2026 Marathon du Fjord - Sep 26 Countdown

Q: How do you register for the Marathon du Fjord?

Entry is open registration on a first-come basis &mdash; there is no lottery. You sign up through the organizer's platform (inscriptionenligne.ca) under the Coupe Autocar Jeannois series. Registering online in advance is simplest, but on-site / race-day registration is also available (the organizer's event window runs from early morning up to about 15 minutes before each event's start). Confirm the exact online cutoff on the official page before you travel.

Q: How big is the Marathon du Fjord?

It is a very small race. The 2025 full marathon (42.2 km) had only about 29 finishers out of 45 entrants, per the official results. The wider weekend &mdash; which also includes a 21.1 km half and a 5 km run/walk &mdash; draws a few hundred participants, but the full marathon itself is intimate. Expect quiet roads and long solo stretches rather than a crowd.

Q: What is the course like and how much elevation is there?

The course is a scenic riverside route along the Saguenay Fjord, starting and finishing at the Hangar in Chicoutimi's Old Port (49 rue Lafontaine). It follows the water rather than climbing into the hills, so the terrain is mostly gentle with some rolling sections &mdash; pleasant but not pancake-flat. The organizer does not publish an official elevation figure; treat any GPS reading you see as approximate.

Q: Is the Marathon du Fjord a Boston qualifier?

No. This is not a Boston-qualifying race, so do not plan to use a time from here for a BQ. With only around 29 finishers and an emphasis on the fjord scenery, it is best approached as a destination experience rather than a time-chasing or qualifying race.

Q: What is the time limit?

The marathon has a generous 7-hour-30-minute time limit. With a 7:30 a.m. start that gives you until roughly 3:00 p.m. to finish &mdash; comfortable room for first-timers, walk-run runners, and anyone wanting to soak up the views along the way.

Q: When and where does the race start?

The 2026 edition is Saturday, September 26, with the marathon starting at 7:30 a.m. from the Hangar de la zone portuaire de Chicoutimi (Old Port), 49 rue Lafontaine, Saguenay, Quebec. The half marathon (which starts at 8:00 a.m.) and the 5 km share the same start/finish hub on staggered start times.

Q: What should I wear for the weather?

Dress for a cold start and a mild finish. Late-September mornings by the Saguenay are around 7&deg;C (45&deg;F) at gun time, warming to about 15&deg;C (59&deg;F) by midday, with roughly a 40% chance of light rain. Layers, light gloves, and a throwaway top for the first hour work well; pack a light rain shell if showers are forecast.

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Race Information

Race	2026 Marathon du Fjord - Sep 26
City	Saguenay (Chicoutimi)
Date	2026-09-26 at 07:30
Field Size	~29 runners
Time Limit	7 hours 30 min
Cutoff pace	10:40/km
Timezone	America/Toronto
Official Site	Club Jakours (Coupe Autocar Jeannois)
Registration	Register

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	11.2°C / 52°F
Humidity	81%
Wind	15.4 km/h
Rain Chance	39%
Typical Conditions	Cool, crisp late-September morning by the Saguenay, with autumn-color foliage and a fair chance of light rain

What to Prepare: Late September in Chicoutimi starts cold, around 7°C (45°F) at the 7:30 a.m. gun and climbs to roughly 15°C (59°F) by midday. Dress in layers you can shed; gloves and a throwaway top help for the first hour by the water.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 15.4 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	6.3°C	11°C	16.2°C
Dew point	2°C	7.9°C	13.6°C

Wet-day chance: 39% Runnability: 73/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Riverside out-and-back
Elevation Gain	120m
Terrain	Road and riverside path
Profile	A small, scenic riverside marathon (about 29 full finishers in 2025) running along the Saguenay Fjord from the Hangar at Chicoutimi's Old Port. Mostly gentle riverside terrain with rolling sections; generous 7-hour-30-minute time limit. Open online entry, no lottery. This is NOT a Boston-qualifying race.

Prepare for 2026 Marathon du Fjord - Sep 26

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Marathon Predictor — 5K, 10K & Half Marathon Race Predictor

Free marathon predictor — convert your 5K, 10K, or half marathon time into race-day estimates from R...

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Race Finish Time Calculator & Predictor — Free

Predict your race finish time from pace, or set a goal time to find required pace. Free instant calc...

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View all running tools

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you register for the Marathon du Fjord?

Entry is open registration on a first-come basis — there is no lottery. You sign up through the organizer's platform (inscriptionenligne.ca) under the Coupe Autocar Jeannois series. Registering online in advance is simplest, but on-site / race-day registration is also available (the organizer's event window runs from early morning up to about 15 minutes before each event's start). Confirm the exact online cutoff on the official page before you travel.

How big is the Marathon du Fjord?

It is a very small race. The 2025 full marathon (42.2 km) had only about 29 finishers out of 45 entrants, per the official results. The wider weekend — which also includes a 21.1 km half and a 5 km run/walk — draws a few hundred participants, but the full marathon itself is intimate. Expect quiet roads and long solo stretches rather than a crowd.

What is the course like and how much elevation is there?

The course is a scenic riverside route along the Saguenay Fjord, starting and finishing at the Hangar in Chicoutimi's Old Port (49 rue Lafontaine). It follows the water rather than climbing into the hills, so the terrain is mostly gentle with some rolling sections — pleasant but not pancake-flat. The organizer does not publish an official elevation figure; treat any GPS reading you see as approximate.

Is the Marathon du Fjord a Boston qualifier?

No. This is not a Boston-qualifying race, so do not plan to use a time from here for a BQ. With only around 29 finishers and an emphasis on the fjord scenery, it is best approached as a destination experience rather than a time-chasing or qualifying race.

What is the time limit?

The marathon has a generous 7-hour-30-minute time limit. With a 7:30 a.m. start that gives you until roughly 3:00 p.m. to finish — comfortable room for first-timers, walk-run runners, and anyone wanting to soak up the views along the way.

When and where does the race start?

The 2026 edition is Saturday, September 26, with the marathon starting at 7:30 a.m. from the Hangar de la zone portuaire de Chicoutimi (Old Port), 49 rue Lafontaine, Saguenay, Quebec. The half marathon (which starts at 8:00 a.m.) and the 5 km share the same start/finish hub on staggered start times.

What should I wear for the weather?

Dress for a cold start and a mild finish. Late-September mornings by the Saguenay are around 7°C (45°F) at gun time, warming to about 15°C (59°F) by midday, with roughly a 40% chance of light rain. Layers, light gloves, and a throwaway top for the first hour work well; pack a light rain shell if showers are forecast.