It all started at the Silver Granite Wine Club Christmas Tasting 2007

Chairman: Kieran Towey. Guest Speaker: Kevin Ecock

This was a great tasting. I won't go into a detailed description of the wines or even the 'poetry competition'!!

I will however mention the pints afterwards. Kieran introduced me to the idea that we might run the Marathon du Medoc. 'Right', I said. 'Im on if you are'. Strange thing is he said that he was!!

Before the night was out we took the photo and agreed the charities. 

At that point we really had no idea what we were talking about. Now we do.

The Marathon du Medoc 2008

Saturday September 5th

This was the 24th running of The Medoc. It was originally begun by a bunch of fun loving, marathon running, wine loving medics. They still have a medical conference the day before the race!

The Medoc has always been run in disguise (fancy dress) over a course that snakes its way through, or past, no fewer than 50 major vineyards. The race provides its runners ample opportunity to sample the food and wines of the region along the route!

The Finish Line is closed six and a half hours afer the start. Only 8,500 runners are allowed to enter because the start at Pauillac is very congested and also because a lot of the race is along narrow and hilly lanes.

Both Kieran and myself were novice runners and virgin marathoners. Is that even a word?

We went to 'compete to complete' and along the way raise money for our two chosen charities:

Direct Aid to Africa

Diabetes Federation of Ireland

Thanks for supporting our charities.

I will wrote a feature on the event, its history and how it helps the wines of Bordeaux for the October 2009 issue of Checkout Magazine.