The 2003 edition was to be the return of a great Montreal tradition. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The marathon is but one of many events taking place on the same day and course. The start on the bridge was fun and the run around the small islands was a good way to get warmed up, but the middle section, which winds its way through a quiet industrial sector, was the worst. The heavy traffic (cyclists, inline skaters, walkers, halfers and 10kers) at the finish line made things unbearable. Having to wait in line for a half hour behind 5k walkers for food and drink was inconceivable (the extreme heat and humidity, I grant, were not to be blamed on the organization).

The so-called expo was a joke (2 or 3 stands?). The medal was unsightly. The absolute worst, though, was the race officials who actually stopped runners near the finish line to allow a TV news truck back out of a parking lot. The scheduling was a nightmare (Quebec City's great marathon is held three weeks earlier). And this was to be a return of the organization that actually respected participants? Give me a break!

The people putting this marathon together simply didn't know what to do - as if their only concerns were to 1) add a marathon distance course to a bunch of other (clashing) activities such as cycling, in-line skating and a traditional 10K race, and 2) to make things harder for Quebec's only other marathon, the Marathon des Deux Rives in Quebec City, held just 3 weeks earlier. Boring course, no food, no gels, no 'Ade, practically no volunteers and few and often times confusing Km signs along the course. Runners had to deal with runners on other distances, cyclists and skaters, creating an unsafe environment.

Runners were simply extras in this horror film. Never again!

First off, the 1/2 marathon leaves too close after the full marathon... because of the narrow course at the beginning, marathoners must get out of the way to let them pass. At the end, another nightmare; people are walking in the narrow space reserved for the runners and the marathoners must go around them to the finish. The course was not bad, but what was that horrible smell around the half mark!? The organization at the end was poor... what were they thinking, after running in record heat, making us wait in line for at least 20 minutes to get something to drink!? Disgusted.