If you’re looking to run a fall marathon where you can almost be assured of good weather, look no further than Quebec’s largest marathon, the Montreal Beneva Marathon, which returns in September with a new title sponsor. Immerse yourself in one of Canada’s oldest cities from September 23-25 and experience the vibrant architecture, nature and culture Montreal has to offer.
The Montreal Beneva Marathon is a full race weekend offering 1K, 5K and 10K races on Saturday, in addition to the half marathon and full marathon on Sunday. In the past, Montreal’s proximity to other Canadian cities attracted many runners to the race; Montreal is easily accessible by car or train for residents of Eastern Canada and there are frequent flights from all other Canadian cities.
The lesson
The marathon and half-marathon will start from Espace 67 on Île Ste-Hélène in Montreal. The start will be in waves and participants will be informed of their wave and start time a few days before the race. The marathon route takes runners through Île Notre-Dame and Île Sainte-Hélène on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Old Montreal, the historic neighborhoods of Ville-Marie, Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie and Hochelaga- Maisonneuve, before ending on the esplanade of the Olympic Park in Montreal. The course is measured and certified by Athletics Canada, so your time can qualify you for the Boston Marathon in 2023 or any AbbottWMM Wanda World Age Group Championships.
The early fall weather couldn’t be better for this marathon, as Montreal residents have been known to take to the streets with water and hoses to cool runners when the weather is hot.
Story
The first edition of the Montreal Marathon took place in August 1979, with approximately 9,000 runners. Eighteen years later, the race disappeared for five years from 1997 to 2002, then returned in 2004 with more activities such as walking, running and a wheelchair division. On the race’s 23rd anniversary in 2013, the race reached record numbers with 32,000 arrivals from 30 countries.
Where to stay
Montreal is full of many great hotels and local Airbnb hosts. We suggest you stay downtown or in Old Montreal for the full race weekend experience. If you are looking to stay downtown near the finish of the race, the official race hotel is the Double tree by Hilton with partner hotels near Montreal Delta and Hotel Universal Montreal also offering reduced rates for Montreal Marathon participants.
where to run
Looking to run before the race, here are some of our favorite routes in Montreal:
Parc Jean-Drapeau
- Located a short metro ride from downtown, Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau is one of the largest public parks in the city and has its own history despite its proximity to the rest of the city. As one of the host sites for the 1976 Summer Olympics, the park features a rowing course, running track, aquatics center and more. Comprised of two islands – Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame, connected by a bridge – the park offers plenty of running course options perfect for speed work and long distances.
Mont Royal
- Mont-Royal is probably the most popular place for runners in Montreal. With a relatively flat one kilometer loop near the base of the mountain, a set of stairs wide enough for multiple riders to use at once, and several uphill trails to choose from, this is the place to be. for practicing hill training, speed work and long distances. training.
Old Port
- The Old Port is not only one of the most popular tourist sites in the city, but it is also a popular route for many Montreal runners. You can start at Place Jacques Cartier and head south towards the Promenade du Vieux-Port. Harbor Road can be busy on a nice day and chaotic on weekends between 10am and 4pm, but it’s a great, flat place to train for many marathon runners with a perfect view of the city.
Registration
The marathon is now supported by a new local sponsor, Beneva, who will elevate the event to compete with some of Canada’s top marathons like Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary. Take advantage of preferential rates and register for $110 on www.mtlmarathon.com or register here.
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