THE Marathon du Medoc is like few others, if any. Whilst it is still run over the classic 26.2 mile distance, although there is some dispute about that in fact as there is a 700 metre pre-start section as well, there is a far greater emphasis on the carnival atmosphere and fun side of the event than most of the Penarth and Dinas Runners members who took part in this year’s event have experienced elsewhere.

When a trip to the event was proposed last November by Steve Hill it seems that the key attractor was the 17 chateaus that were included on the route, all of which offered a sample of their wine as well as water at their drinks stations. This probably accounts for its claim to be the world’s longest marathon with its cartoon imagery of a runner staggering along the course.

The setting for the start and finish was on the quayside of the lovely Acquitaine town of Paulliac, nestling on the banks of the River Gironde in the Haute Medoc wine region, just north of Bordeaux which most of the group used as a base for the few days spent in France for the event.

The start entertainment was quite spectacular with a huge silver globe hanging over the start area where acrobats and gymnasts performed to the vibrant music used to build the atmosphere, and once the gun sounded, or rather the cannon, they just hung there waving and wishing the participants well.

To add the festivities there was a theme, Dressed to the Nines. The team from the club took this to heart and dressed up for the event, including lashings of bling, top hats, tutus and tiaras.

Once the race was underway it did not take too long to reach the first ‘port’ of call, where breakfast including croissants and pain au raisins were being served, and well it would be rude not to have partaken, after all, when in France. In fact, for those who took the running seriously there was a surprise in store; they were booed for being too fast and not enjoying themselves.

Three kilometres was the first wine stop and as you can imagine it was mayhem as runners, by now quite thirsty, well that was the team’s excuse, were anxious to ensure they were hydrated.

Mandy Barrington, Anna Helsing, and Bev Warburton valiantly queued and quaffed with the other dehydrated marauders, before overtaking the sweeper crew to make sure they made the six hour 30 minute cut off.

Steve and Andrea Goodfellow spent some time soaking up the atmosphere and timed their runs to perfection inside the cut off. It was also noted how camera-shy Steve was as the event’s film-crews sped through the pack of athletes.

Clem and Janice Clement bypassed the oyster station and beef stop, which was just as well as their lack of training following Janice’s broken elbow in August meant that they were getting very tired.

Yvonne Williams, who last year ran six marathons, ensured that Andrea Pace and Judy Maragna didn’t miss out on their quotas of chateaux goodies, by making collections for them. Steve Hill and Michelle Hoey kept up a steady pace too.

For the purest, the course was an undulating figure of eight heading north of Paulliac to start and return to pass through the town between 19 and 20km in the race. The town was the picture of madness with several drinks stations where runners in all sorts of fancy dress, including Chris Nellins in his Union Jack flag and leggings were enjoying the extra drinks available.

The final 22kms were run south of the town. It was mostly on tarmac but there were several sections of off-road on the approaches to the chateaus.

Apart from the last drinks station back in the town, where rose wine was being served with grapes, the others served the red that is the forte of the region. The samples may have been small but cumulatively it helped to make the run very enjoyable.

At the finish there was a goody bag including a boxed bottle of wine to take away, a medal and t-shirts for all. However it was the camaraderie and the atmosphere of the whole event, that couldn’t be bottled, that make it such a brilliant weekend for the runners.

If you are a runner in the Penarth area then why not come and have a look at them at Penarth and Dinas Runners. Joining a running club is not as daunting as you may think. They run from Cogan Leisure Centre at 7pm on Mondays, come along and give them a go… you know you want to.