Quebec City Marathon/Marathon des Deux Rives - Race Reviews

I am glad that I ran my first marathon in this destination race, and my overall experience was fantastic! The event organization was great and everything went smoothly for a traveller like me. Spectators along the course were among the best I've ever seen. And the course itself was scenic, beautiful, and full of nice varieties. The racing day weather was quite pleasant in comparison with last a few years. Without direct sunshine, last 10K became less demanding. However, cool weather made rookie marathoners like me feel too good and go faster than planned in the descending first half. Then after 21K a few not-so-gentle slopes made me realize that I should have respected the course more and followed all marathon textbook advices about pacing strategy and how to correctly run downhill:) Overall, the SSQ Quebec City marathon is a great event worth to try. It has a tricky but still manageable course, and in turn will provide runners with good lessons and useful marathon experience.

Beautiful Old Quebec City provides a picturesque background to this regional race with a solid history. The course is deceptively difficult and not recommended as a BM Qualifier (unless you are in outstanding shape). Bib p/u was smooth, registration easy and Quebec City provides ample accommodations. But beware, the city is very hilly and touristing before the race will take a lot out of you! Race starts on the other 'Rive' in Lévi, no ferryboats any longer but a shuttle takes you from the Quebec City Vieux Port direct to a non-descript big-stores area of Lévis. Half Marathoners & 10k start separately farther down the route. I found the marathon start (7:30am now) area quite perfunctory and uninspiring. The water was even from a LONG gardening hose and tasted awful. The course follows the vast St.Lawrence and provided good scenery and a light breeze. Volunteers were present but not particularly enthusiastic. Support in general is minimal because the route mostly follows bike trails and non-residential arteries but the occasional sing-song of joual french heard was welcome. Bands are non-existent on the south shores but plentiful (if not the highest quality of musicianship) on the north shores. Expo & Registration is convenient, printed info material is well thought-out. Marathon field was around 1400, with the Half several times larger. Finish area is fairly standard with the expected food & water. No after race party or pre-race pasta dinner that I found. Best: Experienced organization, beautiful area, Québecois culture & background. Worst: Unacceptable quality of water provided along the route, arterial route with a challenging profile.

My wife and I happen to be on vacation in Quebec City, Canada the same weekend as the Marathon so like any other red blooded obsessed marathoner, we signed up at the last moment and ran the 1/2 Marathon. We arrived at the expo at 4pm with only minutes to register before we had to catch our 4:30 ferry back across the river. The volunteers were amazing and expedited us smoothly through the registration process. They spoke French and English. The 8:30am start for the full and the 1/2 marathon in our opinion is much to late given the heat at this time of the year. They should start the full marathon no later than 7:00am, and there wasn't enough uplifting music to energize the runners and what they did have was less than stellar. I highly recommend they add more uplifting bands with a rhythmic beat. In addition, they need more water stations given the August temperatures. On a positive note, this race excels on organization with an amazingly smooth start and finish and some amazing scenery. Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives, and I would recommend this race and a visit to Quebec City.

Québec is an enchanting european city in North America that must be seen. The organization of the race was top notch. The expo ran well. Transportation to the starting line was a breeze. The fans were great. The after race massage was amazing and got me walking again. Even the course was not bad. It's downhill for the first half, then over a bridge, then flat for the final 10k. It was the weather that was brutal. After the bridge you are in full sun on a blacktop road. Around that time the temp and humidity climbed. I heard 30C temperature and 40+ heat index. Finishers were dropping like flies. I finished a full 15 minutes behind my goal time. As much as I enjoyed my weekend I would not recommend the marathon until they move to a later day or earlier time of the day.

It is well designed course. The entire course is scenic and interesting. Considering Quebec is a small city with most of people wondering the streets are tourists, the smaller cheering groups along the way and good crowd at the end are still a very good turnout. The event started at 8:30am. Most of the finishers crossed the line after noon time. The 30+ C temperature was a big problem to me, and to many runners. The organization needs to seriously consider to move the time earlier by 2 hours or so. I saw several fainted runners along the side of the street needing medical care. The condition of high temperature and no shading to the last 10 miles of the course made this race a non-desirable event. If you are well trained under heat, this one is for you. Otherwise, you are under risk. I rate this course low because the hazardous heat condition despite the beautiful course. With heat condition said, the organization provided good number of water stations, where orange juice, water, cold water soaked sponges, bananas, GU, and cold water spreads were provided. The bicycle petrol team was very helpful to take care the laid down runners, sit down runners, and to inquiry the stopped runners. I rate the organization 4 because they should have learned lessons from the previous years regarding the heat conditions. The finish medal is uniquely designed with flash LED. The event is small enough to allow everyone on his (her) own pace almost from the very beginning.

