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Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.0 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 3.5 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.2 
 
 
Number of comments: 74 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > ]

 

Kelvin Moy from Chicago, USA (9/27/2012)
"Close to a solid 9 marathon" (about: 2012)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


My first marathon in Canada and my first R&R series marathon. While some reviews has mention R&R is not good, I think it is an above average race. The starting area is OK. One comment is not enough toilet area in the starting area. It gets a bit crowded at the start line on the bridge as a lot of spectators blocking some of the road. Corral start help a bit, but it is still quite congested at the beginning, especially with the downhill at the beginning. Weather is great, course is good and beautiful. Running on the F1 course is cool, and the first half along/around the island, the river and the old town is very cool. After the half marathoner left, course is open up. But that is in the residential area and start to get a bit lonely. The long stretch of back and fore is not that encouraging when seeing people running back already. Finish line is good, post race party is great. Bag pick up is still a bit too far, if can move closer to finish line is better. But overall is a very good race. Worth run again if live close by.

 

Rocky Morales from Pasadena, CA (9/25/2012)
"GREAT Marathon Experience In A Beautiful City!" (about: 2012)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I signed up for this marathon on a whim 7 months prior to the race when Competitor offered a Leap Year special on February 29th and I signed up for my hometown RNR Pasadena Half Marathon and threw in Montreal for just $59 just in case I got around to running it. Really, it was out of sight and out of mind for 6.5 months as I had hoped to be able to run a late October marathon in Europe. When Europe was not materializing, however, 10 days before RNR Montreal, I decided to book air and hotels for Montreal & Quebec City and have a go at this race, with neither low expectations nor high expectations.

Well, out of my 97 marathons to date, this turned out to be a Top 5 marathon experience for me, a new PR and a race that I would return to run again and again in the future. The course was fantastic, like a mix between NYC/Paris/San Francisco and it was very well organized even with nearly 12,000 half marathoners and marathoners all starting together and running together for the first 12.8 miles or so.

Although there were some pretty decent headwinds in parts of the race, the running temperatures were perfect, about 50 degrees at the start and no more than 60 degees at the finish (start time 8:30AM and I finished in 3:41, so right around 12:20pm with the Corral 5 start).

I cannot say enough great things about this race but highlights for me were starting with a nice downhill off the Jacques Cartier Bridge, running 3+ miles on the Grand Prix race track, running through Old Montreal and finishing in a nice big park which was perfect for the post race concert. Although I didn't make it to Europe for a fall marathon, I think this marathon experience in French Canada would have been hard to have topped so I am very pleased with how it all turned out and, quite unexpectedly, got a new PR out of it. :)

 

J. N. from Neepawa, Manitoba (9/24/2012)
"tough but good course" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 5


This was my first run in Montreal. Some tough hills. Didn't enjoy the long straight stretches..great fans!Appreciated km markers and water stations and volunteers. GLad to have participated!

 

S. M. from Ottawa, ON (9/24/2012)
"Not bad for a Canadian Race" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 2


My 39th Marathon! I enjoyed my stay in Montreal and the Delta hotel was first class. I snuck in a free shower in the pool on the fourth floor after the race!
Pros:
Bands: Very strong selection!
t-shirt: Again, for a Canadian race - very good
Fitness Expo: Good selection of products and well organized
mile and KM markers
post race party was good
Cons:
More toilets needed on course
more frequent water stations
better marking of fluids (sports drink not good enough)
Vaseline sticks would be nice as well

 

Thomas Gaudette from Chicago, Illinois, USA (10/4/2011)
"What a beauty" (about: 2011)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


2600 marathoners running in moderately warm weather this year on the streets and boulevards of this international city was as fine a marathon experience as it could be. It seemed to me that this was a much better racing situation than trying to run in a larger city with tens of thousands in the field.

