The Médoc is a French wine growing region in the department of Gironde in Bordeaux. It is home to 1,500 vineyards that mainly produce red wines. Every year, the Médoc hosts an unusual marathon that attracts thousands of participants from several dozen countries.
Founded in 1985, the Marathon du Médoc is often referred to as the “longest marathon in the world” because participants make multiple wine-tasting stops along the route that passes through the vineyards and prestigious châteaux of Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe, and other communes of the region, beginning and ending at Paulliac. The length of the route may vary year to year (for example, the 2002 marathon was 44 kilometers instead of 42), and the terrain is uneven, with sand, soil, gravel, and asphalt alternating.
The Marathon du Médoc has also been described as the “world’s most idiotic marathon” by The Telegraph, but what’s life without a little idiocy? It is a truly unique event that is unlike any other marathon race in the world. First of all, most participants wear costumes instead of conventional running gear. Every year, the marathon’s organizers come up with a new theme, and many runners choose their costumes accordingly.
Secondly, instead of stops with water and isotonic drinks along the route, there are 23 wine tasting stops where runners sample local wines. The refreshment stations also offer local specialties such as cheese, cannelés bordelais (rum cakes), tarts, sausages, and ice cream. There are oysters at the 38th kilometer and steak at the 39th kilometer. In addition, multiple orchestras are scattered along the course, making the event even more joyful.
Every year, the Marathon du Médoc attracts more than 8,000 participants from around the world. The event is organized by the volunteer association Association pour le Marathon des Chateaux du Médoc (AMCM) with a team of approximately 2,800 volunteers who make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible.
Although the Marathon du Médoc is a competitive event, most runners participate for the atmosphere and wine. However, some participants treat the race seriously and run the distance in under three hours. The men’s record of 2:19:20 was set by Sasha Lotov (Russia) in 1992, and the women’s record of 2:38:34 was set by Josiane Llado in 1999. As of 2024, Nathalie Vasseur from France was the most successful female participant with 15 victories, and Philipe Remond from France was the most successful male participant with 10 victories. It should be noted that the finishing time is limited to 6:30 hours despite the special nature of the marathon.
The marathon itself is usually held on the first or second Saturday of September, three weeks before the grape harvest, but various related events take place in and around Pauillac during the long weekend, turning the annual race into a vibrant festival.
Photo: marathondumedoc.com
