The event will be held on October 5th, 2024 on the bank of the Douro River between Porto and Gondomar, between Freixo and Crestuma’s Dam. Start line, finish line and transition parks will be in Freixo – Porto - Portugal.

The concept of this event is to pay tribute to the first participants in a triathlon race in Hawaii in 1978, according to three main principles:
I. preserve the characteristics of a spontaneous event;
II. Similar racing conditions to ’78 (swimming under the supervision of friends in their own boats/canoes, bike on a road open to traffic with compliance to traffic regulation);
III. to create an event which allows us to celebrate and party while sharing friendship and companionship related to sport.

No fee will be charged. Organization, participants and friends must provide all logistics necessary for the realization of the event. As in 1978, this event’s budget shall be zero!
There are some entities that support and help in the organization of the event, such as providing space for the transition park, light point, bathing room, or volunteer food.

For logistic and safety issues and because we want to preserve the spirit of ’78, 80 is the maximum number of participants in the event. The slots are as follows:
• 75 entries distributed among the finishers of the previous editions and drawn among the remaining entries;
• 5 vacancies chosen by the organization according to the motivations.
Athletes who have completed at least one previous edition of the Spirit of 78 Triathlon have their entry guaranteed.

All registrations must be submitted between February 1st and May 31th, 2024.
All registrations after May 31th will not be held into consideration.
The athlete's draw to allocate the available spots will take place on June 1st, 2024.
Start list will be brought to the general public on June 1st, 2024.
All registrations are personal and non-transferable.

BIB numbers will be distributed randomly and previously associated with the name of a personality who has made a significant mark in the Ironman full distance.
The attributed BIB’s (number and honored athlete) will be held for life for every Spirit of ’78 finisher and cannot be used by any other athlete. All finishers will have the right to use that BIB in all future events should they decide to register.

In order for the event to go as planned, volunteers will be needed on several tasks to support athletes.
It is the responsibility of the athletes who will participate, to ensure that there are people for the various functions to support the event (water supply, emergency team, photography, transportation, etc…).
Volunteers will be guided by the coordinating team.

Two transition sites will exist: the first (PT1) will be located at the back of Freixo’s Palace and the second (PT2) at the entrance of Marina do Freixo’s Parking Lot.
PT1 - will be located right after exiting the water at the back of Freixo’s Palace.
PT2 - at the entrance of Marina do Freixo’s Parking Lot near the only refreshment spot.
At PT2, all bicycles will be stored safely as soon as handed out by the athletes.

In order to make logistics easier and not to scatter all helping in the event only a single refreshment spot will exist, located at Marina do Freixo’s entrance, on PT2’s location.
While cycling, refreshment is done every 30kms.
While running refreshment is halfway of the 7km course providing a new refreshment every 3,5Km.
Each athlete is responsible for its own volunteer team with whom the refreshment shall be coordinated.
This way, all friends, relatives and public will be at a single location therefore concentrating the support and ongoing party which is intended to happen within the event.
Refreshment shall be provided by the athletes themselves.

Swim suits – for security reasons, neoprene swim suits will be recommended to all participants.
Drafting – no drafting is allowed.
Clean areas – the only available spot to drop water bidons, energy bar covers or any kind of garbage is within the space within 100 meters before and after the refreshment zone. It is the responsibility of the athletes' support teams to collect this waste.
Finale - The party will go on until the last athlete crosses the finish line. Everyone involved shall wait for the last athlete so everyone can rest after that.
Fines - It’s the athletes and their teams responsibility to provide food and beverage to all volunteers. These can be in product or contributing financially so that food and beverage can be bought.