An autumn marathon in Porto, with separate maps for the two distances. Check your own course rather than using the marathon map for the shorter race.
01 Know what you are taking on
What is the race like?
Official maps & course details
- Distance
- 42.195 km.
02 Choose your approach
Find your race strategy.
Choose your goal. These are our pacing suggestions, based on the published course, rather than organiser instructions.
My first finish
Check your exact race distance on the entry and map.
Start at the effort you have practised and let the field spread.
Keep a simple plan for your finish and transport rather than depending on getting back to the start.
A PB or time goal
Use your recent training to set a realistic target for the published course.
Choose longer splits to judge progress instead of responding to every watch fluctuation.
Keep the opening controlled so you can increase effort late if the conditions and your legs allow it.
03 Know what is on the course
Drinks, fuel & toilets.
Station positions and products are not yet confirmed in the available information for this edition. Use the organiser’s final runner guide before deciding what you can collect on the course.
Toilet locations: a confirmed location list is not available here. Check the official course or runner map before race day; a drinks table does not automatically mean there is a toilet beside it.
Turn the station list into your plan
Mark the stops you expect to use and the fuel you will carry. If you use a gel that needs water, pair it with a published water point. Practise the products and cup or bottle format before race day; you do not have to try every item offered.
04 Before the start
Your race morning.
Times are local to the event. Work back from your own wave, allowing for the walk, toilets and bag drop.
The start
Start time
08:00.
Finish window
Time limit
6 hours.
Start & finish access
- Start and finish
- Start near SEA LIFE Porto; finish at Queimódromo by the city park.
Your allocated wave, event emails and final runner instructions take priority. Read the guide for your distance before travelling.
05 Make the day work together
Supporters & getting around.
Plan your support
Open the map for your runner’s distance and choose one accessible public spot. The marathon starts near SEA LIFE and finishes at Queimódromo, so arrange the reunion at the finish rather than the start.
The places below are viewing ideas from the linked route or spectator guide. Use your edition’s access map for barriers, permitted crossings and any crew restrictions.
Published finish area
Check the map for your distance and agree a meeting place outside the finish flow.
2026
Official spectator or route informationMake the cheer easy to find
Agree a named point, the side of the road and your likely arrival window. Share your bib number for official tracking. Pick a separate reunion beyond the finish exit and a backup if the phone signal is poor.
06 Before you book
Entry, fees & time limits.
Use the organiser’s entry page for the available places, current price and entry conditions.
Check official entry optionsCan you finish inside the time limit?
- Time limit
- 6 hours.
Stay in the loop
Email me event updates.
Spend more time training and less time checking. Get the key updates for your race, straight to your inbox.
07 Make your training relevant
Practise for this course.
One thing to rehearse
Practise your breakfast, shoes and intended effort on a suitable training run, then use the official course to refine the travel and drink plan.
08 Put your plan together
Useful before race day.
Plan your pre-run fuel
Explore meals and snacks around the time you have before running.
Explore the fuel plannerMake race fuel feel familiar
Understand how to practise taking carbohydrate during longer runs.
Read the guideArrive ready, not worn out
Understand what changes in the final weeks before a marathon.
Read the guideA plan that fits your life.
Running, strength or both, with feedback and adjustments as your training develops.
Official race information
Use the organiser’s information for current entry terms, the published route and your final runner instructions. Course resources show their edition where it is known. Pacing and training suggestions are The Runner’s Journal’s guidance and should fit your experience, health and conditions.