EPIC Azores takes place on Thu, Dec 3, 2026 in Vila Franca do Campo, Portugal. The main route is 100.7 km.
- Date
- Thu, Dec 3, 2026
- Start
- Vila Franca do Campo 🇵🇹
- Distance
- 100.7 km
- Climbing
- 5,830 m
- Level
- Open to all
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores and the island of São Miguel offer athletes an atlantic route with passes through inhospitable peaks, volcanic lagoons and ancient trails.
Official event pageWhat this race demands
EPIC Azores demands exceptional climbing resilience and technical trail-running proficiency over a distance of 100.7 kilometers with 5,830 meters of elevation gain.
Climbing volume
The 5,830 meters of elevation gain across mountainous terrain require sustained uphill power and muscular endurance throughout the effort.
Descending durability
Traversing ancient volcanic trails and peaks demands high eccentric leg strength and stability to handle steep downhills over ultra-distance.
Distance management
Covering 100.7 kilometers requires rigorous pacing control and consistent fueling to maintain output over an extended duration.
A target intake of 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour is necessary to sustain energy levels across the expected multi-hour duration.
Estimated finish times
Estimates by level, not promises. Your own number depends on your fitness on the day.
Your road to race day
Race day at EPIC Azores is 15 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Base3 weeks · Aug 21, 2026 – Sep 10, 2026
Aerobic foundation: mostly steady endurance work that grows the aerobic engine and the durability the later phases stand on.
02Build6 weeks · Sep 11, 2026 – Oct 22, 2026
Progressive overload: training load climbs in waves, with harder weeks stacked on the base and planned recovery weeks that let the gains land.
03Peak3 weeks · Oct 23, 2026 – Nov 12, 2026
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
04Taper2 weeks · Nov 13, 2026 – Nov 26, 2026
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
05Race week1 week · Nov 27, 2026 – Dec 3, 2026
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
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