Montepio Cascais Half Marathon

The Santa Maria Trail (SMAT) 2026 is a trail running event taking place on February 7, 2026, in Vila do Porto, Portugal, on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores. This event includes several race distances: a Long Trail of approximately 35 km, a Short Trail of about 20 km, a Mini Trail of 10 km, a non-competitive 10 km Walk, and a Trail Kids race of 4 km.

The event is open to all participants with minimum age requirements depending on the distance: 18+ for the Long Trail, 16+ for the Short and Mini Trails, and 8-15 years for the Trail Kids race. The Santa Maria Trail is certified by the ATRP and organized by the Casa do Povo de São Pedro Trail Running Section. Winners of the Long and Short Trail general classifications earn automatic entry to the next edition.

The race courses traverse diverse natural landscapes including trails, agricultural and forest paths, and water lines around Vila do Porto, offering scenic and technical challenges with significant elevation gains. The atmosphere is competitive yet welcoming, with a variety of distances catering to both experienced trail runners and beginners, as well as family participation through the walk and kids’ race.

The XI Trail Montes Saloios will take place on 15 February 2026 in Covas de Ferro, Sintra, with all event operations centralized at the Pavilhão Gimnodesportivo da Liga dos Amigos de Covas de Ferro (secretariat, start, and finish). Organized by Motoclube TT Montes Saloios with the support of Faz-te aos Trilhos, the event welcomes both competitive athletes and walkers.

Participants can choose between the Trail Longo 29 km, Trail Curto 15 km, Minitrail 10 km, and a 10 km Walk. The 29 km and 15 km distances also include the special couples’ classification “Amor nos Montes.” Competitive races are chip-timed, while the walk is non-timed.

The day is marked by a festive and community spirit, with semi-autonomy between aid stations, scenic off-road routes, and plenty of post-race celebrations. With prizes for runners, walkers, teams, couples, and even costumes, the Montes Saloios promises both competition and fun.

The VII Trail do Rio Paiva is a competitive mountain trail running event scheduled for February 1, 2026, in Souselo, Cinfães, Portugal. This event offers four races: the TRP35K (35 km with 1600 m elevation gain), TRP23K (23 km with 1000 m elevation gain), TRP15K (15 km with 700 m elevation gain), and a non-competitive 10 km walk.

The races are open to all participants meeting the age requirements: 18+ for the 35K and 23K, 16+ for the 15K, and the walk is open to minors accompanied by adults. The competition includes individual and team classifications for the three trail races, with various age categories for men and women, making it inclusive for a broad range of trail runners.

The course features scenic landscapes along the trails of the Souselo, Tarouquela, Travanca, and Moimenta parishes, showcasing the beauty of the Paiva River and its tributaries. The event atmosphere is serious and competitive, supported by local institutions and organized with attention to safety and fair play. Additionally, a 10 km walk allows participants of all levels to enjoy the nature and community spirit.

The Valentine’s Race will take place on February 15, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM, in Vila Verde, Portugal.

This first edition features a 5 km competitive race for participants born in 2010 or earlier, and a 5 km walk for participants born in 2021 or earlier. The competitive race integrates the Braga Athletics Association Regional 5 km Road Championship.

The course starts and finishes at Praça do Município, running through the streets of Vila Verde. The event offers a festive and inclusive atmosphere, open to both federated and non-federated runners, with prize money for the top finishers and a commemorative medal for all race finishers.