Good, well-organized race in a beautiful city with awesome fan support. But pray for cool weather or the big hill + last 8 miles can be very tough. Not exactly a fast, flat BQ race. Course: couple of miles in big box store area, then long, scenic descent along shaded bike path and along river. Short steep hill around mile 14.5 followed by 3 miles of gentle uphill to the top of the bridge. Some downhill on the other side and then about 8 miles on a flat 4-lane road next to the river + bike path. As others have said, the last 8 miles are completely exposed and extremely tough if it's hot and sunny, which it was again this year (high was 84 degrees). On a cool and cloudy day, I could see how this course could be quite nice, but in the heat and blazing sun it was pretty miserable. I finished around #50 and every runner I saw in the last 10k was staggering along and falling apart. As others have mentioned, if you are expecting the course to be a tour of the beautiful old city, you will be disappointed. But I was thankful not to have to tackle the crazy hills of the old city at the end of this race; I don't see how you could improve the beauty of the route without adding significant hills. Organization: I thought the race was extremely well organized. Transportation and maps were excellent. The sponges and showers at the water stops were awesome. Lots of exhibitors at the race expo. My only suggestion would be to start the race earlier (or push it back to September). Watching people stagger through the baking sun at the end, I couldn't help thinking back to the start of the race where everyone spends 90 minutes sitting on the pavement in a random parking lot waiting for the race to begin. I think they could easily start at 7:30. Fans were absolutely fantastic  nothing but good things to say. Tons of people out in Levis for the first part of the race, and then folks on bikes going up and down the bike path encouraging us along through the toughest part of the race. Bands playing, and tons of people cheering at the end. Finally, Quebec City is a very cool place to visit in its own right  take a couple of extra days there to explore around.

Race logistics was not great...registering online, they screwed up my name on the bib (putting my last name as my first) and the packet pickup wasn't as smooth as it could be...the instructions to find the expo/packet pickup place were horrendous, as were the instructions to find parking on race day...for God's sake, can't ANYBODY in all of Quebec City draw a decent map and give proper directions??? As others have noted, the starting time and routing of this marathon leave a lot to be desired. Given that most of the race is unshaded, a start time of 6am would be reasonable, or 7am at the very latest...the heat and sun made the last third of the marathon quite unpleasant. And why can't at least some of the race be routed through the beautiful old quarter of the city?

Getting the the start of the point-to-point race was smooth and easy, with the ferry ride across the river a great start to the day. While the first few kilometres were down the main street, once we got into the residential areas and the bike paths along the St. Lawrence River, it was cool, beautiful and serene. The view across the river to Quebec City is postcard material. The fans alone the route shouted enthusiastic encouragement in both English and French. The volunteers at the water stations were always friendly and helpful. The last kilometre was filled with cheering fans, and the finish chute was well organized, supportive and efficient. Highly recommend this course!

I loved loved LOVED this course! The 1st part was slightly more interesting than the last 10k or so, well kinda- scenic, all clean throughout, well stocked and supported, small feel but big grand lovely organization!! Would do it again in the future!!

There are some hill in 2nd half and the heat began to increase. But the water stations were great!!!! If I know this town and marathon were this good I would have been here sooner and stayed for a couple of extra days. Thanks for a great race.

It's a truism that the RD can't control the weather, but when the weather is a significant negative three years in a row (too hot the last two years, canceled due to tropical storm winds the year before that), the RD should give some serious thought to the things over which he or she does have some control, like scheduling and course: 1. Scheduling. A. Why run the race in August if the weather on race day is consistently unfavorable? Why not move it to June or September? B. Why start the race at 8:30? There is a 7:30 start for walkers (of whom I didn't pass more than a couple dozen). The 8:30 start means that the vast majority of people running the full finish after noon  the height of the heat. 2. The course. And the heat is exacerbated by the fact that there is literally no shade over the last 7 miles or so (once you cross the bridge). Also, Quebec City is one of the most beautiful cities in North America, but you wouldn't know it from running this boring course of suburban bike trails and urban highways. One day, Competitor is going to discover Quebec City and eat the current organizers' lunch.

