Marathon du Cognac

Great atmosphere!! It is a flat beautiful run and we got lucky with the weather. Drinks and food stations frequently spaced. Lack of bathrooms for females may be a problem, guys just use the vineyards:) Somewhat congested for personal best time. Online registration not possible from their website:(

2018 - Unfortunately I had a terrible race because it rained hard the entire race and it was cold. You are packed in like sardines on a narrow road for the first few kms so don't expect a great time. You run through castles, gorgeous small villages and vineyards. Would be even more scenic had the sun been out. You need to rent a car because there is no other way to get around. We rented an air B&B and had a magnificent weekend. The after party is the best that I have ever been to with great food and a terrific live band that belted out hits and had dancing girls. The dance floor was packed. The race kit included a thermal vest and a full bottle of Courvoisier Cognac!

I was visiting Bordeaux, so I decided to make the trip to Jarnac. I had a rental car; it probably would have been difficult without it, since I had to stay in Cognac because of the lack of rooms in Jarnac. I don't speak French, and that led to a couple of problems, but nothing too serious. I was able to navigate registration and pre-race without any problems. Actual race was great. The course was mainly on winding roads through small villages. Water stops were replaced by wine and cognac tastings as the race progressed. Having oysters around mile 20 while running through a winery was quite memorable. Also, having cakes, beef and sausage on the course was different. I Wasn't at all concerned with time, so I had a great experience. The party that night was a highlight of my trip to France. It's worth Googling the videos if you're considering going.