More than one thousand participants have already signed up for the eighth Demi-Marathon Mont-Tremblant, scheduled for Sunday, August 13.

The event, which brings out a good part of the Mont-Tremblant community, is gaining popularity with runners at all levels. For the first time, the start this year will be from Place Saint-Bernard at the Resort.

In only eight years, the Mont-Tremblant Half-Marathon has become the favourite test and preferred challenge of local athletes. An impressive community of runners has developed, turning up for the event since its earliest days. It’s estimated that more than 600 area residents, of a total of 3,000 people registered, participate in the Demi-Marathon each year. The runners particularly appreciate participating in a high-calibre course while enjoying the warmly welcoming spirit that characterizes smaller communities. Among the event ambassadors, there’ll be Jean-Yves Cloutier, a coach who specializes in running; coach and kinesiologist Robert Roy, owner of the sports facility Rob Fit;  and several regional athletes including talented triathlete  Myrianne Côté  and the remarkable Kathy Bergman.

“The Demi-Marathon was my first big competition,” says Myrianne Côté, who has participated in numerous Ironman events, including many 70.3 events around the world. “The 21.1 km is the most organic event in terms of experience. It’s the top,” affirms Myrianne. “There’s a feeling of belonging that you don’t get with other races. The volunteers are extraordinary, as are the welcome, the food and the level or organization; participants are really taken by the hand and pampered from beginning to end. In my opinion, the quality of the event is why a huge number of people from here participate,” Myrianne observes. “You see the checkout lady from Rona Forget, the lady from the Banque Nationale, the girls who works in fruit and vegetables at Bourassa…we’re all there!”

“This event belongs to the community, which is of prime importance in ensuring that the Demi-Marathon Mont-Tremblant continues to take place,” says Dominique Langelier, event producer. “Participants are amazed that spectators encourage them by calling out their first name all along the course, but that’s what it’s like here. Everybody shows up and participates in their own way,”

New departure location

The Mont-Tremblant Half-Marathon is a major challenge. With its some 220 metres of altitude change, the 21.1 km is reputed to be particularly demanding for the runners, notably because of its departure location which, up to now, was at the Casino. This year, the start of the 21.1 km will be at the base of the Tremblant slopes, which will avoid starting the race with a steep one-km descent. This is “a good thing”, according to Myrianne Côté and many other runners questioned.

“After seven years, it’s good to bring in something new,” concedes Dominique Langelier. “This year, we’ll run down the Voyageur trail, make a tour of the P1 parking area and return to the multifunctional trail via P2.”

Try it: you’ll like it!
The 10K and 5K, whose departures are, respectively from Beauvallon and Rona Forget, allow their participants to enjoy the event…gently. In many cases, runners who have an initial experience come back the following year and, more often than not, sign up for a longer distance. Special rates are available until July 25 and very attractive discounts apply to groups and businesses.