Having never been to Quebec city before we completly enjoyed our visit and race. The ferry ride to the start was a great way to start morning. First 13-14 miles flat shady looking over to Quebec city on all closed roads and bike paths. Wonderful not to have to worry about traffic. 2nd half not as scenic plus the temp started to really go up. Showers and aid stations along the 2nd half were wonderful to cool off. Would definetly do again!

Of the 22 long races I've done, this was my favorite and while I would love to give it a 10, I'd have to back that off just because they didn't come up with a way to keep the fluids cooler than the air temp. It was a VERY hot race, which was ok, but the water was the same temp which did nothing to curb ones thirst. Other than that, it was wonderful. Lots of spectators, lots of volunteers, wonderful pits stops, great expo, nice finish and a very cool shower unit.

Quebec City Marathon 8.30.09 - Be careful of the weather here. It was the coldest, windiest day they had ever had in summer. It rained most of the marathon and the sun came out in the last 750KM. Go figure.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a friendlier marathon city. Loved the course, and the fans cheering, "Bravo, Bravo" and cooling you off with their water hoses. It was hot, but it was August... suck it up. RUN IT... LOVE IT Already signed up for 2011.

I'm from a hot country and we don't run in this heat starting at 8.30 a.m. Our own Barbados Marathon starts at 4:30 a.m.; we respect the heat. The weather on this day was 29 C, 37 C with Humidex (feels like 104 F). Not a cloud in the sky. During normal weather, the marathon route I imagine would be nice on the Levis side, and a bit boring on the Quebec side after the bridge as it's just highway and highway. In hot weather, however, this route is not so much challenging as dangerous. After this has occurred several times now in the 13 year history of this marathon, you would think that the organizers would either 1: make a last-minute time change to 6:30 a.m. start time announced the day before or 2: change the route permanently to avoid having a 21.1K second half that is completely unshaded. A 47-year-old man had a heart attack a few miles before the finish, and there were many, many people being treated for heat sickness along the route and at the end (including myself) in the medic tent. I think there was a fatality in the second year of this marathon - a 32-year-old male, also on a hot day. Despite the heat, the citizens on the Levis side were great, lining the route with their chairs and makeshift sprinkler showers, and clapping and cheering, telling you to "keep on going" in French. I waved and thanked everyone as I passed. What amazing support. The fans died out before the bridge, and there were few after that until the end, but those that you saw, especially near the end of the race, would yell at you in French that you were almost there. I want to add as well that almost everyone speaks a bit of English in Quebec City and anyone wanting to run this would not have any problems at all with the language barrier. Quebec City is a very old city, and its architecture is very European. Also, Levis is like a French seaside town; the houses resemble homes in Brittany in the north of France. Amazing!

Overall the organization was good, except one caution: make sure you get on the correct bus for either the half or full marathon. I got on the wrong bus because the organizer spoke only in French. Luckily a very kind volunteer and bus driver drove me to the correct start point at the last minute. The aid stations were excellent, the course is beautiful, and yes, there are only a few "hills" but also some rather long, 20-30-degree inclines. The inclines did not bother me and I was pleased with my time at this race. It was hot on the day we ran, with the occasional nice breeze, but by taking full advantage of the aid stations I did just fine. I would recommend this marathon if you enjoy both a physical challenge and a cultural experience.

I registered for this race with relatively low expectations. I wanted to run a half-marathon relatively close to home and one that was scheduled at the end of the summer. I do not know of anyone who has run this race and therefore had no prior knowledge of what to expect. I had an excellent experience! The race route was nicely planned out. It was scenic and interesting enough to keep my mind busy throughout the run. It ran through a charming waterfront neighborhood, across the bridge into Quebec City, along the St. Laurence River, and into the city. A couple of hills, but it was generally flat and fast. It is relatively well organized. I stayed in one of the event hotels, which offered a shuttle service to the ferry. The volunteers were very friendly. Everybody I encountered spoke English better than I had expected. There weren't too many spectators along the way, but the closer we got to the finish line, the more people there were cheering on runners. Tons of food at the finish line: chocolate milk, fruit, yogurt, bagels, cookies, broth, water, and sodas. So, if you're looking at running a race in the province of Quebec, this one is definitely worth the trip. Marathon swag: Finishers' medals have LEDs that flash. Extra batteries are provided too! The tech shirt is not bad; unfortunately, they are all men's cut, which is not a great fit for the ladies. Also, a reusable cloth bag with pictures from previous marathons.

