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Whalers Great Route Ultra-Trail® (WGR)

THIS IS THE QUEEN RACE, WHICH AIMS TO HONOR THE WHALING ACTIVITY THAT FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY DEFINED LIFE IN THE AZORES, PASSING BY HISTORICAL POINTS OF THIS ACTIVITY AND AREAS WHERE BIODIVERSITY AND GEODIVERSITY ARE ALWAYS BREATHTAKING.

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MAY 5

118KM

15,192ft+
15,243ft-

11 AID STATIONS

28 HOURS

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Itra WGRUT
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For over a century, the Azores have been defined by whaling, which has left lasting signs and customs in the Azorean cultural identity. This race, with a gradient of 15,192ft+ / 15,243ft-, aims to pay tribute to whaling culture, by starting at the whaling station of Salão, an emblematic place used from the 19th century until the end of whaling in the archipelago. 

You will find unique places full of history, such as the São Sebastião Fort, the Angústias Whaling Complex, and the marginal Avenue. The trail goes through areas of the Faial Natural Park, a place considered a European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) by the European Commission. The adventure comes to an end at Porto do Comprido, at sea level, the largest and main whaling station in the Azores between 1940 and 1957, located in the Vulcão dos Capelinhos and Costado da Nau geosites of the Azores Geopark - UNESCO World Geopark.

The population of Faial unites to make the party and support you along the route, where there are 11 Gas Stations: Levada (Cedros), Fajã da Praia do Norte, Casa dos Botes, Ribeira Funda School, Falca, Porto Pim Gate, Chão Frio Empire, Ribeirinha Red Empire, Cabouco Forest Park, Levada Tank and Capelo Forest Park. 

For the great lovers of running, this race gives the opportunity to qualify for the WESTERN STATES ENDURANCE RUN. If you complete the WGR in 26 hours, you qualify to run in the Western States 2024. 
The 2023 qualifying period will be from November 1, 2023 to November 21, 2023. The lottery will be held on December 3, 2023 and the race will be held June 22 and 23, 2024. It also counts with ITRA scoring, UTMB 100K Qualifier and is part of the Associação de Trail Running de Portugal circuit as a Series 150 race.

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