“When I finished the run across Switzerland and proposed to my wife (the first 6 runs were to win her heart;-) we flew back home via Lisbon. This was 2017. We always wanted to come back and so the idea is to celebrate Love and Fulfilling Promises to each other.
She will join me at the end of the run and we will spend some time in Lisbon. Also my parents will fly in; it’s their 50 year anniversary.”
Izyaslav won’t be chasing any record: “In fact, since I want my family to fly in for the finish, I am envisioning slowing down for the second half of the run to time it right,” he says.
He’ll be crossing Portugal in August, from Cevide to Sagres, with product support from outdoor brand Salomon.
Portugal offers a spectacular journey for runners, from the granite mountains of the north to the rugged cliffside trails of the Atlantic coast. This route follows a geographical progression from the northern border down to the southwestern tip:
– The North (Minho & Douro) is defined by lush greenery, steep elevation, and ancient religious history.
– In Central Portugal (Beira Litoral & Ribatejo) the terrain opens into river valleys and historic medieval towns.
– The landscape in Southern Portugal (Alentejo & Algarve) shifts to cork oak forests (montados) and dramatic ocean cliffs.
Izyaslav will be posting Facebook and Garmin watch updates during his 15-day run, so people can run and follow along.