This marathon is one of the best-kept secrets in the marathon world! I hadn't heard of it until I had to scramble to find a late-August marathon in a state/province I hadn't run yet. I am so happy I ran across it! This was my 36th marathon and it absolutely was the most beautiful course I have ever run. We saw the St. Lawrence River, which was spectacular for about 2/3 of the race. The architecture in the cities is absolutely unbelievable. The race starts in Levis and finishes in Quebec. I don't know of a race with better organization, better volunteers, or any more friendliness. Fan support was second only to Boston - we ran through neighborhoods with everyone out supporting us with smiles, applause, water and sprinklers. The race shirts were great, two-color, technical shirts, and, the medal was absolutely one of the best I have received (it even lights up). Yes, there were some hills, particularly going up to, and yes, after the bridge crossing the river. The worst was a congested construction area leading up to the bridge where I got plowed into by a non-marathon-related bike. Outside of that, and the unusually hot day (record set for that day at 85 degrees... it was 40 something last year), it was an event that I would recommend to everyone!

The Marathon des Deux Rives (two shores marathon) is a great course in a fantastic city that I targeted for my 2009 destination marathon and I was not disappointed There are many fine hotels in the Old City within easy walking distance of the ferry that takes you across the St. Laurence river to Levis and the start. My wife and I took advantage of the pasta supper the night before and it was worthwhile, but there are many restaurants to choose from. The expo was good and it was nice to get a runner's shirt that was not black nor long-sleeved for a change. Taking the ferry was unique and well-managed (my wife, a spectator, bought a $5 ticket at the expo and went with me to the start, and then after we began, the race was bussed to the finish). When we got to Levis, it was nice getting off the ferry and then breezing by the long line of half marathoners waiting for their bus and walking right on the marathon bus (worth the extra 13.1 miles of effort!). Toilets are adequete at the start, with (tip) port-a-potties available outside the school. It was overcast and drizzly to start the race, which limited vista views of the area, but the course was very fair, with no major uphills and plenty of water/Gatorade stops. There were many open toilets at the halfway mark, used for the half-marathon start, that I felt guilty not using. Spectators were sporadic but enthusiastic, and it's a great setting at the finish. The course allowed me to be on a pace for my PR, but a leg issue in the last six miles derailed that result. The only negative was that, without renting a car, the only two times my wife was able to see me was at the start and finish. Quebec City is the most picturesque city in North America and there is so much to see and do either before or after the race. The four days we were visiting were hardly enough. Language is not a problem, as all service people (except a few cabbies) are bilingual and very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.

I would highly recommend this marathon. Quebec City is a beautiful place to visit. We stayed in a hotel in the old city, which was only five minutes from the finish so we could walk back. The ferry ride to the buses was a great way to start the day. The marshaling area was at a school and you could wait inside to keep warm, which was great. The first half of the course is enjoyable, with nice views across the St. Lawrence, but I was unprepared for the hills leading up to the bridge and the rollers after the bridge in the final 10K. This was my first marathon, and compared to other half marathon courses I have run, I think it was significantly tougher! All in all, a great weekend, and I loved limping/shuffling up and down the hills of Quebec City the next few days!

Running this race was a last-minute decision, and I wasn't sure what to expect when coming to Quebec, but I'm glad that I went. Everything went very, very nicely. People in this city went out of there way to accommodate the runners. I had a very, very bad run, as I was not properly prepared. I did San Fran the month before and was not ready for this race. That being said, I loved everything about this small-town race. It reminded me of San Fran a little bit, but not because of my time! I will be returning to make amends For my poor showing. Thank you, Quebec, for making my visit so comfortable. See you next year.

This was my 3rd marathon and I was thrilled to take part in such an organized event. The spectators were wonderful along the route, and there were plenty of water stations and gel stations (all exactly where the website indicated they would be). I found the course to be my toughest to date. I was really tired after this run. One disappointing note: there were a lot of us that ran the marathon in 4:30 or less, and I met some runners who were doing their first marathon from Boston - they were very excited that on the other side of the river there would be music, but by the time we all got to the other side of the river, the bands had packed up and left. That was very disheartening for us slower marathoners, who need all of the support that we can get. It's a very long, lonely run for us at the end.

