in October, when weather can dampen bot h spirits and sneakers back home in Canada. This is not the case in Portugal, which enjoys a mild climate year round, though it can get quite hot in summer. It’s still relatively inexpensive, too, and cheaper than destinations in France and Spain. Better still, it’s easily accessible from all parts of Canada. You can f ly to Lisbon for well under $1,000 round trip.

As for the races, the entry fees are comparable to the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon events. If you waited until the last minute in 2019, it would have cost you approximately $140 (95 euros) for the full marathon and about half that for the half-marathon. The marathon field is restricted to 7,500 runners, and the half is especially popular, welcoming more than 15,000 runners.

Included in t he fees are st andard offerings such as runner bags, T-shirts and finisher medals. Added treats include free transportation in Lisbon, which can be a big help on race day.

Here are a few words of warning for those who like to get their training or warmup miles in early: The streets of Lisbon are hosed down first thing in the morning to keep things fresh. However, the streets are covered with cobblestones and they can get very slippery when wet.

Consider seeing a soccer match after the race (if you still have the energy). Given that there’s an 8 a.m. start for the marathon and 10:30 start for the half, you’ll likely be done by the early afternoon with time to catch a game. There’s one almost every Sunday just north of the city centre, featuring either Benfica or Sporting.

For most the run is, of course, the main event and Lisbon offers a gem of a race that runners won’t soon forget.