Preparing for the 2027 Lisbon Half Marathon: the 25 de Abril bridge, downhill

A start on the bridge, a descent, then the river

The first two kilometres are run on the bridge deck, then the course descends to the Tagus and follows the river to the Jerónimos monastery. Elevation is almost entirely negative: the route ranks among the fastest.

Part of the bridge surface is metal grating: the plan schedules a run in race shoes to check the sole does not catch on it.

Ten winter weeks

March race: a 10-week plan from early January. The AI coach applies its cold rule below 5 °C, longer warm-up and no short intervals on slippery roads.

Every week it compares what you planned and ran on Garmin, gives a decision for the following week and never invents a VMA: without a reliable test, it schedules one.

Pacing: do not get carried away on the descent

Instruction: first two kilometres on the bridge at target pace plus 5 seconds, then target pace down the descent despite the slope, target pace along the river, and let go over the last five kilometres.

• — January: volume, long run up to 75 minutes, cold rule.
• — February: threshold and half-pace blocks, 90-minute long run.
• — March: taper, fresh legs for the bridge.

Wind can be head-on along the Tagus: low end of the pace range, never catching up.

Frequently asked questions