The 30th edition of Montréal’s annual marathon — officially known as Marathon Beneva de Montréal — takes place from September 23 to 25.
Across two days of races, some 15,000 racers will participate in the 2022 edition. And with an additional 25,000 (or more) spectators and over 800 volunteers, the annual marathon has solidified itself as one of Montréal largest sporting events of the year.
There’s a race for everyone
Sure, the Montréal marathon is a serious race for elite runners from across the planet. But it’s not just all sweat and glory and competitiveness, it’s also a “fun run” for thousands of recreational runners who are simply chasing the endorphins of participation. Whether running the one-kilometre event (which is called the “I love fruits and veggies” race), the full 42-kilometre marathon, or any of the races in between, this is an event to celebrate moving our bodies — and doing it together.
Montréal is an ideal city for a marathon
If you’re going to run for 42 kilometres, you might as well do it in a beautiful city. Montréal’s stunning architectural offerings, multitude of parks, and handsome streets provide an ideal setting for a long run. And while we can’t promise that the kilometres will be breezy, we can promise some interesting sites along the way: Habitat 67, Notre-Dame Basilica, Parc La Fontaine, and much, much more!
The timing is also impeccable. During the first days of autumn, the temperature is not too hot and not too cold. This enables participants to be at the top of their game. Add this a strong community of runners and a city with track-record of hosting successful major events, and you have a world-class race in a destination that’s worth adding post-race “leisure days” simply for exploring.
What’s new this year?
We’re glad you asked. After a couple years of absence, the return of this year’s marathon is being greeted with enthusiasm. To up the excitement, the 2022 marathon is offering completely redesigned routes — starting and finishing at two of Montréal’s most historic locations.
The start of the Marathon and Half-Marathon races are on Ste-Hélène Island, which was the grounds of the much-celebrated “Expo 67” (the 1967 International and Universal Exposition). The finish line for all running events is at the iconic Montréal Olympic Park. Constructed for the 1976 Summer Olympic games, the site — including the sweeping Esplanade — will provide ample space for runners to stretch and refuel after a gruelling race.
Also worth noting is that the Marathon Beneva de Montréal organization is launching its new charity program: Run with Heart. Its objective is to support charitable organizations by placing its various events, platforms, and visibility at the service of their fundraising efforts.
Expo-Marathon: the event’s big exposition
Those who have run marathons know that part of the excitement of big event is picking up the race bibs. These will be collected at the Expo-Marathon, which is the event’s big exposition site. Also onsite will be a range of activities, such as technical workshops, massage, physiotherapy treatments, industry booths, and cultures offers. All designed to enhance the experience.
Good luck to all the participants!
Cheat sheet
Event: Marathon Beneva de Montréal
Dates: 23 - 25 September 2022
Location: Across Montréal (with the exposition and finish line at the Olympic Stadium)
Website: mtlmarathon.com/en
Instagram: @mtlmarathon
Read this next: 5 Trends in sports events
