Next race
Sunday, 5 September 2027
9:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Wine-country road
Elevation
Rolling · 100 m gain
100 m climbing
Race profile
The Marathon du Medoc draws approximately 6,000 finishers each September on a wine-country road in Pauillac, France. The race is famous worldwide for combining marathon distance with costume culture and wine-country spectacle. The course passes vineyards, chateaux, and wine villages throughout the Medoc region. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Marathon du Medoc is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 6,000 finishers
Course & terrain
Starts and finishes in Pauillac. The course passes vineyards, chateaux, and wine villages throughout the Medoc region. Mostly flat with gentle undulations. Very flat throughout.
The Marathon du Medoc course is rolling over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 100 metres of climbing and 95 metres of descent, with a net climb of 5 metres from start to finish.
Rolling · 100 m gain — approx. 14 m above sea level
↑ 100 m · ↓ 95 m · net +5 m
Registration
The Marathon du Médoc uses open registration at marathondumedoc.com that sells out within hours for the September race, with a lottery backup when demand exceeds the roughly 6,000-runner cap. Entries typically open the previous December for this famous wine-country costume marathon. International runners compete for the same limited places through the official French portal; early online sign-up is essential.
Getting there
Bordeaux (BOD)
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport
41 km / 26 mi
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
Other races closest to Pauillac.
The Marathon Royan Cote de Beaute draws approximately 1,500 finishers each May on a scenic coastal road in Royan, France. It blends resort-town scenery with a largely runnable profile. The route passes estuary views, beaches, and low coastal roads on the Charente coast. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027
The Marathon des Villages draws approximately 2,720 finishers each October on a coastal village road in Cap-Ferret, France. The village-to-village coastal feel is unlike larger French city marathons. The route passes oyster villages, pine forests, and roads around the Bassin d'Arcachon. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs totals roughly 300 metres of gain and loss.
Next race: Sunday, 18 October 2026
The Marathon de La Rochelle follows the Atlantic coast of Charente-Maritime, drawing about 3,500 runners each November through the historic harbour city. The course passes the Vieux Port, the Les Minimes marina, and the flat coastal roads of the Rochefort peninsula approach. November mild Atlantic weather and sea views make it a popular western France marathon.
Next race: Sunday, 22 November 2026
The Marathon des Landes is an October urban and rural road marathon in Mont-de-Marsan, France (also Mazerolles and Saint-Pierre-du-Mont), organised by Stade Montois. The two-loop course is very flat. The 2025 festival drew about 2,520 participants across marathon, half, 10K and walk — marathon-only finisher totals were not published separately on the organiser site.
Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
The Marathon Poitiers runs through the historic university city of Poitiers in western France, drawing about 2,500 finishers each October. The course passes the Romanesque Notre-Dame la Grande church, the Futuroscope area, and the Clain River valley. October mild weather and flat Poitou terrain make it a relaxed regional marathon.
Next race: Sunday, 16 May 2027
The Marathon Biarritz Pays Basque draws approximately 1,800 finishers each May on a scenic coastal road in Biarritz, France. It is one of France's most scenic seaside marathons thanks to the rugged Atlantic backdrop. The route passes ocean cliffs, beach boulevards, and roads linking several Basque-coast towns. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How major marathons allocate places — open entry, lotteries, charity bibs, tour operators, and what to check before you commit to a trip.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
