The Marathon du Médoc combines what all visitors to France come for: its food, wine and culture. Thrown into the mix is a bit of exercise and voila! you have the famous French wine marathon. The refreshment points in this race come with a twist – instead of just water, runners are offered a glass of beautifully-fermented grapes.
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The marathon sees runners traversing the countryside of Bordeaux. It is held during Autumn and this year it will take place on 7 September. Along the way, the thousands of competitors will stop for more than 20 glasses of sublime French wines.
Sample-sized glasses allow runners to try some of the finest wine of the region paired with mouthwatering local French delicacies such as local cheeses, steak and oysters. It’s wine-tasting on the run, if you will. All the while, competitors are surrounded by picturesque landscapes, lovely vineyards and beautiful châteaux.
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The evening before the event is a celebration in itself. There are various pasta parties held for the purpose of carbo-loading before the big day.
Participants are required to dress up according to the chosen theme, adding to the festive feel. This year, the theme is ‘superheroes’ and should see some interesting attire on the running path.
The time-limit is 6 hours 30 minutes, but the nature of the marathon is relaxed and social rather than competitive. The entire day is dedicated to the experience and participants tend to take it easy rather than trying to reach their personal best.
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Registration is capped at 8,500 people so if you happen to be in France in September be sure to enter into this magnifique marathon here.
Image: Instagram @marathondumedoc
