Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
Well organized race with international flavor and lots of crowd support. Fun course. Ranks high among the 75 that I've run. Quebec City is a great place to visit with lots of history. Weather was great in early October. Great experience.
Don't push early ...the gradual climb from from 8K to the Plains of Abraham around 14K will hand you some slower splits, but you'll recover along the plains and make it up headed back down to the river. A little bit of everything, narrow streets in the old city, flat section along the river, easy rolling hills thru the Plains of Abraham.
Plenty of hotels along early and late sections of the course. Race literally ran right down a narrow street past the front door of my boutique hotel at 35K.....had to fight off temptation to drop out. Tons of food options and fine restaurants. If you're in the Northeast just drive.
From start to finish...much hillier than any of the reviews acknowledged. The hills are steep.both up and down with rolling in between. If you aren't prepared for this your legs are beat up long before you have a chance to hit the long stretch of highway that is in direct sun. Due to the late start, you're in the full heat of August. The water stops aren't frequent enough to make up for the dehydrations this combo creates. As for being scenic, you hit a few cute streets, but mainly you're too inland to enjoy the water, you spend a lot of time on the highway which isn't pretty and barely any of the race is in Quebec City. Yes you finish there, but you don't see the city at all. Felt the reviews were not honest and I was surprised that myself and elite runners I know came in 15-20 minutes over our expects times. More proper to those who pulled off fast races. Just not one i would recommend for beauty, speed, or ease.
Train for hill, wear your own water belt, prepare for heat (even 65 is boiling hot if there is now shade at 10:30am), and maybe just do a prettier race somewhere else.
Fairmont gave a nice discount but also put us in a mediocre room with the view of a wall. Good location though.