52 Weeks, 52 Half Marathons - Stage 1 #

A personal challenge #

At 53 years old, after running 1000 miles in 2023, I set up a goal of running 52 half marathons in 2024. This will be my logbook. I will share the routes with some photos and information about the spots that I run by.

As per Murphy’s Law, I caught influenza type A at the beginning of the year so I was out for the first two weeks.

My 1st run was on the 20th of January, slowly coming back to pace.

I live in Portugal, so that’s where 99% of my runs will happen.

Photos are taken as I run with my iPhone, so don’t expect top quality as I normally don’t stop to take them.

For a quick overview of the routes you can check out the website 52W52HM

Run 1 — Cascais #

Start date/time: January 20th, 7:32 AM

Starting Point: Cascais Market parking lot #

The route starts at the Cascais Market (easy parking) and goes along the coast.

1st km downtown Cascais #

The initial 2 km are downtown Cascais downtown with a mild climb starting after the first 800 m (0.5 miles)

It’s not the Ocean but it looks like it. Beautiful sidewalk at the beginning of the 1st climb #

Sidewalks in Portugal are a tradition, and Cascais does not disappoint. When you are too tired, head down, you have something interesting to cheer you up.

Crossing the smallest bridge over the Atlantic at km 1.5 (0.93 miles) #

A fun fact, as you get of the city center you get to cross the smallest bridge over the Atlantic and will have an amazing scenery on your left and right side.

Boca do Inferno #

Boca do Inferno, “Hell’s mouth” is an interesting rock formation and famous tourist attraction at km 2.5 (1.56 miles) more or less in the middle of mild climb that lasts for ~1 mile (1.6 km :))

As we leave the urban area, we are gifted with a beautiful road and landscape for the remaining of our run.

At km 5 #

There is a bike lane that can be used as the running lane for the remaining of the run.

At this time in the morning there will be plenty of road bikes and other runners (as not shown on the photo) #

Arriving at km 10, already with the magnificent Sintra mountain range in the background #

As we get close to our turning point we are gifted with the Sintra mountain range (on my list for a future HM) and the Guincho beach.

I have a theory (probably a dumb one, but fun) that the rock formations that we see by the ocean as we run are lava that was expelled from the Sintra volcano millions of years ago.

Can you imagine the Sintra Volcano? (screen capture from Apple Maps) #

Guincho beach at ~10km with Sintra mountain range and “Cabo da Roca” #

Guincho beach is extremely windy, you get a handful of days during the year where there is no wind. Those days are epic beach days at Guincho.

Still, even with the wind, Guincho beach is unique and grabbing a bite at Bar do Guincho is highly recommended (you have to earn it with a run though!)

Arriving at Guincho dunes #

Arriving at the Guincho Beach we have some beautiful dunes on the right side and a perfect walkway not to get stranded on this small desert.

Additional hint, this is a great spot to look at the stars in the middle of the night.

Running back to Cascais with the sunrise in front of us. Breathtaking! #

My early start was timed to watch the glory of the sunrise as I ran back to Cascais. It was amazing as you can verify on the next picture (using some Instagram filters, though)

Hard to capture the beauty from an iPhone on the run (aprox km 15) #

The rock formations by the ocean are something out of this world and part of my childhood. Walking on them (carefully as the ocean can be treacherous) is fun and inspiring.

Casa da Guia lighthouse #

Getting back into town with yet another lighthouse (you get to see 4 during the run). This one is at Casa da Guia, also a great spot for grabbing a bite.

Back in downtown Cascais with the 1st milestone completed #

Below, the route and the profile registered by Strava

Strava route #

Route Profile #

As a bonus, on the day after my run I got on my MTB and biked up the Sintra mountain range (which is an amazing spot for MTB) and took a great picture that is an overview of the Guincho beach and most of the route from my run.

Enjoy your runs!

-APF