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☰
Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 3.5 
Spectators 3.2
Number of comments: 74 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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J. K. from NYC NY
(9/8/2010)
 "Great race, could have been better organized" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I think this was a lovely event that could have been much better organized. The half marathoners started 2 hours after the full marathoners, so when the full marathoners got to their halfway point, about 2 hours later, the people running the half marathon flooded the already crowded streets and made it more challenging for the full marathoners on the course. The congestion could have been easily avoided if the half marathoners started as the same time as the full marathoners. Also, just when the streets were already congested and the aid stations already crowded beyond belief, the people running the 10K race were allowed on the same course. So just as I was getting to the 20-mile mark, the three different distances merged and the congestion was absolutely unnecessary. They could have started them at the same time as they started the marathon or the half marathon as well. I have no idea why they had to start 1 hour after the half marathoners and 3 hours after the full marathoners. So in effect, as the fast marathoners were entering the Olympic Stadium, so were the slow half marathoners and the even slower 10K runners. Are you kidding me? Who thought this was a good idea? All in all, a lovely city, a lovely course, good crowd support and a spectacular finish at the stadium sans the congestion. It was worth the trip. | |
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b. d. from toronto, ontario
(9/6/2010)
"great race; needs better organization at the end" (about: 2010)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 Montreal was a great city to run through. Starting on the Jacques Cartier Bridge, running on the F1 track and finishing in Olympic Stadium make this race great. They have to fix the organization at the end of the race though (for example, few information booths, slow posting of finishing times, etc.). Organizers failed to post my time some 40 minutes after I finished. I also could not find the booth where my medal could be engraved. Also, the finisher's area was heavily congested, making it hard to get around. | |
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Laurie Ferretti from Montreal Quebec Canada
(8/17/2010)
 "by far the best run of the year on the island" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This event is by far my favorite one of the year for its high energy, international participants and its turnout. While the course is challenging, with its hills and straightaways, it is well balanced. All in all, it makes for a great run for all levels of athletes. | |
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B. C. from Boston, MA
(6/30/2010)
 "Excellent course with friendly spectators." (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Even if you're finishing at around five hours, there are still plenty of locals to cheer you on. The energy from the crowds improved my morale and shaved a bit off my time. It was a wonderful event! | |
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M. R. from usa
(12/10/2009)
"Good" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 The only thing I have to complain about was the fact that I could count the number of porta-johns throughout the race on one hand - no joke. People were going in the middle of downtown Montreal, and if you weren't brave enough to do that, you had to stop and wait in line at one the few gas stations you'd pass. | |
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Debra Stubbs from Powell, Ohio, USA
(11/16/2009)
"A fun, well-organized race in a beautiful city!" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 From the registration process to getting the official results online, this race was handled perfectly. Any and all information was readily available and I got quick answers to questions that I asked. We stayed in a hotel recommended by the marathon organization and it was great, perfectly situated. The race course was beautiful, giving us runners a great opportunity to see this beautiful city and the spectators were phenomenal, lining the course to cheer us on and encourage us to keep going. "Ne lachez pas" ("don't give up") was the phrase of the day. The water and feed stations were plentiful and adequately manned and it was just a pleasure to be running that day. The finish in the Olympic Arena was spectacular and the post-race food was a well thought out, with a well balanced blend of protein, carbs, dairy and juices. Seeing your picture on the huge Jumbotron as you entered the stadium was so great, and hearing your name called as you approached the finish line was incredible. The results were posted quickly and efficiently, and the medals and certificates given to all runners are a great reminder of such a wonderful race. I recommend this race to anyone considering running a marathon. | |
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T. K. from Boston, Massachusetts
(9/29/2009)
 "Spectacular Course/Organization Getting Better" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I chose Montreal to be my 50th marathon, and I was very glad I did. Hands down, the highlight was the course. I won't go into details of it, but it was varied in terrain and sights, and it was one of my favorites to date. I loved the start on the bridge, the run around the antiquated amusement park, the run to the island with the formula race track, then the run to Montreal Island and through the city streets and neighborhoods, complete with an amazing finish in Olympic Stadium. Sure, there are sections that were, shall I say, boring, but to be honest, there is only one marathon I have ever run where you never have a dull stretch (London Marathon). Spectator support was minimal, especially when compared to other "city" marathons, but the course helped bridge that deficit. The support, when it was there, was very enthusiastic. It appeared