Quebec City Marathon

Location: Quebec City
Country: Canada
Website: https://www.jecoursqc.com/en/beneva-quebec-city-marathon/
2025 Marathon Date: 04/10/2025
2026 Marathon Date: TBC
Winning Time 2025: 02:24:51
% Sub-3s: 2–5%
# Sub-3s: 50–99
Total Runners: 1k–3k

The Quebec City Marathon brings a distinctly historic and scenic flavour to the Canadian autumn season. With its mix of riverfront running, old-world architecture and gently varied terrain, it offers a marathon experience steeped in character rather than pure speed design. Quebec City is one of North America’s most beautiful cities, and this race embraces that identity — elegant, atmospheric, and quietly challenging in ways that reward those who respect the day.

The course typically traces long stretches alongside the St. Lawrence River, interwoven with city sections that pass grand stone buildings and tree-lined streets. The route is not flat in the absolute sense; there are gentle rises and sections where athletes must stay controlled to protect rhythm. But nothing is abrupt or punitive — it’s a course that asks runners to be attentive rather than defensive. Strong pacing and an even aerobic effort are key. The opening miles invite calm, while the later sections reward those who save their gears for the push back toward the city.

Early October in Quebec City usually means crisp air, cool temperatures and bright clarity — classic autumn conditions where breath feels clean and effort feels efficient. Still, riverside exposure can introduce shifting breezes, making composure and form discipline valuable tools. Hydration stations are well organised and spaced intuitively, and the event carries the polish of a city that understands how to host endurance sport.

Crowd support has a rhythmic quality — warm clusters at start, finish and central sections, balanced by scenic, quieter miles along the waterfront. For many runners, this blend is ideal: moments of inspiration balanced by long, steady sections where focus settles inward and pacing becomes meditative.

Quebec City is a marathon for athletes who favour control, strength and appreciation of setting over raw pace chasing. Sub-3 runners find success here not by forcing the course to bend, but by matching its cadence — letting the river guide rhythm, staying patient through gentle undulations, and lifting stride as the finish draws near. It’s a race that rewards maturity, composure and respect for terrain.

Bring your training, bring your pacing discipline, and Quebec City gives you a marathon that feels earned — one where both effort and environment leave a lasting impression.