As an overseas runner I found it very welcoming as my first marathon and was delighted to finish in under 3 hours. It's a tough course with plenty of inclines, especially before and after the bridge, and you probably won't PB here. But they really do put on the effort in organizing the event and making it enjoyable, and the scenery is top-notch. One criticism, though: there was not enough water and too much Gatorade. Who drinks that disgusting stuff, especially during a race?!

Overall, it was very well organized. It had a decent expo for an event with only about 900 marathon runners, though the shirts are small (my XL-marked shirt is an L) and the goodies are underwhelming. There were good lodging options, and in an interesting city. They had many helpful volunteers, the pace bunnies were great, the clear markers at every kilometer made the time go quickly (which was helpful, as course was a little dull), and though there were a few tough hills, they had good water stops. The finish was the weakest area, with poor crowd control (pedestrians crossing your path near the finish). After finishing, you moved through a food station, which I passed through to find my family. After I was settled, I tried to go back for a bagel, but was not blocked by two guards - bad, bad, bad. There were no space blankets, and I could not find Gatorade. There were also lots of people milling around at the finish area, with no-purpose/closure. I don't mean to sound ungrateful; I'm just telling it straight. All in all, I had a great time, hit a PR, and would recommend it, but I will not come back since there are so many others.

Very nicely organized and managed marathon. All of the bases are covered, from a well-run registration, to check-in at the expo, to the results being available online within hours of finish... and everything else in between. Some potentially tricky logistics (ferry and buses to the start) were managed flawlessly. There were hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers before, during and after the race, which made for a very pleasurable Quebec City Marathon experience. There was so much to do and see in Quebec City. I highly recommend it as a long weekend destination marathon.

The Quebec City marathon just may be the perfect destination marathon. The race runs along the banks of the St. Lawrence River and finishes in beautiful downtown Quebec City. The first 13 miles are flat or on a gradual downgrade. The only hills are getting up onto the bridge that takes runners to the flat, flat Quebec side of the river. The finish line is lined with a red carpet and a fun party in a park awaits runners. My goody bag was overflowing with bananas, cookies, bagels, oranges and more. The medal is beautiful and lights up! The locals in Quebec are friendly, gracious people and, though there weren't a lot of fans, the ones that were there were energetic and sincere. Quebec City is unique in North America. It's charming beyond words. The walled city is clean, with cobblestones, stone houses with slate roofs, and great restaurants. This is a city that loves art and antiques, and there are lots of shops to explore. Then there are the stunning views from the famous Hotel Fontenac. We spent four days, but our running group - Team Honeybaby - felt as if we spent two weeks in Europe.

A couple of small comments about the organization: 1) There were no space blankets at the finish. 2) there weren't enough pins in the race packet. There were four for the bib, but there needed to be an extra one for the bag tag. There were not very many spectators, and they aren't overly enthusiastic. However, they are polite and helpful. Also, there should be more food along the course. I had half of a banana and a GU. I did get a massage afterward, which was nice. Also the medal lights up, which I hadn't seen before.

This marathon is extremely cool to run, the organization is unbelievable, and the course is superb. The first part is on one side of the St. Lawrence, and around the last 15K, you cross a bridge to finish on the Quebec City River. The finish is great, with lots of people and a red carpet on the last 250 meters - very spectacular. I recommend it for every marathoner at least once.

As a runner who does a variety of marathons (47 so far), I can tell you that Quebec City is a marathon that you should do. One of the main attractions of a marathon is the city so that you and your family can take a vacation before or after. The old town in Quebec City is very historic and attractive and worthwhile of a family vacation. The 8:30 start, I believe, is due to the boat schedule, so it cannot run earlier; but there were enough water stations, even if it was a bit hot. The race is pretty flat and run along the river. The food at the end was better than a lot of races that I have done and the medal was very pretty with the flashing lights. For non-residents who are thinking of doing this marathon, do it and remember to take some time to see the city after the race.

This course is definitely NOT flat or even slightly hilly. It's EXTREMELY hilly (and the most painful marathon I had ever run). Furthermore, it was definitely not as scenic as I had thought. (The majority of the time, you're running in suburban Levi.) The only pluses of this marathon: 1) Pretty nice medal. It lights up. 2) Expo and the finish were very well organized. 3) Host hotels were great. I stayed at the Chateau Laurier. 4) This will definitely help you prepare for a fall marathon. 5) You get to go sight-seeing in Quebec City afterward (but of course, you don't have to do the marathon to do this).

