Samuel St. Antoine, a Mont-Saint-Hilaire resident, finished third in the 2025 Montreal Marathon Sunday, with an impressive time of 2:20:40. It was St. Antoine’s first time competing in the race. “It’s amazing. I didn’t expect that — it’s a surprise for me, and I’m really, really happy,” St. Antoine said after crossing the finish line. But whether it was a spot on the podium or the personal satisfaction of crossing the finish line, Sunday was a celebration of perseverance and dedication. Over 19,000 runners took part in the full and half-marathon events. “It’s weeks, months of work for the runner, but also for the organization,” said Alex Ratthe, general manager of Courons Montréal, the group behind the event. “And today, with the nice weather, we can all celebrate the hard work.” For many, the race was a chance to break personal records. Montrealer Alex Hebert, who ran the half-marathon, said the crowd energy helped him reach a new milestone. “It was my record actually,” he said. “Running with everybody, you make better times because everyone’s pushing, everyone’s cheering. It’s pretty cool.” Some participants brought extra flair to the course. Tom Reddy and his friend ran in a tandem inflatable costume — just for fun. “I think I was a little bit faster, but I don’t want him to know,” Reddy joked. “We didn’t even practice. We just bought it yesterday, tried it this morning, and we just went.” Large crowds lined the route to cheer on the runners, particularly at the finish line in Maisonneuve Park. “Honestly, it’s amazing to see all the runners,” said one spectator. “They’ve all been training so hard. I’m just really happy to support them.” The weekend also featured 1K, 5K, and 10K races on Saturday. More than 32,000 runners participated in the events – a 20 per cent increase from last year. “It’s really about managing growth and improving the runner experience,” said Ratthe. Organizers say this year’s success is a sign of even bigger things to come, as plans for the 2026 Montreal Marathon are already in motion.
