So what happens when the reality exceeds the dream? Savor it. Five years of dreaming and planning and yearning to run the fabled Medoc...I finally made it happen for my 75th birthday.
Marathon Tours' impeccably orchestrated adventure involved epicurean meals, velvety wine, laconic humor and fascinating stories of the legendary Bordeaux region...enriching and engaging.
And the marathon? Running with wildly costumed revelers through bucolic vineyards with wine at every aid station...what's not to like?
It was an experience I replay often; magical moments, dreams realized, memories forever...I will go back.

I ran in the 2012 running of the Medoc, and had been so excited to participate in this quirky race. However, this year was hotter than most. It was over 30C/90F degrees out! The race organizers were clearly not prepared for this high temperature and that extra water needed in such conditions. I started towards the back of the pack and ran nearly 10K before finding water on the route. Most water stations along the course were totally out of water when I passed them. There's only so much wine you can safely taste without also having water during a hot weather marathon. Organizers, please next year be prepared to provide water to ALL runners and not just the front runners.

I was talked into running this marathon by my father as his 'retirement' race. I did a practice marathon 6 months before, just so I knew what I was in for, so it was only my second marathon. Well, what an experience. ALL marathons should have wine available on the course, it really takes the edge off running 42km! I smiled and laughed the whole way, paced myself on some jellyfish, chatted to random cows/pigs/ladybirds....you get the idea.. got a bit drunk at the 30km mark. The food and wine is excellent. Bands at every winery, crowds out on the street cheering and with homemade goods to try. It was a highlight of my life not just my running life - and i'll be back, with friends in tow!

This has been my first marathon and have a nasty suspicion that it will remain the standard that the rest will aspire to. It is not for the aggressive, militant runner, it is absolute fun and a perfect testament to the fabulous nature of the region and the wonderful people who make the race possible. You must do it, you must dress up and embrace the whole ethos and you must book early!

Another year, another day participating in the race billed as the longest marathon in the world. On the 11th of September, 2010, 8,500 runners took part in the famous wine-fueled Marathon du Medoc. A total of 23 wine-tasting stations (and countless water stations) were available to the runners over the course of 42 KM/26 miles. In addition, the last four kilometers of the race included all-you-can-eat oysters, cheese, ham, BBQ and ice cream. Each racer was given 6:30 hours to complete the race (although it should be noted that the organizers actually stopped tracking the finish times at 7:00 on the dot) and over 90% of the participants ran in costume. This year's costume theme was "comic books," so there were a lot of smurfs, Asterixs and Obelixs, Tintin, etc. Only about 40% of the runners actually dressed as comic book characters and the rest dressed in miscellaneous costumes (i.e. construction workers, transvestites, etc.).

The marathon itself is really nice because it is mostly flat and cuts through the vineyards and chateaus of some of the most famous wineries in the region. The race begins and ends in Pauillac, so most of the wineries in the vicinity are visited. We passed through (and tasted) wine from prestigious producers such as Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Beychevelle, Chateau Latour, etc. One of the highlights of the race was running through the Chateau Lafite Rothschild, tasting one of their wines, and then stripping off the costume to jump in a pond within the Chateau's property (although it is recommended not to jump in with a camera in your hand as one particular transvestite did during the race). At the end of the race, everyone got a medal, a backpack, and a wine bottle and then they all gathered in a party tent where people were served copious amounts of wine, beer, and refreshments as well as sandwiches.

In all seriousness, it is imperative that your training for this race includes drinking a bit of wine each day and slowly increasing your dosage. My training regime culminated with a wine-tasting trip through the Burgundy and Bordeaux regions a few days before the race itself.

The organization of the race is excellent, but not strict enough to allow some of the participants to begin the race halfway through (as some of our group members did). The T-shirt received for signing up for the race was not great, but at least it should be possible to use it sometime in the future.

This is not just a marathon; it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and journey. The course winds through numerous historical French Chateaux and 59 vineyards in the Medoc region of southwest France. The course is difficult with much of the race being on uneven pavement, dirt and gravel. For some reason, if you are struggling during the race, the halfway point is near the start/finish line, so you won't need to be driven back. In 2010, the weather was 82 degrees F and sunny.

Most of the participants are dressed in creative costumes and the start of the race is a total party with music and show. The spectators (limited in some areas) are great along the course and cheer you on by your name, which is located on your race bib. There are approximately 22 water, food, music, and amazing wine tasting stops along the course. The race organizers allow a 6 and a 1/2-hour time limit, and they mean it. When the time limit is reached, the finish line is closed and nobody is allowed to cross, so pace yourself accordingly. At the finish line, you are greeted by enthusiastic volunteers who hand out a heavy medal, a Marathon du Medoc backpack, and a bottle of decent Bordeaux wine in a commemorative wood carton.

So, if you are looking for an unique experience in a marathon, I recommend taking it slow and enjoying every sight, sound, and taste of this superb marathon in Medoc, France. You will never forget it!

ALLEZ!!!

Long story short: after two weeks with food poisoning, I decided to only run the first half, while my husband did the whole. It was still an amazing experience!

First of all, to enjoy this race you need to fully embrace the French way of doing things... just go with the flow and enjoy yourself. Here are some things we wish we'd known ahead of time:

The town of Pauillac and surrounding area are truly not spectacular - mostly just working vineyards and industry. You won't be missing anything if you are just in town for the weekend.

The expo is small but well organized, so show up any time. The shirts were scratchy, fitted tank tops; order a size up. The pasta dinner ("mille-pates") is unbelievably fun and worth every penny. Buy tickets when you register, and remember that it starts with a mandatory "cocktail hour" outside the tent, so bring a warm jacket and don't arrive early. (You'll have a great time even if you don't speak French... everyone there will take great pride in trying to explain things to you.)

There is no transport or official parking on race morning; get into town before they close the roads, and park in any lot near the start. Wear a costume, bring a camera, and if you're part of an American group, consider wearing US flags so people can wave and try to speak to you in English. It is a great excuse to make friends.

The wine stops get more frequent throughout the course, so pace yourself! And at the end the food area is an absolute zoo, so be patient or bring cash to buy some food nearby. Also, the day after the race is a traditional oyster market day in some nearby ocean villages... it's a great way to stretch your legs if you're still in town.

This race is one-of-a-kind and definitely an extremely fun and unique experience!

This was 109th marathon; why did I wait so long to have so much fun. It's one of the top 100 things to do before you die. In fact, I would put it in the top 10 from start to finish - it was fantastic. It was a hard course, but the wine and the fun made the miles go fast. Terrific start with the dancing girls - what a way to warm up. Great sports bag, good medal, great bottle of wine, and also a fantastic running vest. Please do not turn up in running gear to spoil the atmosphere. Take your time, relax, and get ready to party. I will be back again and again.

...all at the same time! Very nice course in the countryside along the vineyards and the "chateaux." Exceptionnal ambiance and the runners are mostly relaxed. Forget about doing a personal best there though; it's not flat, and it's muddy at times. But it's definitely worth doing!!!!

My wife and I participated in this event several weeks ago and were completely impressed with it. The organization, on-course support and festive spirit (during and after the race) were fantastic, as were the scenery and great wines to sample throughout the course. It can certainly be run competitively, but that goes counter to the intent of the event and really warrants that you take the time to enjoy the paths through the vineyards and chateaus, as well as the many fine wines to be had along the way. Truly a "must do" for adventurous marathon runners.