I read the article in 2007 and ran the race in 2008. I totally disagree with C. R.'s comments. This race is great and extremely well organized. Here is the lowdown. The expo is well located, for a tourist anyway. Getting our things was easy and the volunteers were very patient with all our (stupid tourist) questions. Although this is definitely a French city (it's the charm of it), we never felt lost. Transportation to the start is fine-tuned and we loved the ferry ride. The 8:30 start is fine with me (I hate getting up at 4 a.m. for a 7 a.m. start). The course is just beautiful with about 70-75% along the St. Lawrence River. We had seen the profile and trained consequently. There are plenty of supporters before the bridge, much less after the bridge, and then plenty again 2 miles before the finish. Water stations are well-spaced and well-staffed. Even with the heat - which was very unusual, we were told - there was plenty of water and Gatorade. They even had showers! The finish is the best we experienced for a race this size. The decor, the ambiance and the supporters help me cross the finish line (I was beat). They even had a red carpet for the last 100 feet or so. After we had the chip removed and were given our medal, getting to the food area was fast enough and there was plenty of it, but here is one bad comment: it is a bit crowded. More space is needed. The medal's very unique: it has lights! We fell in love with the city. Just walking around is like being in Europe. So, like Runner's World said: this is a must-do!

This marathon was not as advertised, and lacked the attention to detail that really needs to be there if you're going to build it from year to year. The course was difficult and poorly laid out, with only two timing instruments along the way (at the halfway point and late in the race). Having to get to a dock, take a ferry boat and then a bus to get to the start is a little much for the morning of a marathon. I would have gladly taken it at the end, if need be. Also, 8:30 a.m. is too late for a marathon race to start. Great spectators at the beginning. No spectators for the last half of the race to speak of, except at the very end, but I think that those were more tourists out of curiosity/happenstance. I spoke to several veteran runners and none had much good to say about this race. Quebec City is beautiful, but I was visiting for a good event and didn't get it.

I have run this race a few times, and the 8:30 start is fine. This year, the weather was highly unusual for Quebec City and an earlier start wouldn't have changed much. The organization actually deserves a medal for having reacted so well. Other marathons would have run out of water, as Chicago did last year. It may seem impossible, but this already-great marathon keeps getting better and better: - New location for the expo - New course for the first 8 kilometers - Great finish line with a red carpet!

I am writing mainly to reply to a couple of writers who noted the course to be "relatively flat" or "flat." Thirty years ago, I was pretty good at geography.... This was the most challenging course I have run (yes, I did review the elevation profile before entering). During the entire race, I cannot think of a time that I was not going up or down. Interestingly, I started the first 10-12 miles believing I was BQing on the course. It was relatively downhill (yet rolling); and there was shade and it wasn't too hot. Pride comes before the fall, and so, a little before the half, I labored as I ran uphill for (what seemed like) five miles. Up, up, up - and where's the shade? By the time I reached the middle of the bridge, I was overheated and beaten. The next 10? Miles were in wicked heat, with the sun beating down. The hills and the heat truly humbled me. Will it make a better runner out of me? Perhaps. But, I must admit that when I crossed the finish line (besides being overheated), I felt beaten, not relieved or grateful. I don't quite know what that means except that I felt an immediate need to train and run a "redemption race" (I have responsibly began retraining). Everything else I read here about the city and the organization is true. Absolutely fantastic. Loved Quebec City and celebrated my 10th anniversary in what felt like a European city - beautiful. Expo was decent; organization was good, race officials efficient and prompt with email questions; locals were friendly.

Why you should run Quebec: 1. Lovely, friendly city 2. Great sightseeing 3. Fun to travel to start by ferry 4. Nicely organized start and expo 5. Basically flat course; mostly scenic 6. Terrific medal Areas for improvement: 1. 8:30 start way too late for a summer marathon. It was very HOT and humid. Coming off the bridge back into Quebec was like running into a blast furnace. Not enough water stops during the second half of the race when it was especially stifling. (Ottawa is a great example of terrific water management.) 2. T-shirt was dull and not festive, especially given the fact that the city was in the midst of a huge 400th anniversary celebration. 4. A better job could be done with the race merchandise.

My only complaint is how late it started (0830); by that time it must have been 80 degrees F. Why start a summer race so late? The first 2/3 of the course were beautiful, and the people in their front yards with garden hoses were wonderful. But the website greatly underestimated the temperatures for the race. By the time my fat behind made it to later water stops, the water was usually warm, with no cold sponges, and no coolers full of ice. It was as if they weren't expecting summer heat in August.