Marathon Extrême de Gerês

The Gerês Extreme Marathon is a mountain-road race series in northern Portugal, located within Peneda-Gerês National Park, the country’s only national park. Organized by Carlos Sá Nature Events, with support from Terras de Bouro and Arcos de Valdevez, it directs runners onto steep roads through forested mountain terrain, distinct from a flat city course. This event is in its seventh edition and attracts participants globally, with over 1,400 athletes from 19 nationalities recorded in past results. The longest race is the Extreme 90km, commencing at the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Peneda in Peneda village and concluding in Vila do Gerês. The course is designed with significant ascents; the leading male runners complete it in just over eight hours, and the leading female runners in under ten. The series also features the Extreme Mile, a considerably shorter but demanding uphill race from Albufeira da Caniçada to the Voltas de São Bento viewpoint, covering 525 meters of climb within one mile at an average gradient of 35%.