Drinking wine while running a marathon?
If that appeals to you, Marathon du Médoc is the race to be! Arranged every September in Bordeaux, on famous Left Bank of The Gironde estuary, it is the most hilarious and the booziest 42 kilometres in the world.
What makes this wine marathon even more fun – and heavier as well – is that people run it in showy costumes. The theme changes every year, and you can dress accordingly if you want to.
For 2016, the theme was historical figures. As this was my first marathon ever, I decided to skip the costume and sports clothes instead. What a dullard.
WINE, OYSTERS AND ENTRECÔTE
First of all, the route of Marathon du Médoc is just stunning. I can’t recommend it enough!
As you see from the map below, it passes the iconic Bordeaux châteaux and their vineyards, which was the principal reason why I wanted to take part. Making my living of wine writing, seeing as many castles as possible felt like a dream.
Besides, I was drawn to the idea that there would be live music, nuts, cheeses and of course wine to taste along the route. Later, during my final despair towards the end of the run, I would also find out that they even serve oysters and entrecôte for the runners. So very French that gotta love it.
IS 7.5 WEEKS OF TRAINING ENOUGH?
I run through the year in my home country (Finland), but I knew that my normal 8 to 15 km runs would not help me to finish a full marathon “just like that”.
Therefore, when Antoine Moueix invited me to be the female runner in their team, I gladly took the challenge AND decided to start training well ahead (which never happened).
When I moved to Paris mid-July 2016, I had less than two months of training time ahead. What didn’t make things easier, was the super hot summer in Paris.
Despite +29 ºC morning temperatures, I spent my month running up and down the hills of Parc Buttes-Chaumont (and roaming wine bars in the evenings). In those temperatures, even 16-18 km runs felt heavy.
LAST-MINUTE DECISION TO ATTEND
Returning to Helsinki in late August, I managed to finish three >30-kilometre runs quite easily. Still, listening way too much to those people who laughed at my 7.5-week training period, I felt unsure.
After hesitation, I bought my flights to in the last minute, 13 days before the marathon. But I decided to count on my basic fitness level and flew to Bordeaux only 1.5 days before September 10th. To be honest, my injury-prone ankles were worrying me much more than the potential of my lungs in hot climate.
All those ambivalent feelings are washed away the moment my feet hit the streets of Bordeaux. I feel great, beautiful, elastic, healthy and full of life. I meet the Team of Antoine Moieux right away-
Having spent two weeks without wine, we allow ourselves a glass of white. Later that evening, we enjoy some red wine on a waterside restaurant in Pauillac while eating meat with butter to help our bodies to sleep well.
I am already in love with Bordeaux. Our night is warm and mellow. Until the wind rises from Gironde.
WELCOME TO THE CARNIVAL
After a nice sleep and bread at Château Liversan, a beautiful castle where we are staying, I stand with 8,500 runners at the start line at 9:30 am.
The carnival atmosphere that surrounds us is something unbelievable. Something that you should experience once in a lifetime. No trace of stress or blood thirsty competition. And thousands of Bordelais watching and clapping their hands.
A hot day awaits us: the wind is gone and the forecast says between 26 to 28 degrees. I feel calm and confident, and decide to smile from the start until the bitter end.
The route passes some of the greatest châteaux of the world, as marathon rookie I first concentrate on drinking water. It’s a pity since Château Lynch-Bages, Pichon-Longueville and Beychevelle are located along the first 10 kilometres.
Those kilometres are slow and pretty chaotic since there are so many runners that it’s impossible to run without being interrupted or someone stepping on your toes. Also, you need to queue for water.
THE SMILING FINN
Once the first 1/3 of the marathon is behind, the crowd becomes thinner. I increase my speed, even though I don’t have any time plan or a watch with me. I have unfortunately lost my team, four men, in the crowd before first 5 kilometres.
Running feels stunning. I smile and reach that flowing state where thoughts just come and go while you breathe together with the universe.
As promised, I keep smiling until the midday heat finally strikes me at Château Lafite-Rotschild.
IS MY MIND STRONG ENOUGH?
Contrary to what experienced runners warned me about what happens after 33 kilometres, my personal inferno lasts from 26 to 29.
After reaching 30 kilometres, I reach that zen state of mind again. The greatest moment during the run is at Château Phélan-Segur (34,5 km) where the DJ is playing the mega-hit from my teen years, Mory Kante’s Yeke Yeke, and people are dancing in a frenzy.
As a long-time fan of Phélan-Segur, I realise I’m dying to have wine. But running feels so ecstatic that I just want to continue.
DESPERATE KILOMETRES
The next inferno starts at 39,5 kilometres as I finally take and swallow my first glass of wine. Something white. I don’t remember it; I feel tired.
The last kilometres are horrible. You would think that being so close the destination makes things easy, but I can tell you: it does NOT. The direct road to Pauillac, with no end in sight yet, laughs at my face. My feet move, still, but only with willpower.
When it’s over, I don’t feel tired. I grab my medal and the gift bottle and walk away after giving a short interview for a French TV channel.
Two guys of our team are waiting in a restaurant nearby. The first thing we order is a bottle of champagne. Louis Roederer Brut has never tasted as delicious! As we don’t feel dead at all, we drive to the coast for a wine dinner.
WHY 10 SECONDS MATTER?
My final result is 5:00:10. With that, I rank as 1 387th among those 7 669 runners who finished, ending up in the best 13 % among the females.
For a first-timer with NO training program, running plan or eating regime that is pretty decent, especially as crazy Marathon du Médoc is not famous for scoring records. Also, the first 9,75 kilometres in the crowd took me shocking 1 hour and 24 minutes. Too long to aim at four hours!
As the evening goes by, those 10 seconds irritate me more and more. Especially, because I know who to blame for not running 4:59:59 or better: the entrecôte stand! How on earth did I think that after 39 kilometres of running I would enjoy swallowing and digesting meat in scorching heat?
RECOVERING
The following morning after the marathon, I’m prepared to sleep longer. But at 6:30, I am feeling energetic and not aching much. Quick body check shows neither injured nails nor abrasion despite running in normal lace bra as I forgot to buy sporty ones. Just one tiny blister, that’s all.
Over the breakfast, I happily enjoy a hefty glass of Bordeaux red while walking a bit around Château Liversan.
Soon after, it’s time to reward ourselves with a visit to Château Lynch-Bages. Their tasty, firm and nicely structured wines feel like elixir for our runner bodies. At this stage of the lifespan, Ormes de Pez feels easier approachable and less tannic than the nimikkoviini, Lynch-Bages.
Luckily our Marathon day was the only below-thirty one during that week.
For a more gonzo-like story on Marathon du Médoc, check this Guardian article. Having read that, if you still feel eager to participate, registration for the next Marathon should be in March 2017 (exact day is not disclosed in advance).
My sincere thanks go to Antoine Moueix Propriétés. It was great to run in your Team, even though I lost all you guys after the first five kilometres.
Another thank you to Jean-Yves Saint-Céran for arranging these press photos. The main photo is credited to: AMCM/De Tienda/Mainguy.
