On your mark, get set, go!

The most emblematic and oldest running event in Portugal, S. Silvestre Race in Porto takes place on 29th December at the Invicta, comprising a 10km distance already filled to capacity, and the "Lidl Mini S. Silvestre", the 5km walk.

The starting pistol is set for 6 pm, with arrival and departure at Avenida dos Aliados.

This competition gathers the largest number of participants in the country and it is one of the oldest races in Portugal.

The race is part of the Christmas and New Years' Eve programming and it is organised by Runporto, with the support of Porto City Hall. It comprises the 10 km and the 5 km walk with non-competitive purposes, through some of the most iconic streets of the city of Porto.

As tradition, the Municipality has prepared a special plan regarding mobility issues, in order to ensure the necessary safety conditions.

Authorities advise using public transport to head to downtown Porto.

Running for a good cause in Porto

This sports event is in line with the communion festive spirit of this season, so the organisation of the Run is carrying out a food collection initiative for the "Legião da Boa Vontade (LBV)", aka Legion of Good Faith.

The running gear can be collected at Alameda Shop & Sport (nearby Dragão Stadium) and partcipants can leave their contribution (canned fod, rice, sugar, cookies, baby food, and olive oil, just to mention few.

A bit of tradition

Did you know that the Saint Silvester Road Race (Corrida de São Silvestre in Portuguese) is inspired by the one from Brazil, regarded as the major international athletics events in Latin America?

The history behind the São Silvestre Race is religious, it is held on Saint Silvestre's Day - the day in which the Catholic saint, who was a Pope, died in the 4th century of the Christian Era.

Originally for men only, like most sport events, female participation happened in 1975, the International Year of Women, declared by the United Nations, when the race organizers held the women's race for the first time.

The success of São Paulo's São Silvestre Race replicated to several other countries like Portugal, Italy and Spain every late December. Porto is one of the most popular S. Silvestre in Portugal.

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