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5 September 2026

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Running trips

Médoc Marathon

Come to the Médoc Marathon and experience a marathon unlike any other. Here, running is only part of the story. The rest is made up of colourful costumes, music, gastronomy, wine and an atmosphere that makes the race one big party from start to finish.

What makes the Médoc Marathon unique is the obligatory fancy dress and the legendary hydration stations. Along the course, not only water and sports drinks await you, but also wine, cheese, biscuits, ice cream, popcorn, French fries, dried fruit, oysters and even entrecote. The combination of flavours and festive surprises makes the race a pure delight – whether you’re there to run fast or to enjoy the journey.

With around 20 wine controls, the Médoc Marathon is probably the world’s longest marathon in both time and experience. The start and finish are in the picturesque village of Pauillac, six miles north of Bordeaux. From there, the course winds through the Médoc’s famous wine region, passing several magnificent wine châteaux, which generously open their farms to runners. In addition to wine, the route offers everything from sweets and fruit to local specialities.

The Médoc Marathon is more than a race – it’s an unforgettable experience where running meets French culture in its most playful form. It creates memories that last long after you cross the finish line.

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Médoc Marathon

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Number plate distribution / Expo

The distribution will take place at the hotel on Friday. In addition to the number tag, you will receive a t-shirt. There is a chip in the number tag that is used for timing.

Start and transport

It takes about 90 minutes to drive to the start of the race. Our buses leave from the hotel early in the morning. Once at the start area, you decide where you want to stand. There is a high carnival atmosphere! There is a bag storage where you can leave your bag with extra clothes. A tip is to bring a change of dry clothes that you can drop off before the start and change into after the finish. Note: there is normally a long queue to drop off your bag, be there in good time.

Clothing drop-off

No special “delivery bag” is given out. Use your own bag or purse, these will be marked by the staff when you hand them in. Works great.

Dressing up / Costume

All participants in the Médoc Marathon run in costume – it’s part of the tradition and atmosphere! Without a costume, no time, medal or souvenir will be recorded. Plus, the whole experience becomes much more fun when you offer something that the audience will appreciate.

If you want to keep it simple, a small detail, such as a feather in your hair or a hat, is enough. A cap is also highly recommended, as the temperature in recent years has been between 25 and 30 degrees.

This year’s theme is “The 80s”! Take a trip back in time and celebrate the colorful decade!

Starting area and course

At the starting area there are toilets and bag drop-off. It is a mass start and a tip is to stand early in the starting line to get far ahead. That way you will have a good view when they then perform the traditional opening act.

When the start is at 9:30, you first run through Pauillac’s narrow alleys and then south out among the vineyards. You run in a formation that can be compared to a figure eight and after 21 km you are back to the start/finish, then you do a loop north.

The surface is mostly asphalt with hard gravel in some places. The race is long – just over 42 km as usual – so take it easy in the heat. Don’t expect to break any personal records, but enjoy all the experiences during the race.

Several orchestras provide entertainment along the course.

The race goes through or quite close to 50 wine castles. At about 20 places you can taste the castles’ own wines. It is poured a few centimeters into the glasses. Smell the wine. Fill your mouth. Let the wine circulate in your mouth. Feel the taste. Swallow and keep running!

Here is a lovely video showing the course.

See maps of the race here and here.

It is usually hot in September, make sure to drink plenty of water and replenish salt before, during and after the race.

Fluids and energy during the race

There is plenty of water and sports drinks along the course. At many stations, runners are offered oranges, bananas, dried fruits, nuts, popcorn, etc. After 37 km you can also taste oysters, after 38 km entrecote and after 40 km cheese. There are over 20 hydration stations.

The race goes through or quite close to 50 wine castles. At about 20 places you can taste the castles’ own wines. It is poured a few centimeters into the glasses. Smell the wine. Fill your mouth. Let the wine circulate in your mouth. Feel the taste. Swallow and keep running!

The finish line

The finish line is right next to the start – but in the opposite direction. When you cross the finish line you will receive your medal and souvenir. The maximum duration is 6 hours and 30 minutes.

To the left of the finish line, you will find a tent for medical assistance and massage. Then, a special tent awaits you, where only runners with a race number are allowed access. There, you will be treated to a large buffet with sandwiches, watermelon, pastries, yogurt, fruit and much more. Quench your thirst with water, coffee, soft drinks, beer or wine. Outside the tent, by the Gironde River, you can sit down and just enjoy – you deserve it! Music is played inside the tent, and many finish the race with a dance.

The village of Pauillac has a lovely market atmosphere. Here you can buy wine and local delicacies or sit down at a restaurant or café and soak up the atmosphere.

Our buses back to the hotel depart at 5:30 PM. You will receive more information about the return trip during the journey to the start.

App and website

The organizer has an app, click here for more information.

Bordeaux & Médoc Marathon – a journey full of flavour, energy and unforgettable experiences

Bordeaux is a city that captures you instantly with its elegance, rich history and relaxed French lifestyle. Here you’ll find bright boulevards, historic neighbourhoods and a gastronomy that has made the region famous the world over.

