When is the Médoc Marathon 2027?

On Saturday 4 September 2027, for the 41st edition. 9:30 am start on the quays of Pauillac. Bib pick-up is the day before, Friday 3 September.

When does registration open for the Médoc Marathon?

In March 2027, on the official website only. A bib costs €110 and the race is limited to 8,500 entrants. You must be 20 or over on race day and provide a PPS health pass.

What is the theme of the 2027 Médoc Marathon?

“Exploration Médoc, à la conquête du Monde !” (exploring and conquering the world). Costumes are paraded from 8 am to 9:15 am before the start, and the most impressive ones are rewarded at the finish.

What is the time limit of the Médoc Marathon?

6h30. Sweeper runners run to that time: anyone behind them is out of the race, and the course is closed to them from halfway. The finish line closes after 6h30 of racing.

Marathon du Médoc: how many weeks of preparation?

For an athlete at intermediate level, Endu builds a 17-week preparation. If your race is closer, the plan compresses phases while keeping the taper; if it's further away, it lengthens the preparation, and when the gap is large the preparation starts right away, gently and at your current volume, before building up.

How many sessions per week?

This example has 4 sessions per week. You choose 3 to 7 training days and the exact days (e.g. Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun): the plan sticks to them.

I'm a beginner, is this plan for me?

The plan adapts to your declared level (beginner to semi-pro): starting volume, progression and intensity change. Endu also offers a "Discovery" mode without a race to build a base first.

Can I follow sessions on my watch?

Yes, on Garmin and COROS. On Garmin, the Endu app (Connect IQ Store) shows today’s session and starts it as a guided workout. On COROS, link your account from your profile: your running, trail and cycling sessions land in the watch calendar. Other brands are not supported yet.

How much does it cost?

14-day free trial, then €7.99/month with no commitment or €59.88/year (€4.99/month). Unlimited objectives and sports.

Marathon du Médoc 2027: date, course and training plan

42.2 kmPauillac2027 edition: 4 September 2027

The Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc is run in fancy dress, on a 42.195 km loop that starts and finishes on the quays of Pauillac, among the vineyards and châteaux. The course is rolling, with 24% on gravel tracks, 22 aid stations and some twenty tastings of fine wines. The 41st edition is on Saturday 4 September 2027, with the theme “Exploration Médoc, à la conquête du Monde !” (exploring the world).

Your plan for Marathon du Médoc

43 weeks to go: your plan starts this week, set to your level and free days, then adapts to your feedback after each session.

Your goal time?

14-day trial, cancel anytime.

Marathon du Médoc at a glance

Date: 2027 edition: 4 September 2027
Formats: Marathon des Châteaux du MédocPlan below — 42.195 km in one loop, starting and finishing on the quays of Pauillac. 9:30 am start. Rolling course, with 24% on gravel tracks. Time limit: 6h30, closed by sweeper runners; at halfway the course is closed to anyone behind them. 22 aid stations, 6 checkpoints. For runners born before 4 September 2007. Limited to 8,500 entrants. €110 per bib for 2027.
Balade du dimanche — A recovery walk on Sunday 5 September 2027 in Listrac-Médoc, booking required (€8), limited to 3,000 people.
Registration: Registration for 2027 opens in March 2027, only on the official website and by card, up to 8,500 entrants. Bib: €110; packages with a dinner or the walk range from €141 to €230. Enter on your own or as a group of 2 to 30. A PPS health pass completed after 5 September 2026 is required. No resale between runners: only the organisers buy bibs back, for €97, until 30 June 2027; a €13 cancellation cover handles some cases after that. Bib pick-up in person at the Cosec in Pauillac, only on Friday 3 September 2027, from 10 am to 11 pm, with the pick-up voucher sent in August.
Official website: marathondumedoc.com

What the race asks of your training

Hills and gravel tracks

The rules describe a rolling course with 24% on gravel tracks: about 10 km off tarmac. Run part of your long runs on tracks and rolling ground, and add short hill repeats to your week.

Running in fancy dress

The Médoc is run in fancy dress. Try your costume on at least one long run: chafing, weight, heat under the fabric, and a bib that must stay visible on the front. A costume that bothers you at km 10 becomes a real pain by km 35.

A build-up in high summer

With a race in early September and a 9:30 am start, the build-up happens in July and August, and most runners finish around midday or early afternoon. Run your key sessions early in the morning, but also do a few long runs at warmer times of day to see how your body copes.

6h30, stops included

The sweeper runners keep a 6h30 pace: behind them you are out of the race, and the course is closed to you from halfway. With 22 aid stations and the tastings, stops add up quickly: if you plan to enjoy them, keep a margin and practise getting back into your stride after a break. Also test the drink and gels you plan to take in training.

The plan below prepares the Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc format, for an athlete at intermediate level with 4 days available per week, with race day on 4 September 2027. Aiming for another format? Enter its distance when you create your plan, which will be calibrated on your level, your available days and your feedback after every session.

weeks: 17
sessions: 67
sessions / week: 4
peak week: 5.7 h

Plan structure

Periodised in phases: build the base, move to race-specific work, then taper before the race.

General preparation
Weeks 1–2 · 2 wk
Base
Weeks 3–7 · 5 wk
Build
Weeks 8–11 · 4 wk
Specific
Weeks 12–14 · 3 wk
Taper
Weeks 15–16 · 2 wk
Race week
Weeks 17–17 · 1 wk

Volume progression

Week by week: lighter recovery weeks are built in to absorb the load.

