A new ultramarathon and half-marathon will take place in the Azores next month. The event, called the Azores Trail Run, will take place on May 24, the European Day of Parks & Wildlife.
The event on Faial Island will see runners from around the world take on one of two intense, rocky trails, the Faial Ultra Coast to Coast and the Trail of Ten Volcanoes.
The 52km Faial Ultra Coast to Coast trail starts near the historic fishing port and lighthouse of Bocca da Riberinha on the island’s east coast, taking in a plethora of unusual and protected volcanic formations. At the Calderia (one of the largest in the world at 2 km wide) in the centre of the island, the Trail of Ten Volcanoes (the distance of a half marathon at 21 km) joins the Faial Ultra Coast to Coast trail for the half-marathon distance.
From here, participants in both races will take in 10 volcanoes and rare flora and bird life across nearly half of the island, passing through areas such as the Lavada with its fascinating rail bridge, tunnel and an ancient basaltic volcanic cone. The running trail ends at Capelinhos, a dramatic landscape on the coast which was created during one of the world’s best-documented volcanic eruptions in 1957.
The running event aims to promote and celebrate the islands’ biodiversity and the sustainable tourism activities on offer along its trails such as walking, hiking and cycling.
The Azores were named the No.1 sustainable tourism destination by Quality Coast (the international certification programme for sustainable tourism destinations) in 2013, and a certified European Geopark as part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network.
One holiday company is offering fitness fanatics the chance to join in with a week of cycling on Ponta Delgada before hopping on a plane to Faial Island for the Azores Trail Run. Skedaddle’s self-guided cycling trip costs from £815 per person (excluding flights). An extra week in Faial for the Azores Trail Run starts from £975 per person and includes flights from Ponta Delgada to Horta, car hire, hotel accommodation and entry to the Azores Trail Run.
To find out more or to register for the Azores Trail Run, visit www.azorestrailrun.com/2014/registration
To find out more about hiking trails in the Azores, visit www.trails.visitazores.com/en
