3 marathons to run for fun

If you are already a marathon runner or even a beginner but you want to run a marathon that is different from the others, more festive and with a touch of good humor, maybe even in disguise, here are three marathons to run for fun.

As a preamble, it must be said that these events remain marathons, so you will have to cover 42.195 kilometers from start to finish. Even if these marathons will surely have a festive feel, they remain demanding and require you to be well prepared like any other marathon. They will not be marathons to run to set a personal record, but they will require on the day to provide an effort that remains demanding, difficult, that of running for several hours like any marathon. To be able to enjoy them, it is of course advisable to arrive well prepared even if it is possible and certainly preferable to run them at a slightly slower pace to better enjoy the atmosphere.

It may not come as a surprise, but the three marathons to run for fun that we have selected all have a connection with wine or beer. On paper and in reality, marathons and alcohol do not really go well together. I do not recommend that on the day of one of these Marathons you venture out to try all the local wines. At best, you should dip your lips in them or just drink a beer or two at the finish. These three marathons to run for fun will take you to 3 different regions: Médoc, Beaujolais and Forez in the south of the Loire department. Get your costume ready and let's go.

The Medoc Marathon

The Médoc marathon is the most famous festive marathon in France. It has existed since 1984 and was created by friends who are passionate marathon runners. It is run in September and takes place in the Médoc region, very famous for its great wines and châteaux. In fact, the full name of the Marathon is the Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc. It starts and ends in Pauillac. On the course, you will pass near world-famous châteaux such as Château Lafite Rothschild. More than 90% of the runners are dressed up with a costume theme that changes every year. This year, the costume theme is 'Faites vos Jeux'. It is a marathon that is above all friendly and the participants compete in creativity and good humor. In fact, the organizers advise potential sad, aggressive or "time-seeking" runners to abstain.

https://www.marathondumedoc.com/

The Beaujolais Marathon

The Beaujolais Marathon is run in November and is one of the major events that the Beaujolais region organizes each year around the launch of the Beaujolais Nouveau. This great festive Marathon has been organized for 20 years now. It was three marathon runners who had the idea to create it in 1995 when they returned from New York where they had run the famous New York Marathon. The Beaujolais Marathon starts from the town of Fleurie and ends after 42.195 kilometers of racing in the town of Villefranche-sur-Saône. It passes through many wine estates in the region and is run in a rural environment. The race course mainly uses small roads in Beaujolais and crosses a dozen villages. Even if it is a marathon with a festive atmosphere, the course is quite challenging with in particular a long climb located after the thirtieth kilometer just before arriving in the suburbs of Villefranche-sur-Saône. But the goal for this Marathon is not to set a time. The main thing is to enjoy the festive and friendly atmosphere all along the course.

https://www.marathondubeauj o lais.org/

The Beer Marathon

This is the new kid on the block among the festive marathons in France. This time, it is not wine that is in the spotlight of this marathon but beer, as its name suggests. It is run in the spring in the south of the Loire department. The Marathon course consists of a loop that starts in the town of Montbrison and returns there for the finish. The first edition took place in 2023. As the organizers humorously say, it is 'a (almost) pressure-free race where good atmosphere takes precedence over performance'. As with the Médoc and Beaujolais Marathons, fancy dress and good humor are also highly recommended for participation.

https://lemarathondelabiere.com/

Three festive Marathons, three opportunities to dress up and run in a good mood with other participants who share the same spirit that successfully combines sport and conviviality. This is a change from the more serious and performance-oriented Marathons, so why not take part in one or more of these festive Marathons to enjoy the atmosphere without worrying too much 'for once' about the time?