Accessibility and logistics - The Rock'n'Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon: An Enhanced Running Experience

MONTREAL, May 16, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - As it does every year, the Rock'n'Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon asked its 30,000 participants to evaluate the quality of the race experience and suggest ways for improving the event. An outstanding 6,000 respondents answered the survey and their contribution led to changes, from which participants will benefit on Sunday, September 28, 2014.

"The Marathon's management received generally positive comments. Some of the respondents shared their suggestions for improvements, particularly regarding access to mass transit, wait times at the starting line and the availability of sanitary facilities," said Dominique Arsenault, spokesperson for the Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon. As such, this year, the following improvements will be made:

• To reduce bottlenecks and continue to offer participants the safest possible access to mass transit, the start area for the Marathon and Half-Marathon on the Jacques Cartier Bridge will now be accessible from the Longueuil Metro station on the Yellow Line.
  
  
• To reduce wait times at the starting line, staggered start times will be introduced for the Marathon and Half-Marathon.
  
  
• The number of sanitary facilities available to runners will be doubled, and their locations will be reviewed to make more of them accessible near the entrance of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge (on the Longueuil side).
  
  
• Thermal blankets will de distributed, as needed, to all Marathon and Half‑Marathon runners once they finish the race, to provide a maximum level of comfort.

"The organization is already zeroing in on these key points so that, this coming Fall, the focus will remain entirely on the pleasure of the racing experience," explains Ms. Arsenault, adding that "participants will see a difference". This year also marks the Marathon's first-time collaboration with Les Journées de la culture, as announced in March. The organizers of the two events which will take place during the same weekend, are already working in consultation with the City of Montreal in order to maximize the public's participation.

Registration for the Rock'n'Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon is currently open. To register, visit: http://ca.competitor.com/en/montreal/inscription

About the Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon

This year marks the 24th edition of the Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon. Organized by Festival de la Santé, in conjunction with Competitor Canada, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series is the world's largest running series, with over 500,000 runners participating in events worldwide every year. The series started in 1998 with the simple idea of making running fun, which has transformed the running landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams and entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. Today, the series of marathons and half-marathons has spread to more than 28 destination cities, drawing visitors from around the world. Over the 17-year history of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, charity partners have raised more than $300 million through the events for a variety of worthy causes.

SOURCE: Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon

Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon, Vanessa Lyssan, Tel.: [phone], [email protected]