Scottish ultramarathoner Paul Giblin won the third edition of ALUT (Algarvian Ultra Trail), which started in Alcoutim on Thursday and ended this Sunday, December 1st, at Farol of Cabo de S.Vicente, in Sagres.
The Scottish athlete set a new record in the 300km race (the longest continuous race in trail running, in Portugal) with a time of 38h06, almost four hours below the previously established by Portuguese ultramarathoner João Oliveira, who, in 2018, had repeated the achievement of the first edition with 41h40.
In second place came Rui Sequeira (Arrábida Trail Team), who finished more than 300 kilometers of the ALUT (with 6680 meters of positive slope) in just 33 minutes more than Giblin (38h39), while in third place was the two-time champion ( in 2017 and 2018) João Oliveira, who completed the course in 42:39 hours. Also Portuguese Arsénio Santos and José Faria completed the top 5 of the men's competition.
The Scottish ultramarathon runner, resident in the Alps, says that he had "difficulties with the fact that it was a very long race with a lot of running" given the type of training he usually performs, but ended up surpassing his goals.
«It's been a long time since I've had such a long race, so I didn't know exactly how I was going to run, but I had the goal of finishing the race in around 40 or 41 hours and I knew that the race record was around 41 hours and whatever. , so I wanted to make the most of the race this year and ended up being able to finish the race faster than I initially expected, it was a great experience», said race winner Paul Giblin who, in 2017, had finished second, logo behind the first winner João Oliveira.
In the women's sector, ultramarathon runner Patricia Carvalho, born in Olhão, but living in Scotland – curiously trained by Paul Giblin – was the big winner, ahead of Flor Madureira and Maria Ferreira.
In the relay races (teams of four elements), the winners were the Loulegest team (34h17), followed by ATR – Algarve Trail Running (34h26), Help@ALUT (34h31), Barlavento Trail Running (34h26), CCDR Colmeal da Torre/ Coviclass/Brasil ao Peso (36h16) and RUNning (42h16).
The balance of the third edition of the competition was, according to Germano Magalhães, of the ALUT organization, «extremely positive», since the two objectives of the event were surpassed: «From a competitive point of view, new time stamps were established, while from point of view of promoting the Algarve as an excellent destination for sports, especially in the low season and in its innermost territories».
«The national and international media coverage of this third edition, as well as the participation of more and more renowned international athletes, one of which the winner, reinforces its position, which poses challenges for the organization of the next editions».
Bruno Rodrigues, director of the race, also considers that the new records established reveal «a better preparation and knowledge about the race on the part of the athletes, both through other ultramarathoners, who had already participated in previous editions, and through the analysis of the data provided. by the organization, in addition to excellent weather conditions for this race», since it hardly rained and was much less cold than in the two previous editions.
The same official emphasizes that «these brands can be beaten again» and set the bar even higher for the fourth edition of ALUT, in 2020, being able to «attract even more competitive international athletes in this type of competition».
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