Lex M's Staging Area

I read many positive reviews on this race before I registered but honestly I didn’t expect it to be so good!
The expo was OK, if you forgot to bring some of your equipment/supplements, there are sellers offering all the essentials but don’t expect to buy the cheapest piece of clothing there. I got myself energy gels and salt bars as well as a visor because I needed some sun/rain protection.
Getting to the starting area is a process and since the race starts at 8 a.m. it requires waking up early and taking a 40-minutes train to Cascais but later on you are grateful because you are almost in the finish line before the sun gets too strong.
Anyway, everything is perfectly organised….from the BIB pick-up, baggage drop-off, refreshment stations, live music stages and the cheering crowds on the course….
It was only my second marathon and I didn’t know what to expect but it was so flat (with some minor elevation parts) that I managed to improve my time for 30 minutes!
Refreshment stations were well-organised, with bottled water, electrolytes, orange/lemon pieces, and sometime around 25th I think there were gels which I didn’t take.
Some people complain about cobblestone but it was really nothing, couple of hundred metres near the finish line where you get the support from spectators that you don’t even feel how much your feet are crying 😀
Besides, the city and all the scenery you get to enjoy while running from Cascais to Lisbon is just amazing…
This is the race I would highly recommend to every runner!