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After a pandemic hiatus, the Marathon du Medoc is back. And registration for this most hedonistic sporting event opens in April. While most marathons are populated by lean, spandex-clad competitors, the Marathon du Medoc is not your typical running event. It’s more like Halloween on steroids, with 8,500 runners in costume following an annual theme set by the organizers. The year I attended was animals. For 2022 runners are to follow a “Cinema” theme.

These are serious costumes, we’re not talking a mere mask!

The marathon is September 10. And there are packages, including the opportunity for non-runners to join a 10k walk on the 11th.

The event starts and ends in Pauillac, which is a 53kms-drive from Bordeaux. We pulled our rental van into a convenience store parking lot on the edge of town. Two adults dressed as bumble bees stepped out of the sleek blue BMW next to us, pulled gossamer wings out of the trunk and stretched after their 1,200-km drive from Germany. He is a banker, she is an economist. They were lean, fit and anxious to buzz off.

Walking to the start line I saw participants painting black and yellow strips on each other’s torsos to finish their bee costumes. Others preened friends’ tails, adjusted wings, utters or ears. There were flamingos, swarms of ladybugs, herds of cattle, Ninja turtles, swans, gorillas, penguins, sheep, pigs, a pair of lobsters from Vancouver and almost 1,001 runners dressed as Dalmatians escaping several Cruella Devilles.

Those who broke the dress code, stuck to a domestic theme, like bakers running with baguettes and bloody-apron-clad butchers waiving cleavers at those dressed as farmyard animals. There were Musketeers, a Napoleon in cutaway green velvet jacket and silk knickers, and a surprising number of men dressed as French maids in various stages of dishabille.

Julia Child’s observation that “In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport,” applies to the Marathon du Medoc. In typically French fashion they elevate the act of running into a culinary event. In North America marathoners are parsimoniously offered water and fresh fruit. Here, since they run past 50 chateaux and vineyards (including Chateau Lafitte Rothschild), on a route that has 21 gourmet food stations, runners are offered red or white wine – literally whatever the house specialty – as well as local cheese, oysters, and fresh fois gras served on warm-from-the-oven baguettes. It’s the Aquitaine’s version of fast food.

The marathon starts and finishes in Pauillac a small town on the Gironde River midway between the city of Bordeaux and the Atlantic Ocean and winds through the villages which dot the vineyards of Bordeaux. Citizens move furniture outside to watch the costumed runners squeeze through narrow village streets before heading to the vineyards. Each stop on the route has food and music ranging from jazz to reggae, folk, rock and classical.

For non-runners, this set up is great because you can watch the start from Pauillac’s quayside, wander the town, have a decent lunch, sip the best Bordeaux, then observe participants cartwheel, skip, and dance their way across the finish.

The runner with the best time receives their weight in wine while other top finishers receive crates of wine. Everyone else receives a bottle of marathoner wine.

The evening before the marathon there is a carb-loading, wine-paired pasta dinner for 1,500 participants which this year is at the Chateau Pedesclaux. The Chateau will also offer lunch to 1,500 of Sunday’s walkers.

This is a marathon which has equal appeal for runner and non-runner.

If you go

The marathon receives 15,000 applications a year and can only accredit 8,500 runners. This year’s marathon is September 10. Registration opens in April. For details and to apply go to: http://www.marathondumedoc.com

Other marathons running clients may be interested in include:

Standard runs:

April 18 – Boston Marathon http://www.baa.org

May 1 – Toronto Marathon, http://www.torontomarathon.com

May 1 – Vancouver Marathon https://bmovanmarathon.ca/register

May 20-22 – Bluenose Marathon www.bluenosemarathon.com

June 19 – Banff Marathon http://banffmarathon.com

Quirky Runs:

June 23 – For nighthawks Iceland’s Suzuki Midnight Sun Run offers a half marathon, 5 and 10 km runs.
http://www.marathon.is/the-race-midnight-run/suzuki-midnight-sun-run

July 16 – Laugavegur Ultra Marathon is run over a 55 km mountain course in Iceland. http://www.marathon.is/ultramarathon

July 25 – Swissalpine, Davos, Switzerland offers a variety of runs and walks up and down the Alps. It has events in February, April 1 and June 1, 2022 https://www.swissalpine.ch/en

