Oh Meu Deus by UTMB
Oh Meu Deus by UTMB – Oh Meu Deus 50K
Loriga → Seia
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The Oh Meu Deus 50K is the classic mountain distance at Oh Meu Deus by UTMB, a 52 km route through the Serra da Estrela that starts in Loriga and finishes in Seia. Its signature is an early, uncompromising climb: from Loriga the course rises to Torre at just 17.4 km, hitting the day's high point of 1,899 m, the summit of mainland Portugal's highest range, before a long descent-and-rolling return to town. With 2,644 m of positive climbing over 52 km, this is a serious mountain 50 km that front-loads its hardest work. The profile - a big early summit followed by a return through the villages to Seia at 507 m - makes it a race of managing a huge early ascent and then holding form on tired legs, rather than saving everything for a late push.
The course and terrain
From the start at Loriga (763 m) the course runs to Alvoco da Serra at 8.6 km (749 m), then launches straight into the climb to Torre at 17.4 km and 1,899 m. After the summit it drops all the way back to Loriga at 28.4 km (732 m), traverses to Lapa dos Dinheiros at 41.9 km (706 m), and finishes at Seia at 507 m. The route is essentially one enormous early mountain, then a long, rolling homeward leg through the Serra da Estrela's villages. The terrain is granite and stone throughout - technical, exposed mountain paths high on the range near Torre, giving way to village-linking trail lower down. Because the checkpoints after Torre sit in the 500-730 m band, the 2,644 m of total D+ is dominated by that single climb to 1,899 m; the second half still undulates, but nothing matches the opening ascent for sustained vertical.
Where the race is decided
The race is defined in its first 17.4 km. Alvoco da Serra at 8.6 km sits at 749 m; Torre at 17.4 km sits at 1,899 m - roughly 1,150 m of climb in under 9 km, and it comes early while the field is still bunched and adrenaline is high. The temptation is to attack it; the smarter move is a controlled power-hike that leaves your legs intact for everything that follows, because there are still 35 km to run once you crest the summit. The long descent off Torre back to Loriga (28.4 km, 732 m) is the second decisive stretch - about 1,150 m of drop that can shred quads that overworked on the way up. Loriga is a crew point, as is Lapa dos Dinheiros at 41.9 km, so both are anchors for the return. The closing 10 km from Lapa dos Dinheiros down to Seia at 507 m favours anyone who protected their legs on the descent; runners who emptied themselves on Torre will find the rolling second half a long grind.
How to pace and fuel it
Pace against the cut-off ladder: Alvoco da Serra Fri 10:30, Torre 13:30, Loriga 15:30, Lapa dos Dinheiros 19:30 and Seia 21:00. The three hours allotted between Alvoco and Torre reflect how slow that climb runs - treat a collapse in pace there as normal, not a warning sign, and keep moving steadily. Aid spacing is 8-14 km between stations, so carry enough fluid and food to cover the long Torre climb unsupported, since the 8.8 km from Alvoco to the summit is where you will burn the most. Fuel hardest before and during the early climb while eating is still easy, so you summit with energy in reserve rather than trying to recover calories on the descent. Alvoco da Serra is your last stop before Torre; Loriga (28.4 km) and Lapa dos Dinheiros (41.9 km) are both crew points, so stage fresh flasks, food and a warm layer there. Save a little in the tank for the final descent into Seia, where good legs turn the closing kilometres into free time.
Conditions to expect
This distance summits Torre at 1,899 m, the high point of mainland Portugal's principal range, and that ground is fully exposed to wind, cold and fast-changing mountain weather even when the valleys below are mild. Carry a proper layer, gloves and a hat for the summit push, and be ready for the temperature and visibility to change sharply as you climb from Alvoco to Torre and then descend back to Loriga. With cut-offs running from Friday morning to a 21:00 finish in Seia, faster runners may complete the loop largely in daylight while those toward the back will meet dusk on the return, so carry a headtorch to be safe. The footing is rocky and technical, especially on the long Torre descent, where careful lines matter more than raw speed. Manage your kit around the crew points at Loriga and Lapa dos Dinheiros - warmth on for the high ground, layers off once you are back among the villages heading for Seia.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 763 m · —
8.6 km · 749 m · Fri 10:30
17.4 km · 1899 m · Fri 13:30
28.4 km · 732 m · Fri 15:30
41.9 km · 706 m · Fri 19:30
51.9 km · 507 m · Fri 21:00
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