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SSQ Quebec City Marathon: best places to cheer runners

There is plenty of excitement in the air for this weekend's races, which include a 2K, 5K, 10K, half-marathon and full marathon

The excitement is mounting in Quebec City as this weekend’s SSQ Quebec City Marathon, a healthy invitation from Brunet, approaches. Last year the city celebrated the race’s fantastic new course, which winds its way through Quebec City’s many interesting neighbourhoods, both historic and trendy. There will be numerous places to hear live music along the course, and local businesses and merchants’ associations will be in full celebration to give locals and visitors alike a memorable experience.

RELATED: SSQ Quebec City Marathon, a healthy invitation from Brunet, has a new-and-improved race course

Race expo

Check out l’Expo Je Cours QC at Centre des congrès de Québec, 1000 boulevard René-Lévesque Est to pick up your race kit and bib/timing chip and any last-minute supplies you may need. The hours are Friday, October 11 from 12 noon until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 12 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission is free to runners and the general public.

For all the information you need about every aspect of the weekend’s events, click here. Here is our interactive map of the course showing the various landmarks and neighbourhoods you’ll encounter:

Saturday schedule

Saturday, 2:00 p.m.: The kids’ mini-marathon 2K starts and finishes on the Grand Allée East at Place George-V.

Saturday, 3:00 p.m.: The 5K starts on the Grand Allée East at Place George-V and runs east for a bit before coming back to circle the Plains of Abraham.

Sunday schedule

Sunday, 8:00 a.m. The marathon starts at Parc de l’Amérique Française on René-Lévesque Boulevard and finishes on the Grand Allée between De la Chevrotière and D’Artigny streets. The festive zone is at Place George-V and Parc de la Francophonie. The winners are expected to finish sometime after 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, 9:00 a.m.The 10K starts on boulevard René-Lévesque Boulevard East just east of rue de Claire-Fontaine and finishes on the Grand Allée at Place George-V.

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.: The half-marathon starts on boulevard René-Lévesque Boulevard East just east of rue de Claire-Fontaine and finishes on the Grand Allée at Place George-V. The winners are expected to finish sometime after 11:00 a.m.

 

Quebec City Marathon
Photo: Quebec City Marathon/provided

Best places to cheer

Do you have friends and family coming to cheer you on? There are numerous places to cheer runners on the marathon course:

  • Old Quebec (Vieux Québec)–Stroll along St-Jean or St-Louis street in the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as thousands of runners go by (kilometres 1 and 2 on the marathon and half-marathon course).
  • Saint-Roch–The esplanade in front of the Église St-Roch will have some healthy food samples as you wait for your runner to pass by (around kilometre 4 on the marathon and half-marathon course)–
  • Saint-Sauveur–Enjoy the music at L’Oasis or one of the many other bars and restaurants on Saint-Vallier Street West (kilometre 8 on the marathon course)
  • Limoilou–A live DJ at Place Limouloise (at the intersection of 3rd Avenue, 6e rue and Chemin de la Canardière) will entertain the crowd and the runners (kilometre 14 on the marathon course)

  • Old Port–The St-Jean Street Band will entertain you as you watch both the half-marathoners (kilometre 6) and the marathoners (kilometre 18) go by and then double back
  • Petit-Champlain–The canopy of multi-coloured umbrellas on Rue du Cul-de-Sac makes the perfect backdrop for photos
  • Montcalm–Do a little cardio yoga at the corner of Cartier Ave. and Fraser St. while waiting for your runners to arrive at the final kilometre before the finish line.
  • Grande Allée–This marks the final section of the new course, with the party zone at Place George-V. They’re done!

For more information or to plan your race viewing, visit http://www.jecoursqc.com/.

Bonne chance à tous!

 

 

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