How to Prepare for Your Autumn Running Season: Races Worth Adding to Your Calendar
Summer is often a time to slow down, enjoy holidays and train with a little less pressure. But it’s also the perfect opportunity to start planning your next running goals.
From September onwards, Portugal’s race calendar comes back to life. Cooler temperatures, ideal running conditions and a packed schedule of road races and trail events make autumn one of the best seasons to race.
If you haven’t planned your next challenge yet, here are a few events worth considering.
1. 10th Grande Prémio do Vale Grande
📅 5 October 2026
📍 Odivelas
A great event to kick off your autumn racing season. Fast, accessible and suitable for runners of all levels.
2. II Trail Hiper Activo
📅 18 October 2026
📍 Mafra
Perfect for runners looking to get back onto the trails after summer, with beautiful scenery and routes for different experience levels.
3. 7th Consilcar Oeiras Trail
📅 22 November 2026
📍 Oeiras
An excellent way to finish the trail running season while enjoying the natural landscapes around Oeiras.
4. Choose a 10K goal
Autumn offers ideal conditions to chase a new personal best. Cooler weather often leads to faster performances compared to the summer months.
5. Try trail running
If you’ve never entered a trail race before, October is one of the best times to start. Comfortable temperatures and a wide variety of beginner-friendly events make it the perfect introduction.
6. Set a target race
Having a goal event gives structure to your training and helps you stay motivated. Whether it’s a 10K, half marathon or trail race, choosing a date makes training much more focused.
Why plan your season early?
More and more runners are planning their race calendars months in advance. Doing so allows you to:
- build a better training plan;
- secure lower registration prices;
- book accommodation early when needed;
- create a balanced race schedule throughout the season.
Many popular races also sell out well before race day.
Find your next race
RaceFinder brings together hundreds of running, trail, cycling, swimming and triathlon events across Portugal.
If you’re looking for your next challenge, now is the perfect time to start planning your autumn season.
👉 Browse the full RaceFinder calendar and discover your next race.
