The marathon course starts in front of the beautiful Chateau de Cheverny and goes through three loops in the beautiful french countryside. Organisation is like clockwork - we arrived 20 minutes before the start, parked 20 metres away and were on the start line with plenty of time! refreshments were every 5k with water, sports drink, chocolate, sugar, fruit, two types of cake and arrangements for your own refreshments. For those who wanted it there was also wine, pate and cheese! At the finish line the atmosphere was wonderful with the commentators name checking all the finishers. Getting from the finish line to the complimentary food took 5 minutes and from there to the car park another 5 minutes. Really well organised and the Loire valley countryside is stunning. The course meanders through vineyards, country roads and forests!

This is my fourth marathon, and it was amazing. Having done three big-city marathons, it was a nice change to enjoy a smaller event. One of the key reasons for my doing the marathon is that I read the reviews below - and boy, did they get it right.

A very relaxing start; you only needed to be there 15 minutes beforehand. The course we pretty flat, and while there was a short section of it on gravel, the bulk of it was on tarmac.

There was loads of beautiful scenery and the detour through the winery was great.

I had half a glass of red wine at the 38K mark, and while I had no idea what the Frenchman were saying to me, it was clear that we were all having a great time.

While support was patchy except in a few key areas, this made it much easier to for my wife and friends to watch.

We had a very cute cottage for an extended weekend break that worked out to be very cheap.

If you've done one city marathon and are looking for a bit of a change, give Cheverny a go - you won't regret it.

Undertook the marathon as part of a holiday in Europe. The Paris Marathon was booked out by the time we decided to take the trip. I saw the De Cheverney Marathon on the calendar and organized our trip around it.

After spending a couple of days in Paris, I took the train to Blois and stayed there. We hired push bikes and we rode over the Loire River down to De Cheverney early on Sunday morning (15 or more KM), through vineyards, forests and farmland. At that hour we were startling the deer.

I cannot speak very much French, but the organization is much the same anywhere, and I got registered without too much fuss. There was a very entertaining drum band, with pipers and brass bands on the track.

The marathon started in the grounds of the De Cheverney chateau. There was a bit of a logjam getting out of the gate with the other runners. We slowed to walking pace for a few seconds and then we were away.

We came back around and through the village, past the main crowd, and then down an avenue and through forests. The drink stations were well set-up and provided for. It was a very scenic course, with twists and turns through farmlands, and just before the second lap, we had a run through the chateau grounds along some pretty avenues lined by huge pines.

There were a few kilometers of unsealed track. But it wasn't a bad surface to run on.

Spectators were very supportive: "Allez," "Allez."

And yes, there was a wine and cheese stop at 18K (and again at 39K). Most of the runners gave it a swerve, but I saw some really keen ones lining up.

The finish line was great.

We had a leisurely ride back to Blois along the Loire. It was a bonus to a really good day.

A peaceful Sunday afternoon. And yes, the promotion pack handed to the competitors included a bottle of local wine... which didn't amount to anything, as I put it in my hand luggage when we left Britain for Australia, and I had to dump it at Heathrow security. I'll probably have to go back another time and get another one.

I'd recommend it to anyone.

- MD

The Cheverny Marathon was a great race. I flew in from Texas to run it and was not disappointed. The weather was perfect and the course very beautiful. Made you appreciate what it would be like to be super rich and actually own a chateau.

Running through the forests and past the huntings dogs was a lot of fun.

If you're looking for a mid-size race (I think about 1,200 people) with great weather, this one could be for you.

If you are a lover of the French countryside, elegant chateaux, smaller marathons, and low-stress experiences, this is the one for you. You start right on the grounds of Cheverny, a lovely chateau in the Loire Valley, and then run through the quaint village of Coeur-Cheverny, through woods, past vineyards, green pastures, country cottages, even another couple chateaux. The course is flat, shaded much of the time, no traffic, and you can run alongside the road on soft dirt or gravel much of the time. The water stations are well-stocked with dried fruit, chocolate, water and sports drink, juice, and plenty of supportive volunteers. There are even two opportunities for a glass of wine and cheese on a slice of baguette! Very civil! Not many supporters out there in the pastures, but lots of cheering in the village and at the mid-point, when you run tantalizingly close to the finish line to begin your second big loop.

The registration is simple, in the village of Coeur-Cheverny, the pasta dinner is a fun 4-course affair with a band playing, and there's lots to eat at the finish (the same area). You get a t-shirt, medal, and even a commemorative bottle of wine for your low entry fee. Costumes are encouraged, but not many were worn. I came as an cowboy with hat, pistol, bandana, which was a great ice-breaker and crowd-pleaser. Tip: French children don't like to be shot at!

If you go, I suggest staying at the Ibis Hotel in Blois (only 60 euros, and in the heart of town, just 10-15 minutes away). Blois is a lovely town to tour, and don't miss the chateaux of Chambord and Chenonceaux.

A lovely, French experience, without all the noisy crowds!