August 14 – Not since Moses Run is a tide-dependent 10 km run, 5 km walk on the ocean floor in the Bay of Fundy. http://www.notsincemoses.com

Adrenaline Junky Extremist Runs:

April 13 – FWD North Pole Marathon https://www.npmarathon.com

August 28 – Comrades Marathon (an ultra 56.1-mile/90 km event) www.comrades.com

November 17 – Volcano Marathon, Atacama Desert, Chile http://www.volcanomarathon.com

December 14 – Antarctic Ice Marathon near the South Pole. http://www.icemarathon.com

October (start) –World Marathon Challenge consists of seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. http://www.worldmarathonchallenge.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

“I am goin’, I am goin’/ Any which way the wind may be blowin’/ I am goin’, I am goin’/ Where streams of whiskey are flowin’” – The Pogues

Such is the reach of Sean’s Bar that I discovered the famed Irish establishment’s own unique branded whiskey being served at an Irish pub on the Danforth in Toronto. But as much as I enjoyed the experience, it’s undoubtedly better to have a wee dram or two where it originates – Athlone, County Westmeath.

The town (and pub) is situated on the River Shannon on the southern shore of Lough Ree (in the midlands, half-way between Dublin and Galway) and smack in the heart of Ireland’s “whiskey country.” Hence Sean’s foray into brewing its own nectar, which is dedicated to “Luain” the first innkeeper at Sean’s Bar, who built the pub at a strategic point on an early cross-country travel route. Today, the town Athlone (atha Luina in Irish) takes its name from the man and pub around which it was built.

Sean’s single malt whiskey ‘Clonmacnoise’ was first released in 2018; a blend of grain and malt whiskeys, it offers floral hints, light malty notes, and a slight sweetness, with a warm spicy finish. For those who can’t make it to the pub, it can be ordered in Canada at www.corkwinesandwhiskeys.ca.

But for those who can sample it at source, they find its attributes enhanced by a delightful, traditional Irish pub with all the trimmings, and one that boasts status as Ireland’s oldest pub (dating to 900 AD) as authenticated by the Guinness World Book of Records.

With whiskey and pints always flowing, the pub plays host to both a local and international clientele, the latter no doubt aided by its designation by Lonely Planet as one of the 25 most incredible bars and in the world.

Among the famous patrons have been U2, Freddie Mercury, and Boy George.

Given the historic nature of the venue (much of which was uncovered during a 1970 renovation), special talks and tours may be available to patrons, explaining for example, why the floor is sloped and covered with sawdust.

Appropriately, whiskey history is also offered in partnership with Midlands Whiskey Experiences; and guests can also learn how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness, a unique experience in and of itself.

Traditional music – a must for any Irish bar – rings out every night of the week, and along with an Irish turf fireplace, guarantees that visitors will find an abundance of good ol’ Irish craic.

Sean’s Bar is located at 13 Main St. Athlone, and is open daily from 10:30 a.m. (except Sundays, 12:30) to 11:30 p.m. (12:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays).

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

St. Patrick’s Day is like Christmas for Tourism Ireland – the gift that keeps on giving, as the Irish – and those who’d like to be – celebrate the rich culture of the Emerald Isle, most notably on this day it’s music and drink. Or as the Irish Rovers once sang, “Wasn’t that a party?”

Today (March 17), close to 800,000 people are expected to pass through Dublin airport alone on the national holiday as the country returns to in-person events, including St. Patrick’s Day parades, after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Millions more will celebrate around the world, in local pubs or simply by wearing a wee bit of green to the office or around the house.

To that end Tourism Ireland is launching a distinctive new music festival as part of its global celebrations today with the digital Green Button Festival designed to connect those “who can’t be in Ireland personally” with some of country’s best-loved and up-and-coming musicians.

The Green Button Festival is an invitation to celebrate Irish heritage, Irish tradition, and Ireland’s national day in a new and exciting way, says Tourism Ireland.

The unique festival can be viewed on St Patrick’s Day via Ireland.com with social media users able to look out for QR codes and ‘scan for music’ promos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that will lead them to the festival on their phones.