There were five 20 meter hills to manage. The first one felt unnoticable. The second and third hills were shorter, higher grade inclines that worked the quads modestly. The fourth and fifth hills were quite long, lower grade inclines that required some energy to meet. The fifth hill was significant because it began just after the 38th kilometer. Any training gaps or injury issue was painfully felt by the runners on this hill. The final ten kilometers of the race was significantly downhill except for the fifth 20 meter hill. For fit runners, this meant a free gallop to the finish.

This nuanced city, Quebec people and marathon course provided a very fine cultural experience. Naturally, their course was fast and athletically balanced. I enjoyed this environment so I ran well. The host hotel added to this by their hospitality.

Even with the Rock and Roll group as co-sponsor next year, I hope this marathon remains moderately sized, eclectic as the city and adequately athletic. Providing the same or similiar course would be a very good choice.

 

C. A. from Amarillo, Texas (10/2/2011)
"Great Race!" (about: 2011)

6-10 previous marathons | 2 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my second Montreal Marathon and again found it to be a tremendous experience. I'm a really slow runner so there were no congestion issues at the finish for me. I must compliment the race organizers for a job well done. Managing a race of 24,000 runners in Montreal - whew what a monumental task! Plenty of water stops and helpful volunteers. I really appreciated all the spectators - very friendly and supportive. On that humid Sunday I probably would never have made it to the finish without the encouragement. Merci Montreal! Great race!

 

S. B. from Vermont (9/30/2011)
"Beautiful race; bring your own nutrition" (about: 2011)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 3


This was my 5th marathon. The course was very scenic! It was a flat course too. There were a few spectators at spread out points. The finish was great! Lots of people cheering runners in. There were showers too, and no line, that was great. And a fun after race celebration. Great medal too (different for full and half, which is important)! One of the best tech shirts from a race I've ever got.

Negatives: there was only one gel point, and maybe 3 banana and other food stations, not nearly enough, especially for a super hot day. It was a very crowded course with the 1/2 marathoners starting around the same time and in the same place the full marathoners, so it was crowded from about 25k to the finish.

 

C. F. from Ottawa, ON (Canada) (9/27/2011)
"Great views and fans, congested finish!!!" (about: 2011)

11-50 previous marathons | 2 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 4


I have run the Montreal Marathon two years in a row, and the course is beautiful. You start on the La Ronde Island, and you complete one full loop of the Gilles Villeneuve F1 Circuit. Once you are done there, you head over to the Old Port and find your way through the unique neighbourhoods of Montreal. The finish is excellent!!! Unfortunately, the organization could be a lot better. Since the half-marathoners start 2 hours the marathoners, they catch up to you around the 25km mark. As a result, the last 17km of the marathon feels overcrowded and congested. I would suggest to start the Half-Marathon 1 hour after the marathon to avoid this problem. Also, the finish is very congested because there is no 'athletes rest area'...everyone is allowed to come in which makes it chaotic. Overall, the marathon course and fans are fantastic!!!

 

S. F. from Ottawa, Canada (9/27/2011)
"A nice city-marathon, congested finish area!" (about: 2011)

6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 3


The Montreal Marathon was my 10th marathon and glad to choose Montreal. Overall, it was enjoyable and scenic marathon, especially Olympic Stadium and first 10km in Gilles Villeneuve Track and La Ronde Island. The day was very hot and humid and the half-marathoners joined us about 25km into the race and it made the race very congested for the last 17km (my time was 3:45) so i didn't enjoy that part. The one issue is that the last sports drink is offered at 35k and a marathoner needs at least another sports drink station as its difficult to run the last 7K with only water. The finish area was a bit disorganized despite finishing at Parc Lafontaine, and minimum rest area for the athletes. Overall, Montreal is a nice city to do a marathon that incorporates much of Montreal landscapes and sights with good enthusiasm from spectators.

 

S. B. from New Jersey (9/10/2010)
"Great event!" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Rock 'n' Roll Montreal Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


A really nice marathon. Great course with lots to look at. Very well organized. Loved the signs telling you that water stations were coming up in 75 meters. Nice, short-sleeved, technical shirt too.

 

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