I have run this marathon in 2005 and I am going again this year. I am surprised that there is no info for years after 2004. It is a nice marathon - quite flat and the people are very warm and encouraging.

Lisbon is a very easy town to get around via public transportation. We stayed in a very nice 4 star hotel (cheap via hotels.com) that included breakfast and was on the bus route from the airport and close to two metro stops and El Corte de Ingles!

The expo is laughable; maybe 5 vendors and I don't think they spoke English very well. The people passing out the race packets were nice and we didn't even have to have a medical certificate or the confirmation letter, just an ID. The expo was down by the start, kind of, and that was a very nice area to walk around. They really do a lot of Christmas decorating in town. The pasta party was just spaghetti and some kind of tomato sauce with tuna or something I am not sure. That was down by the futbol (soccer) stadium, and there were no signs showing the way to get there from the Metro. There was no bread, but they did have plenty of water and tea and (of course) alcohol for purchase. They also had fruit for dessert.

They ran the marathon and half together and it wasn't a true chip time as there was no time at the start (buzzing rug). They did have the rugs at all the major turns though. Water was only every 5K, and I didn't see any at the start. They passed out bananas and oranges after 15 miles. The worst thing was that there were only FOUR porta-loos at the start for about 2000 people (marathoners/half, Fun Runners and spectators). That was maddening. There were no more porta-loos until about 23 kilometers and then again at about 33 kilometers. I recommend every 10K at the least. There wasn't any place to hide either for the modest runners with temperamental tummies. There was one spot where they had music blaring. All the water stops were bottled water that you had to turn the cap to get off; they didn't open them up unless you motioned for it way ahead of time. The course itself had a couple of long gradual inclines - nothing to really be concerned about. Overall, mostly flat though. They tried to have the route so you ran by all the major stuff, if you were so inclined to look around. The course looped a lot, so you could see the frontrunners at least 3 times. They did have apples and bananas at the end if you finished in under 3.5 hours, otherwise you just got water and Isostar (Powerade-type drink).

I am not sure if it was a certified course as there was no blue line to follow.

It's unbelievable how a great city like Lisboa can allow such organization. Sorry, but at this race there is no organization. I probably chose the wrong marathon; there is another one here in April (I heard about it at the end of this race).

People have to be careful because the runners cross on a corner! I've never seen that before! There could be an accident. There were not enough supplies, and we passed the same place many times without any control. Was there an old car passing the runners with someone alone inside, just to make pollution? It's unbelievable.

Come to Lisbon to see an historic, bustling city. Do not come to Lisbon to run a marathon. With utmost respect to the people of Portugal, I must say that this marathon was poorly conceived, with route changes made just two days before the race. The course was not well-marked, with numerous switch-backs and a thoroughly confusing finish. Spectator support was completely non-existent for approximately 23 miles of the course. The first water station was not even open when we passed it. There were 6 (count 'em) porta-potties for the entire field of runners, and not one stop along the route.

I've been to around 50 marathons around the world. Lisbon is a nice city with nice people and great weather, but this marathon is the worst thing in Portugal.

I ran twice. The first time was two boring laps w/o public, runners, support. The second (2003) was just one lap with hills, and trafic was not closed off well... maybe the worst marathon in the world.

At the end, the organization didn't give any support. Please, don't run the marathon!!!

There is another organization in Lisbon on APR. Very good organization, the weather was bad, but everything was perfect.

Lisbon is a nice city. The Portuguese are nice people. Lisbon has a boring marathon.
There is no organization, public, runners, nothing that we expect from an international marathon.

Great city for a December marathon.
Tons of history and sites.
The marathon apart from the start and
finish in the historic centre and a few
marvellous buildings on the route along
the Tagus is a bit bland.
Being a double loop it can be mentally
tiring and is also too flat for my taste; a few ups and downs, I find, help ease the muscles out.
Oddly a 10km and half marathon start at
exactly the same time!!
Overall not a run for a first timer or
get rounder, but excellent for a sight-
seeing trip with a run in it.
Also spectators a bit thin on ground.