Festival-goers will be treated to an array of Irish and Northern Irish musicians playing to people around the world, amongst them the Hothouse Flowers performing at Temple Bar in Dublin, Clannad and Denise Chaila in County Donegal, Ailbhe Reddy at Dublin Castle and The Pale playing on top of the Tower Museum in Derry/Londonderry.

Ryan McMullan will be among several acts appearing from the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast, which was named a UNESCO City of Music late last year.

The festival includes interactive digital billboards that will be set up New York, London, Milan, and Sydney, which will let passer-by interact with the screen and bring performances to life on the spot using their smartphones.

“This outstanding music festival will connect people all around the world with some of Ireland’s best musicians, says festival producer Martin Harte.

Canada

In Toronto, the Irish Tourist Board welcomed friends late last week to a comparatively low-key (but lots of fun) pre-St. Pat’s celebration at Noonan’s pub on the Danforth, complete with Irish band, traditional dancers, and whiskey and gin tasting.

Canadian manager Sandra Moffatt noted that 4.5 million Canadians have Irish ancestry and that with COVID restrictions now dropped in Ireland and the return to in-person events symbolized by the St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebrations again in Dublin, that Ireland was “rolling out the carpet” for Canadian visitors this summer.

To that end, she welcomed the announcement of significant air lift returning from Canadian carriers like Air Canada and WestJet, the former including service from Vancouver and Montreal starting in June.

Indeed, there will 34 routes from five Canadian gateways, with Moffatt declaring, “It’s a clear sign that international travel is back.”

5 FACTS ABOUT ST. PATRICK’S DAY

As one of the most popular cultural events on the planet, St Patrick’s Day is celebrated by millions every year. Yet the enigmatic and larger-than-life figure behind the annual Irish extravaganza is shrouded in mystery, with much of what is known about the ‘Apostle of Ireland’ interwoven with myth and legend. Here are some startling and quirky ‘did you know’ facts behind the folklore surrounding St. Patrick:

Patrick wasn’t Irish

Yes, it’s true, Patrick is thought to have originally come from either Wales or Scotland, where he was abducted at the age of 16 and brought to what is now Northern Ireland as a slave. He was sent to Slemish Mountain in County Antrim – still a popular pilgrimage spot to this day – to herd sheep. But after his escape he had a vision which prompted him to return to Ireland to spread the word of Christianity. Patrick remained in Ireland for the rest of his life, preaching, baptising, and founding schools, churches, and monasteries before his death in County Down, on 17 March, AD 461.

He ain’t a saint

It’s hard to believe, but the man behind Ireland’s national day is technically not a saint. Surprisingly, Patrick was never officially canonised as a saint by the Catholic Church. However, the lack of official sainthood is simply because there was no formal canonisation process in the 400s. In Patrick’s time saints were declared by popular acclamation. Calling him ‘St Patrick’ is likely to have caught on over time because of his obvious talents, gifts, and holiness.

The first St Patrick’s Day parade

It’s actually the big centres of Irish immigration in Boston (1737) and New York (1762) that have the longest laid claims to holding the first St Patrick’s Day parade, though recent research has suggested that St. Augustine, Fla., had one in 1601. This is long before they started in Ireland itself – the first parade in the country was held in Waterford in 1903, while Dublin joined the club back in 1931.

St Patrick’s colour is actually blue

Before green came on the scene, blue was the colour associated with St Patrick. The earliest depictions of Ireland’s patron saint show him clothed in blue garments, not green, and in fact when George III created a new order of chivalry for the Kingdom of Ireland in 1783 its official colour was a sky blue known as ‘St Patrick’s Blue. It’s thought that the shift to green happened over time because of Ireland’s nickname – the Emerald Isle, as well as the green in the Irish flag, the shamrock, and the idea of the country’s 40 shades of lush green fields. Things like the wearing of green and the more recent global greening of landmark buildings around the world, evolved over time.

Snakes, what snakes?

Among the many legends associated with St Patrick is that he stood on top a hillside and delivered a sermon that drove Ireland’s serpents into the sea. It’s true the island is snake-free, but in fact the story is likely an allegory for Patrick eradicating paganism on the island. Research suggests snakes were never resident in the Emerald Isle in the first place. There are no signs of snakes in the country’s fossil record and water has surrounded Ireland since the last glacial period. Before that, the region was covered in ice and would have been too cold even for reptiles.

For a Green Button Festival teaser:

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News