like most spectators were family of the runners rather than city people coming out to cheer the event on, such as what happens at the big-city marathons. The sport drink on the course isn't nearly as bad as some claim. It was very much like Gatorade. If you have a troublesome stomach, you probably need to start drinking different stuff on your long runs. It'll harden the stomach for anything. The finish in Olympic Stadium was amazing. Period. The stadium seats weren't filled, but the vibe was amazing, especially considering that runners from all the other events were there waiting for marathon finishers. If you are a three-hour marathoner, you will be running by yourself from about 15K on. But you're probably used to that already. The expo was very small. They could improve that. But again, run enough of these and you realize that it is only the big-city marathons that have big expos. Montreal is getting to be a big-city marathon, but it's not there yet. Which is actually why I like it. Because it retains a homey, lower-key feel to it. It would have been nice for the adjoining half-marathon to go off before the marathon. The half was delayed by 15 minutes, which meant the marathon was delayed even more. Most marathoners wanted to get going. And I don't blame them. The finish area in the stadium was good, but it would have been far less crowded and easier to walk around if bikes weren't allowed in the area. Bikes were there because of the adjoining 40K TT bike race that was a part of the events. Post-race food was lame. But you know what? I don't really care much about that. I always go out for a burger and beer after a marathon. Post-race food, in my estimation, is just to tide you over. If you have run a handful of marathons, this is not a PR course. It isn't a killer course. But the hills - long, gradual ones (not short ones, or long and steep ones) come alive after halfway. And it can be windy. So if you're racing marathons, rather than pacing to finish, and if you've done a number of them, you will not get your PR here. But don't turn away from this course because of it. It's really a very nice, varied course. One of my favorites. In all, Montreal puts on a great event. It is not perfect, and it is growing bigger and bigger, but the course is a sure highlight. Maybe in a few years this will become a big-city marathon, and at that time we can talk about the expo and spectators and such. But it's not there yet. So you can't expect it. | |
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C. S. from San Juan, Puerto Rico
(9/28/2009)
"Great first marathon in a great city!" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon. I selected this city because it was in the same time-zone, at sea-level and has a cooler climate than Puerto Rico. With all the information I was sent online, I had no problems getting around and finding everything I needed at the expo. I was not impressed with the clothes for sale. I expected to spend hundreds and just walked away with a shirt that I wasn't thrilled with. The clothes were all for winter climates and not very feminine. Arriving at the race was easy. The other marathoners were friendly and in good spirits. Having trained in Puerto Rico, I considered it to be cold, but the weather was perfect once we got going. My fingertips were still cold at the halfway-mark. I really recommend this race for anyone from the Caribbean or from southern states. After a summer of training, this will be a breeze. The city was beautiful and the course took us by lots of water, through parks and quaint neighborhoods. The hills were not steep but long. The woman who gave me my medal at the finish line gave me the most sincere congratulations in French. The food at the end consisted of yogurt, a banana, juices, water, bagel with peanut butter and some other things. There was no yoga class after, as advertised. That was a disappointment. There was no massage after, as advertised. Another disappointment. The subway station was right at the finish, so it was easy to get back to my hotel. The coolest thing about this marathon was that it was in Montreal. I was traveling with my four-year-old daughter and we had an amazing vacation afterward. There are so many things to do. The city has an amusement park, the botanical garden, biodome and biosphere, all of which are great for children. We had so much fun. The tourist area is very easy to get around. We did at least two things for kids per day. Most things are free for four-year-olds. Do the marathon and vacation with your family. We had a blast! What a cool city! | |
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T. J. from Ottawa
(9/16/2009)
"Charming Race with an European Flavor" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 It's not the largest race, and not the most organized... but it's very charming. Since 2003, the race organizers have managed to improve the quality of this race every year. The course is scenic (it takes you through historic Old Montreal) and challenging, with a major climb at 26K. The race also attracts a large number of Europeans, which gives the event an international flavor. Most importantly, the race is lined with many, many beautiful Quebec women who enthusiastically cheer for all runners. An ideal race for Americans who want to run an international race without the high cost of air travel to Europe. | |
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J. W. from Boston, MA
(9/15/2009)
"The course is OK, except the start and finish" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The course overall was OK, with the start and finish being the exceptions. My main complaints are the expo and lack of support from the city itself. The expo was very disappointing. This was my son's first marathon and we could not find any merchandise worth buying for him as a souvenir. If you go to the website they still don't list anything, and just refer you to the expo. Also, the city doesn't show much support. There were few spectators, and they could learn a lesson from Boston and let runners ride the metro free on race day. That's a nice show of support from the City of Boston. |
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