Wk	Phase	Hours	km
1	General preparation	3.3 h	33
2	General preparation	3.5 h	35
3	Baserecovery	2.7 h	27
4	Base	3.7 h	37
5	Base	3.9 h	39
6	Base	4.1 h	41
7	Baserecovery	3.2 h	32
8	Build	4.4 h	44
9	Build	4.6 h	47
10	Build	4.9 h	50
11	Buildrecovery	3.8 h	39
12	Specific	5.1 h	51
13	Specific	5.4 h	54
14	Specific	5.7 h	57
15	Taper	4.1 h	41
16	Taper	3.2 h	31
17	Race week	2.2 h	22

Sample week — week 9 (Build)

Real sessions from the plan with their targets. Each session is detailed step by step, and can be sent to a Garmin or COROS watch.

MondayEasy
30 min easy
30 min · 4.8 km
TuesdayHard
3 × 10 min at threshold
2 min jog recovery
1 h 01 · 11.4 km
FridayVery hard
6 × 600 m at MAS
2 min jog recovery
52 min · 9.6 km
SundayEasy
Long run 2 h 13
2 h 13 · 21.5 km

Example generated for a intermediate-level profile (MAS 15 km/h, 4 days available per week). Your plan will depend on your level, availability and feedback.

This plan’s check-up

Pass

A 17-week build (recommended minimum: 12); a longest run never more than 8% above the previous month’s; volume rising at most 7% from one week to the next; 89% of the time at easy effort; the longest session 3 weeks before the race; a taper cutting volume by 61% in race week.

2 worth knowing · 16 checks passed

Remarks

Strength training — No strength session.
Fueling — Long sessions (up to 160 min in this plan) are where race fueling is rehearsed.

The 16 checks passed, in detail

Length of the build — 17 weeks: enough for this race (recommended minimum: 12).
Sessions per week — 4 sessions a week: the minimum for this race is met.
Volume progression — Running volume rises at most 7% from one week to the next (a signal appears beyond 20%).
Long run increase — Each week, the longest run is at most 8% longer than the longest of the previous month (benchmark: 10%).
Lighter weeks — A lighter week comes back regularly (weeks 3, 7, 11, 15).
Weight of the long run — The long run keeps a reasonable share of the week.
Intensity distribution — About 89% of the time at easy effort: the most common distribution among trained endurance athletes.
Demanding sessions — No more than 2 demanding session(s) a week: suited to the level.
Hard days back to back — Demanding sessions are separated by easy days.
Rest days — At least one rest day a week.
Easy run pace — Easy runs are truly easy (slower than 5:43/km).
Race-specific work — 8 race-specific sessions in the last block.
Timing of the longest session — The longest session falls 3 weeks before the race: the right time.
Taper — Volume drops 61% in race week.
Intensity during the taper — Short race-pace efforts remain in the last two weeks.
Frequency during the taper — The number of sessions stays close to usual (100%).

Endu runs its own plans through the plan check open to everyone: same public rules, same thresholds, same sources. The rules and their sources, and a check of your own plan.

Why this plan works

Science-based periodisation

Base → build → specific → taper, with a recovery week every 3 to 4 weeks. Load goes up, but never two hard weeks in a row without a breather.

Paces, not vague feelings

Every session has target zones (pace, HR) computed from your MAS or a reference performance. A MAS test is built into the plan if you don't know yours.

A plan that listens

After each session you rate how it felt (RPE). Too hard? The plan eases what follows. Skipped a session? It reschedules or absorbs it.

On your watch

On Garmin with the Endu app, on COROS by direct sync: the guided workout shows up on your wrist, step by step.

Reviews

What our users say.

4.8/5

“I used to spend more time looking for a plan than following one. Now I have my sessions, I know what to do and I stick to it. Really glad I tried it.”
Thomas · Running
“Training for my first half marathon and honestly, I’m getting into it! I even look at my next sessions ahead of time, when before I was mostly looking for an excuse not to go out 😂”
Camille · Running
“Simple to follow and really handy with the watch. I start my session and off I go.”
Julien · Running
“I took Endu to prepare a trail race with friends. I really like having my week already organised: it motivates me and I enjoy my runs more.”
Émilie · Trail
“What I like is no longer asking myself a thousand questions before going for a run. I follow the plan and I enjoy training.”
Nicolas · Trail
“With work and the kids, I thought I’d struggle to follow a plan. In the end, having a structure helps me a lot. Running has found a real place in my week again, and it feels good!”
Julie · Trail
“A good find to prepare my swimrun! It’s nice to find a plan for this sport. I’ve recommended it to my teammate.”
Antoine · Swimrun
“I run more regularly and, above all, with more desire. For that alone, I’m delighted.”
Laura · Swimrun
“For triathlon, having all three sports in the same schedule really makes my life easier. I spend less time organising my training and I still enjoy following it just as much.”
Maxime · Triathlon
“At first I just wanted to try it. Now checking the next day’s session has become my little evening ritual 😊”
Sarah · Triathlon

Your plan, not a template athlete's

This plan is generated for an athlete at intermediate level with 4 days available per week. Yours will be calibrated on your MAS, your available days and your feedback after every session. 3 minutes. 14-day trial, cancel anytime.

Create my plan for Marathon du Médoc