EDP's Grand Virtual Christmas Race

The EDP's Grand Virtual Christmas Race is back!

This year, runners will be able to uphold this century-old tradition, while still safeguarding all the distance rules and good practices of control and regulation of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Here is another virtual and free race by EDP, in partnership with Maratona Club of Portugal, which promises to transform the energy of the participants into energy for those who need it most.

Participation must take place, on December 11th, 12th or 13th, 2020, at a place and time of your choice, and your registration and race validation must be done using the mobile phone application. The objective of each runner will be to reach the goal of 10 km, completed in one session. 

Your energy, and that of the other participants, will be transformed into months of energy that will be donated to institutions of social solidarity.

For the total of registrations EDP will offer a total of 18 months of energy to three social solidarity associations. The objective of this initiative is to support these institutions at a critical time for society.

Meet the Associations:

  1. Associação Protecção à Infância Bispo D. António Barroso: Founded in Porto in 1903, and recognized as a Private Institution of Social Solidarity in 1988, APIBAB receives young people who need, in addition to a roof to welcome them, support for their human and social development.

  2. Centro Social S.Pedro do Afonsoeiro: Created in Montijo in 1990, the S. Pedro do Afonsoeiro Social Center develops its action in the fight against social exclusion of young and old, providing different services in each of its Day Centers and Nursing Homes.

  3. Fundação Madre Sacramento – Lar Jorbalán: Located in Lisbon, Lar Jorbalán welcomes women temporarily women in a special situation of social vulnerability, promoting autonomy and social integration.

Guarantee your place in the race

Registration for this race is free and available until December 13, on the official web page, or on the race's official mobile application, VRaces MCP. After confirming the registration, participants will receive a PDF file with their individual race number by email.

The first 5,000 finalists of the EDP Grande Prémio de Natal will receive a 🏅medal and an anti-COVID-19 mask at the address indicated on the registration form.

EDP Grande Prémio Natal Virtual

Register your race

Only participations completed in the application will be valid. Therefore, you must register in the application, VRaces MCP, before starting running.

The application must be active during the 10 km and the distance of each race must be made in a single session (it is not possible to keep the distance in more than one session) and once the race has started, it is not possible to cancel it and restart participation.

After the race, you will have access to the results, and you will receive a personalized participation certificate by email.

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Run to the sound of our playlist

We want to boost your training and your race, so we created an exclusive playlist for you! Combine your energy to the spirit of Christmas and run to the sound of several hits from this magical season. 🎅🏃‍♀️🏃

Run with EDP, the official energy of sports!

Playlist da corrida EDP Grande Prémio de Natal

5 tips for a great race by Isabel Silva

Isabel Silva has joined the EDP's Grand Virtual Christmas Race to help make this special, unique edition translate into positive energy, a transforming force in a year that “is putting us to the test regarding everything.”

The TV host took the opportunity to share some tips on how to prepare a race, so that participants can meet the challenge and break barriers - yet without forgetting that "it should be a pleasant, liberating experience."

1. Long training, but take it easy

Any race requires training, preparation, but Isabel Silva points out that the training is not the race itself. In her case, she does “45 calm, easy minutes.”

2. Stretching to wake up the body

Stretching is essential before any workout. Isabel Silva prefers dynamic stretches, starting with a low skip followed by a medium one. Then she does several types of arm movements, “literally to say to the body - wake up, time to start running, trust me!”

3. Resting is very important

Whether for training or for the race itself, “resting is very important,” the TV host says. Sleeping well helps your body prepare for exercise, without risks or unnecessary efforts.

4. Who doesn't like a piece of bread with olive oil?

Food - both the meal the night before and the things you eat on the day of the race - is another important aspect to be taken into account. Isabel Silva says that on race days, you should eat well in advance and “not too much, just enough.” In her case, she likes toasted bread with olive oil and a cup of coffee: “Who doesn't like a piece of bread with olive oil?”

5. One extra piece of advice for a challenging year

“2020 is being such a challenging year. It is putting us to the test regarding everything,” says Isabel Silva, for whom “the race should also be a pleasant, liberating experience" - rather than scoring a better time or breaking a personal record. “My final piece of advice regarding the EDP Christmas Virtual Race is that running should be fun, because that's what really matters. These have been difficult days, but a race will definitely cleanse your soul. Come run with me, I'm counting on you.”