DESTINATION RACE

Lisbon, Portugal

FOR THOSE LOOKING for an excuse to take in one of Europe’s most popular destinations, Challenge Lisboa offers the perfect opportunity to mix a race and a vacation all at once. The event features a couple of different length races – a slightly long “Olympic” distance race (1.5-km swim, 45-km bike and a 10.5-km run) and a half-distance race. Based in Lisbon’s Parque das Nações, which was built up for the 1998 World’s Fair, the race is set up surprisingly close to the heart of Lisbon, making it an ideal opportunity to compete and tour in one trip.

For Canadians getting to Lisbon is relatively easy. There are direct flights with TAP Air Portugal and the race offers a special 10 to 15 per cent discount on TAP for athletes and their families if they are flying to the event. Getting to the race site is a breeze, too, as the airport is just three kilometres away from Parque das Nações and easily accessible by subway or taxi. There are also a number of hotels very close by, too. The official race hotel, the Tivoli Oriente is across the road from the subway station and 250 metres from the race site, making it an ideal spot for your racecation.

Considering its downtown setup, the Challenge Lisboa courses are surprisingly fun and scenic. The swims take place in the beautiful Rossio dos Olivais, a closed part of the Tejo River next to the Oceanarium. That’s followed by a fast bike course that takes athletes out of the Parque das Nações and onto a freeway that’s completely closed to traffic. There’s a 1-km climb with a six per cent incline, but other than that, the course is pretty flat. Athletes either do the 22.5-km loop twice or four times, depending on which race they’re in. That’s followed by a flat run through Parque das Nações along the waterfront – the loop is 5.2 km and done either two or four times as well.

With a field of about 1,000 athletes and the extremely wide freeway, you hardly have to worry about any drafting issues at the race and, thanks to all the spectators and tourists in the park, you’ll never have a minute during the run where you’re not getting some encouragement and support.

Once you’ve finished the race you can get down to some serious sightseeing right away. There are lots of restaurants along the waterfront in the Parque das Nações (you can even pick your spot during the race), which makes for an easy start to your vacation once you’re done racing.

The biggest challenge (pardon the pun) once you’ve finished the race is to figure out how you want to spend whatever time you have left in the spectacular capital city of one of Europe’s oldest countries. There are beaches around, so you can enjoy some sea and sun, along

with some spectacular historical monuments and museums. (Lisbon is renowned for its vibrant nightlife, too, for those who look to really celebrate their race finish in style.)

I only had one afternoon in the city, so I took a short trip on the subway to the Alfama district to take in the Terreiro do Paço, one of the largest squares in Europe and, until an earthquake took it down in 1755, the site of the paço, or palace. There’s an impressive statue of King José I and his horse, Gentil, in the centre of the square that’s worth getting a photo of and some beautiful views of the river. Determined to walk as much as I could in my one afternoon, I skipped the Lisboa Story Centre, but if you have time it would be a worthwhile stop to learn more history. After getting my photos I continued my walk, checking out the busy streets packed with cafes and stores.

Since you’ve done so much climbing, taking a trek up to St. Georges Castle is well worth the effort. From there, you can get some spectacular views of the city while taking in some of the history of the city. The castle, built in the mid11th century, was built for military troops rather than as a residence. There are still 11 towers standing that can be explored and each offers an interesting view of Lisbon.

A great way to complete your day is to walk back down from the castle and stop in at one of the outdoor cafes to enjoy a snack and a drink.

For those who have more time to spend in Lisbon (and I would strongly suggest you take more time), exploring more of the downtown, including some trips up the some

of the elevadors, or lifts, to enjoy more of the views would be a must. You can do the same with a climb up the Arco da Rua Augusta to check out the symmetry of the streets in the capital and get another great view of the water. A trip to the Torre de Belém, a tower set at the mouth of the Tagus River, should likely be on your list. So, too, should a trip to the town of Sintra, about a half hour away, which is a UNESCO world heritage site with many beautiful houses, mansions and palaces.

Challenge Lisboa is a great race all by itself, but once you add in the opportunity to take in the beautiful city of Lisbon, it becomes much more of a bucket-list event.—KM