The race is open to all people over 18, without any other age limit, and it attracts both famous athletes, who grab the chance to test themselves in an international half marathon before they face other races like Boston and London marathon, and non-professional runners. Everybody can take part, but certainly you need to be aware of your limits and training level: the official path of the Lisbon half Marathon is around 21 km long, and if you think you cannot do it, or that it takes too much time, you can participate in the Mini Marathon, an alternative, 7 km long path, fit also for those who are not ready to face a more challenging proof.
The Lisbon Half Marathon is a race that awards a prize to the top three winners. Paul Tergat holds the record, and if you want to beat it you need to run the half marathon in less than 59'05. Although many people take part in the race with a fighting spirit, the Lisbon Half Marathon is above all a feast animated by a spirit of friendship, where people coming from more than 30 different countries meet, and although only three people can experience the thrill of mounting the podium and of being awarded and praised, all the participants who will cut the finishing line while having achieved the entirety of the race course will receive a medal, which will remind them of their personal performance.
The climactic moment of the happening will take place on march 22nd, but Lisbon begins to celebrate on the 18th, with the opening of the Expo Village, an exhibitory space open to the public (it attracts around 60,000 visitors a year): in this space products related to the running are launched, tested and sold, other race are proposed and advises are given to runners. On March 21st races begin, with the Vitalis Corrida da Amizade (starting at 10.00) and the 17th Walk Grandparents and Grandsons, for adults over 45 years old and children under 9 years old (gathering at 11.00 near the 25th of April Bridge). At 16.00 the competitors in the EDP Mini Champions race are ready to run, while the main races take place the following day: the 22nd March, at 10.15 both the Half Marathon and the Mini Marathon start, from one of the most fascinating sights of the city: the 25th of April Bridge. The finishing line will be cut near another symbol of the city: the Jeronimos Monastery.
Lisbon Half Marathon is the ideal event for those who wish to test themselves and visit a beautiful city at once. For this reason many competitors prefer to book a cheap hotel for some days and enjoy the city's fascination.
Tickets: entry fee for the Half Marathon and the Mini Marathon: 35 euro