Just a short journey from the city centre, the wine country spreads out – a patchwork of castles, vineyards and traditions that have created some of the world’s most iconic wines. It’s a destination where culture, flavour and beauty interact at every moment.

This unique setting is the setting for the Medoc Marathon – a race more akin to a celebration of movement and joie de vivre than a traditional marathon. You’ll run through rolling vineyards, past stately châteaux and through villages where the crowds cheer with an infectious warmth. Along the way, runners are treated to music, local delicacies and wine tastings, making every kilometre as much an experience as an achievement. It’s a marathon that celebrates community, joy and the French art of savouring.

Travelling to Bordeaux for the Medoc Marathon means days filled with inspiration and variety. There’s time to discover the charms of the city and savour the rural wine country. You can wander through narrow streets, sit in an outdoor café, savour the region’s wine culture and let the landscape create a setting you won’t soon forget. The combination of running party, culinary experiences and Bordeaux’s atmosphere makes for a journey that stays with you long after you cross the finish line.

About the race

On 5 September 2026, the Médoc will once again be transformed into one of the world’s longest and most colourful masquerades. This year’s theme is the 80s – an invitation to neon, nostalgia and unlimited creativity.

Here, dressing up is not just a tradition, it’s a must, and each runner puts their own stamp on the party. Some create elaborate, spectacular costumes, others opt for simpler solutions – but the joy, the experience and the back slapping along the way are guaranteed for anyone who dares to put themselves out there.

The Medoc Marathon is one of the world’s most talked-about races, attracting thousands of visitors every year to watch the explosion of colour as runners wind their way through the region’s iconic wine country. The crowds are treated to wine and oysters, and the atmosphere is as convivial as it is unique.

The start and finish are in the charming village of Pauillac, six miles north of Bordeaux. From here, the course takes runners through the heart of the Médoc wine region and past several of the area’s famous châteaux. The many wine and hydration stations serve not only wine but also water, sports drinks, fruit, cheese, sweets and other treats associated with this festive route.

The course is slightly hilly and far from a place for record chasing, but that’s not the point either. This is a race where the environment, the people and the playful atmosphere take centre stage. With vines, castles and thousands of costumed runners around you, the Medoc Marathon 2026 will be an experience you carry with you long after the finish.

Wine walk & party!

The day after the race, the weekend continues with an experience that combines enjoyment, culture and community. The Wine Walk is one of the weekend’s most cherished traditions, with the area’s various châteaux taking turns to host and open their gates exclusively to runners and supporters alike.

Each year, a new castle invites you on a walk through its vineyards, historic surroundings and private settings – a chance to go behind the scenes and discover the unique character of that year’s host.

For the 2026 edition, the well-known Chateau Beychevelle is the host. Here, participants will walk through the elegantly sweeping vineyards, feel the presence of history and taste the wines where they belong. During the walk, the conversations, laughter and camaraderie between runners from all over the world grow, allowing the marathon experience to settle into a slower rhythm.

At the end of the walk, a generous three-course Sunday lunch awaits, with wine flowing, followed by an afternoon party to extend the joy of the weekend. Take the opportunity to shake the race out of your legs on the dance floor!

This is the perfect end to an unforgettable weekend – a moving tradition where the châteaux of the Medoc take it in turns to create magic, and where Chateau Beychevelle stands ready to welcome the 2026 participants.

Programme

Thursday 3 September

18:30 Meet in the lobby for dinner together. Pre-booking required. More information during the summer.

Friday 4 September

08:00 Morning jog
Day free for own activities.
17:00 Information and distribution of badges in the hotel restaurant.

Saturday 5 September

The restaurant opens for early breakfast.
06:15 Meet in the lobby for the bus journey to the start.
09:30 The race is on. Good luck to you!
The race ends in a large party tent with well-deserved food and drinks.
17:30 Preliminary return journey to the hotel.

Sunday 6 September

08:00 Meet in the lobby for the bus journey to the Wine Walk. Booking is required.
09:30 The wine walk starts.
12:30 Lunch on the wine promenade.
16:00 Preliminary return journey to the hotel.

Monday 7 September

09:00 Preliminary time. Oslo travellers. Transfer to the airport.

Our hotel

Hotell

Novotel Bordeaux Centre Meriadeck

Novotel Bordeaux Centre Meriadeck 45 Cr Maréchal Juin, 33000 Bordeaux, France A good and well-run hotel with 137 rooms located in the centre of Bordeaux. Within walking distance you have the large square with the magnificent cathedral of St Andre and several restaurants. Bordeaux is a beautiful city with large and magnificent buildings, museums, shopping …

See all running trips

See all trips

5 September 2026

Médoc Marathon

Travel facts

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Bordeaux & Médoc Marathon – a journey full of flavour, energy and unforgettable experiences

About the race

Wine walk & party!

Programme

Our hotel

Novotel Bordeaux Centre Meriadeck

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