VB Trail Run 2026

Lajes do Pico welcomes the Vila Baleeira Trail Run on 15 November 2026 for its fifth edition. The longest race forms part of the 2025/2026 Portuguese Trail Cup final, with qualified finalists and other entrants sharing a single classification. The event is organised by the sports office of Lajes do Pico Municipal Council.

All four routes start and finish at Jardim da Baleia. The 30-kilometre race has approximately 2,500 metres of elevation gain, while the 18- and 10-kilometre races have around 1,100 and 400 metres respectively. The non-competitive walk covers approximately eight kilometres with about 200 metres of ascent. The routes use trails and agricultural and forest tracks in the municipality.

Entrants in the three races must be at least 18 years old. The walk is open to all ages, although children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult immediate family member and have a signed liability waiver. Participants must carry water, a working phone, a thermal blanket, a whistle and waterproof clothing; the 30-kilometre race also requires a headlamp or torch.

On the day before the event, the registration desk is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the municipal gallery in Jardim da Baleia. It reopens on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. The 30-kilometre race starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by the other races and the walk at 10 a.m. The finish closes at 4 p.m.

A dinner and awards ceremony are scheduled for 7 p.m. The regulations set 31 October as the registration deadline and an initial limit of 500 participants across the activities. Organisers may change the programme and the number of places, so participants should check for updates.