Oh Meu Deus 100K

Oh Meu Deus 100K

The 100K is a loop from Seia. It sets off on rural and farm paths toward the Alva valley, through Vila Cova à Coelheira and Sazes da Beira, where the old tungsten mines are, to Cabeça, which the organiser calls the Christmas village, and on to Alvoco da Serra. From there it climbs the historic Rota do Pastoreio to Torre at 1,993 m, descends from Torre through the Garganta de Loriga, and returns to Seia through Valezim and Lapa dos Dinheiros, past terraces, chestnut groves and waterfalls.

Ascent and descent are both published at about 5,300 m. The Torre climb sits well into the race, after the valley villages, so it comes on tired legs, and the Loriga descent that follows is steep and technical. With a 07:00 start and 26 hours allowed, the limit falls at 09:00 on Sunday, so much of the field runs into the night. It suits runners with a mountain 50K or more behind them.

Friends waiting in Seia have a long day of guessing where their runner is. On Livebib the runner shares a link to their own broadcast; it opens in a browser without an account or an app and shows position on the course line, distance covered and a finish estimate that updates as the race goes. In the gorge and the valleys the signal drops; the position is then carried forward along the course and marked as estimated instead of freezing.