About This Event
Oh Meu Deus by UTMB offers runners a journey through the mountainous heart of central Portugal, where ancient schist villages and ancestral trails preserve the region's authentic character. This UTMB World Series event began in 2011 as an exploration of Serra da Estrela Natural Park, Portugal's largest protected area, and has since expanded to encompass the broader natural and cultural heritage of the region. The race traverses multiple mountain ranges including Serra do Açor and Serra da Lousã, connecting historic villages and traditional communities that define Portugal's interior. Beyond the physical challenge, participants become part of a larger story of regional recovery and renewal, as the event helps support communities affected by wildfires while showcasing the enduring strength of Portuguese mountain culture. Set for early May 2026, the event celebrates the runner as the centerpiece of the experience, emphasizing personal achievement within a landscape where time moves at a different pace. The combination of technical terrain, cultural immersion, and community connection makes this more than a typical trail race—it's an exploration of Portugal's mountain soul.
Choose Your Distance
22K
The 22K distance serves as an accessible gateway to the Oh Meu Deus experience, perfect for runners new to Portuguese mountain trails. This route maintains the event's authentic character while providing a manageable introduction to the region's terrain and culture. Runners can focus on technique and enjoy the schist village atmosphere without the demands of ultra distances.
50K
The route winds through the Arouca Geopark, following traditional schist paths that connect mountain villages across the protected landscape. These ancient stone trails, built to link communities before modern roads, provide technical footing that requires continuous attention. Runners pass through settlements where stone architecture reflects centuries of mountain living, with the course threading between cultivated terraces and wild valley sections. The mixed terrain designation reflects the combination of these technical schist paths with occasional dirt roads and valley trails. Water crossings and stream sections are possible depending on spring rainfall. Without specific elevation data available, the precise vertical challenge remains unconfirmed, though the geopark's topography inherently involves continuous terrain variation.
90K
The route moves through the Serra da Estrela's network of traditional trails, connecting villages built from schist stone that blends with the surrounding geology. Runners travel on paths ranging from maintained trails to rougher mountain tracks, navigating terrain that reflects both the region's volcanic and glacial history. The course passes through areas where shepherding and small-scale agriculture continue, offering glimpses of rural mountain life that has adapted slowly to modern times.
166K
The route traverses three mountain ranges in sequence, moving through ecological zones that shift from granite peaks to schist formations. Terrain varies from rocky ridgeline trails to forested hillsides and narrow passages through traditional villages. Navigation follows a combination of marked footpaths and lesser-used shepherd routes, with sections passing through protected natural areas managed by Portuguese conservation authorities. Runners encounter both runnable sections on established trails and technical passages requiring careful attention to footing. The course connects historic pathways that have linked mountain communities for centuries, passing through landscapes shaped by traditional agriculture and seasonal grazing patterns.