The trail running event, with a length of 306 kilometres, crosses 10 municipalities in the Algarve, with athletes having a maximum time of 72 hours to complete the route between Forte do Beliche, in Sagres, and the Alcoutim pier.

Considered the longest and most challenging continuous running event in Portugal, ALUT runs through the Algarve interior from west to east, using Grande Route 13 of the Via Algarviana.

“It is a unique event that showcases the history, culture, gastronomy and nature of the Algarve, taking place during the designated low season for tourism, with the aim of combating seasonality in the region,” the race director told Lusa.

According to Bruno Rodrigues, ALUT “has gained more and more fans, with more than 800 people expected this year, including athletes, support teams and members of the organisation”.

"Last year we had a total of 600 participants, a number that we expect to surpass this year, given the notoriety that the race/tour has had throughout its editions", he highlighted.

According to the official, 124 athletes are registered, 96 solo and six relay teams, with the race limited to the participation of 100 solo athletes, of which around half are foreigners.

"This year we reached a record number of foreigners, with a percentage of over 40% of athletes from the four corners of the world, with emphasis on participants from Spain, France, Poland and the United Kingdom", he noted.

Bruno Rodrigues revealed that ALUT will feature this year “the world's female elite in the sport, which makes the Algarve competition one of the most intense to date”.


More difficult

According to the race director, the degree of difficulty will increase this year, as the route has undergone a change so that it can pass through the three highest points in the Algarve, which are Madrinha, Picota and Fóia, in the municipality of Monchique.

“It’s a little novelty for athletes to feel like they’re exploring the territory to the fullest,” he said.

Bruno Rodrigues said that ALUT “intends to be a fun event, a trip to get to know the Algarve interior, in contact with local populations”.

10 life bases will be installed along the route, places intended for the athletes to rest and refuel, with a variety of food and typical products from the region, and where the population can maintain contact with the participants.

The seventh edition of ALUT will cover trails through the municipalities of Alcoutim, Castro Marim, Tavira, São Brás de Alportel, Loulé, Silves, Monchique, Lagos and Vila do Bispo, with a logistics and secretariat base installed in the city of Faro.

Organised by Algarve Trail Running (ATR), the race starts at 2:30 pm on November 28th next to Forte do Beliche, in Sagres (Vila do Bispo), and ends at 2:30 pm on December 1st, with the finish line installed at the pier. Castro Marim.