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Event Info Swimrun
Portugal Zezere

Event info Swimrun Portugal Zezere;

This takes place North-east of Lisbon, at the Castelo do Bode dam. The event is named after the Zêzere river, which rises in the Sierra da Estrela at 1,900 metres (6,000 feet), near the highest point in continental Portugal.

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Event Info Swimrun Portugal Zezere

Location

The Castelo do Bode Dam on the Zêzere River, which flows south-west from its source in the Sierra da Estralla.

Courtesy Swimrun Portugal

How to get there

The closest airport is Lisbon (LIS). From Lisbon you are best to hire a car, and take the A1 road heading North. Watch out for the A23 exit and take the direction towards Constancia, heading East.

Just before Amoreira take the left exit North towards Martinchel, and at Martinchel head East towards the Start/Finish area on the edge of Aldeia do Mato.

Where to stay

Swimrun Portugal has not made any specific recommendations.

Check our interactive map (below) for accommodation options!

Where Are You Going To Stay Near Aldeia do Mato?

Find your accommodation here!

Race distances

There are 4 race distances at Zêzere:

A Kids distance event
An Experience (Intro)
a Sprint distance of 17 km,
and a Standard distance of 26 km.

The 17 km race involves 6 swim legs and also 6 running sections. The total swim distance is 3 km and total run distance is 14 km.

The 26 km event involves 4.2 km of swimming over 8 legs, and 21.8 km of running, also over 8 legs.

You can enter any of the distances as a solo competitor or as a team of two.

Race routes

All the races start and finish at the same place, near a car park at Aldeia do Mato, off the Rua do Vale de Vinha road. This is on the south side of the reservoir, accessible from the village of Martinchel.

Remember, the swims are in fresh water, which means less buoyancy, especially without a wetsuit - you will be slightly lower in the water compared to a salt water event with a wetsuit!

On the plus side, the enclosed nature of the dam means that you can't be washed out to sea!

Swimrun Portugal Zezere Sprint Race Distance Route Map

Sprint Distance Route Map

Swimrun Portugal Zezere Standard Race Course Map

Standard Distance Route Map

Event Info Swimrun Portugal Zezere

Energy stations

Around each course there are several water stops, offering hydration (water and electrolyte drinks), and fruit.

Cut-off times

As with all the Swimrun Portugal Series events, the Sprint race has a cut-off time of 4 hours from the starting gun, while the longer Standard race has a cut-off of 6 hours from the starting gun.

Weather

Held around mid-September, the water in the dam is still warm from summer. The weather is usually warm but a little unpredictable. The water temperature is around 20 to 22 degrees C, with an air temperature of 28 degrees C, according to the race organiser. Most athletes do NOT wear wetsuits for the 2 shorter events, but the organisers recommend a wetsuit for the Sprint and Standard distance races.

There is always a chance of cold or wet weather, so you should take suitable clothing for every eventuality!

Summary of event info Swimrun Portugal Zezere

The Zezere event of the Portugal Series is at a great location!

Check dates for 2026 at our Calendar Europe 2026 page!

If you think that this page needs an amendment, please let us know via the Contact Us link. Thank you!

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Richard Mitchell, BDS, and Mogsy Ford are swimrun competitors and endurance athletes who write from direct racing experience. They have competed in swimrun since 2016, and bring added perspective from competitive running (5K to marathon) and open-water swim racing. Their website is known for its up-to-date global swimrun race calendars and has been mentioned by The Guardian newspaper. Married teammates, they build holidays around races and train together. Read more at the 'About Us' page.