The 65 km Pisão Extreme route circles the Serra da Arada mountains, starting and ending at Bioparque do Pisão Carvalhais in São Pedro do Sul, Portugal. It includes approximately 6,500 metres of climbing. While typically scheduled for mid-February, recent editions have taken place in autumn. This event focuses on trail running and skyrunning, not road ultras, with distances ranging from 15 km to 85 km. The average elevation gain across all routes is about 20%.
The shorter distances remain demanding: the 15 km route gains around 1,100 metres, the 25 km about 2,200 metres, and the 35 km approximately 3,600 metres. The longer distances venture further into the mountains. The 60 to 65 km race features about 6,500 metres of ascent, and the 85 km XL version is listed with 8,000 metres. SpotCriativo Eventos, in conjunction with the Municipality of São Pedro do Sul and local entities, organizes the race. The skyrunning courses are overseen by the Portuguese Camping and Mountaineering Federation. Organizers describe it as the most challenging race on the European continent, a significant statement supported by the substantial climbing figures that draw runners seeking a demanding mountain challenge.