Médoc Marathon to mark 40th anniversary with 80s theme
The Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc has chosen an 80s theme to celebrate its 40th edition on Saturday 5 September, with 8,500 runners setting off from Pauillac through some of Bordeaux’s most famous appellations.
First held on 14 September 1985, the race covers a 42.195km course through the appellations of Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Haut-Médoc and Saint-Estèphe, taking in châteaux grounds, wine tastings and live entertainment along the way. To mark the anniversary, organisers have chosen an 1980s theme.
The event, which bills itself as the world’s friendliest marathon, is known for its combination of competitive running and festivity — participants run in costume, and winners receive their weight in Médoc grands crus rather than prize money. Last year’s male winner, Florian Laplanche, has a personal best of 2h 21min 59s; German runner Larissa Eckrich set a new personal best at the 2024 edition.
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Pre-race pasta at Château Beychevelle
The marathon is the sole race on offer, with no shorter distances available. The course, which includes 30% gravel paths and varied terrain, must be completed within six hours and 30 minutes.
Activities span three days, opening on the Friday with a pasta dinner for 1,450 guests at Château Beychevelle, accompanied by fireworks. A Sunday recovery walk of 10km around Saint-Julien-Beychevelle concludes the weekend, also finishing at Beychevelle.
The 2025 race will be streamed live in French and English from 8.30am on the event’s Dailymotion channel, which has logged more than 1.5 million viewers to date.
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