Last weekend, Phil Hardy of Newport & District Running Club made the journey to Lisbon to take part in his first half marathon. Afterwards, he was kind enough to send us this report:
On Sunday 6th October 2024, I took part in my first half marathon, and picked the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon as we combined it with short break to the city and joined a friend’s son also running. This event is the most popular running event in Portugal and attracts over 35,000 runners from across the world. At the same time, an 8K race was also being held, as well as the full Marathon.
The conditions were good for running, with a temperature of 22 degrees, but cloudy. The race started on the Vasco de Gama bridge across the Tagus river – the bridge is the longest bridge in the EU at 10.7 miles long and we were bussed to the mid-way of the bridge to start the race and gathered in five separate areas depending on predicted finish time. There was a great party atmosphere on the bridge with music playing as the race started.
The course after the bridge went through the port area and then wound its way to the finish line to the big iconic square past the docked cruise ships. As I got near the busier tourist area of the finish the crowds got larger and noisier with a great atmosphere. The last couple of kilometres were over cobbled streets which was hard going on your feet, and I was glad to get over the line for my first half marathon with a chip time of 2 hours, 17 minutes and 3 seconds, just 2 minutes over my predicted finish time.
On crossing the line I was given my medal and a Magnum ice cream which tasted so good! As this is a popular fast event, the first (elite) runner finished in 1 hour! It won’t be my last half marathon and I shall see which one I plan next, but it won’t be for a few months yet!
Newport & District Running Club 