A departure in Val-David and an arrival in Saint-Jérôme

The weekend of the event takes place on October 3 and 4, 2026. The half-marathon is run on Saturday departing from Piedmont, while the 42.2 km marathon departs from Val-David on Sunday. The Municipality announces 12 waves of runners setting off every five minutes from 8 a.m., at the corner of rue de l’Église and rue de la Sapinière.

The runner's guide specifies that departures take place until 8:55 a.m. and that the assembly area is located at Léonidas-Dufresne Park, in the heart of the village. The route runs exclusively through the P’tit Train du Nord linear park and has approximately 220 meters of gradual negative altitude difference. The cut-off time is 5:30, with checkpoints at 21.5 km and 32.2 km where a pace of 7:50 per kilometer is required. Aid stations, toilets and medical services are detailed on the official marathon route.

To discover the path as a cycling route outside the event, consult our guide instead Cycling on the P’tit Train du Nord from Val-David.

Collect your bib before race day

The bib must be collected at the Claude-Beaulieu Sports Center, at 725, rue Ouimet in Saint-Jérôme. Theofficial weekend schedule plans for withdrawal on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2, from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., as well as Saturday, October 3, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for marathon runners.

Each runner must show up in person with a valid photo ID, and no one else can collect the bib in their place. A bracelet is given on site: it gives access to the departure corral and must be kept until leaving the arrival area. It is therefore better to include Saint-Jérôme in your Thursday, Friday or Saturday journey, rather than discovering this obligation when you wake up on race day.

On Friday, October 2, conferences on training and race preparation are presented at the same location, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A runner who arrives early can take advantage of this to occupy his evening without making multiple trips.

Getting to the start: the village will be closed to traffic

The most important point to plan is access to the start. According to the official runner's guide, the entire area of the center of the village of Val-David will be closed to traffic and parking will be prohibited on the streets of the municipality. It will not be possible to access the starting site directly by car: traffic will be diverted to outlying parking lots located approximately 200 meters away, from where runners will reach the starting area on foot.

This constraint changes the way you think about the morning. A runner who sleeps in Val-David, within walking distance of the village, completely avoids the question of parking. A runner arriving from outside should plan for the bus, described below.

Organize the bus, parking and return

Since the start and finish are located in two different cities, you must decide in advance where to leave the car and how to return after the race. The organizer strongly recommends that marathon runners use the buses leaving from the old Saint-Jérôme train station, at 160, Place de la Gare, with access to the south via rue Latour. According to the official marathon page, the ticket costs $10, the published deadline to purchase it was August 30, and no tickets will be sold on race morning.

Buses leave as soon as they are full, between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m., and the journey takes approximately 35 minutes. Only runners whose bib bears the words “Autobus” can board, and the bracelet must be on their wrist. As the bib is only given out from October 1st, check your registration confirmation instead: if transport does not appear there, contact the organization directly instead of assuming that a place will be available. In Val-David, runners are dropped off at Place du Marché, a stone's throw from the assembly site.

Several parking lots are available around Saint-Jérôme station:

  • Old Saint-Jérôme train station, entrance via rue Latour.
  • Neighborhood 50+, 425, boulevard Jean-Baptiste-Rolland Est.
  • Aréna Melançon, 451, rue Melançon.
  • Drop-off area at the Intermodal Station, 280, rue Latour, to drop off a rider who is taking the bus.

No bus is planned to bring runners from Saint-Jérôme back to Val-David after the finish. Also plan to drop off bags: only the bag given with the bib is accepted at the start, it can be collected upon arrival, and bags not claimed before 4 p.m. are given to community organizations.

Prepare your stay in Val-David around the marathon

Choose your accommodation according to your transport plan

Sleeping in Val-David allows you to reach the start on foot, the morning of the race, without depending on parking or the bus. However, this does not rule the return from Saint-Jérôme. Before Book, determine who will drive, where the vehicle will stay during the marathon, and how the runner will return after the finish.

KM42 is located directly on the edge of the P’tit Train du Nord and within walking distance of the village heart. The page Location of KM42 in Val-David presents the relationship between the chalets, the trail, the Val-David-Val-Morin Regional Park and the village. You can then compare KM42 chalets, then check availability for the weekend.

For questions about equipment, bedding or arrival at the chalet, also consult the KM42 FAQ before the stay. 

Plan meals without overloading the schedule

The day before the marathon, simplicity is often the best choice. Plan the time for collecting your bib before Book a meal and avoid making multiple trips between Saint-Jérôme and Val-David. A chalet with kitchen also allows you to prepare a familiar lunch and respect your morning departure time.

Our guide Where to eat in Val-David brings together cafes, restaurants and meal options in the area. Check timetables and reservation possibilities directly, especially for Saturday evenings. This page remains the gastronomic reference of KM42; This guide therefore does not seek to reproduce a list of establishments.

Help those accompanying you to follow the race

Relatives can encourage runners at the start, finish and at certain authorized points on the course. The organizer specifically recommends five places:

  • Val-Morin, the municipal beach parking lot.
  • Sainte-Adèle, chemin Pierre-Péladeau, the linear park parking lot, a few steps east of the Auberge de la Gare.
  • Sainte-Adèle, at Mont-Rolland station.
  • Prévost, at Prévost station.
  • Saint-Jérôme, boulevard Lafontaine, rue Bélanger and rue Filion.

In Val-David itself, the Municipality invites spectators to stand along rue de la Sapinière. The runner's guide specifies, however, that no access to the course is possible on the territory of Piedmont, as the local infrastructure does not allow it to accommodate hundreds of vehicles. To avoid a day spent in the car, choose just one intermediate point, then drive to the finish.

Bicycle companions and strollers are not allowed on the route. Performance can be followed in real time by the Sportstats application, which provides timing. Consult the most recent instructions from the organizer andnotice from the Municipality of Val-David for traffic obstructions.

If the accompanying persons remain in the village after departure, our guide for visit Val-David on foot can help them organize the morning without getting back in the car. However, leave enough time to reach the chosen point of encouragement or finish.

Frequently asked questions about the 2026 P’tit Train du Nord Marathon

When and where will the marathon take place?

The marathon will take place on Sunday, October 4, 2026. The 12 starting waves set off from 8 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. in Val-David, at the corner of rue de l'Église and de la Sapinière, and the finish is at Place de la Gare in Saint-Jérôme. Check the official runner's guide in the days preceding the event.

Can we drive to the start in Val-David?

No, not to the starting site. The village center will be closed to traffic and parking will be prohibited on the streets of Val-David. Cars are directed to outlying parking lots located approximately 200 meters away, and runners then return to the starting area on foot.

Is the bus obligatory for the marathon?

The organizer strongly recommends it due to limited parking in Val-David, but the formal obligation only applies to the half marathon. For the marathon, the $10 ticket had to be purchased before the published deadline. Use of the organization's bus is not permitted not obligatory on the regulatory level to participate, whether for the marathon or the half-marathon. She is only highly recommended to avoid road congestion and lack of parking. official FAQ details these conditions.

Can we collect our bib on Sunday morning?

No. The bib must be collected in person at the Claude-Beaulieu Sports Center during the scheduled times of Thursday, Friday or Saturday. A valid photo ID is required and no other person can collect it for you.

Can we still register for the 2026 marathon?

As of September 1, 2026, the official registration page indicates that the marathon and half marathon are full, with no waiting list. The transfer or sale of a bib is prohibited. Never pay a third party to run under another identity.

Where can relatives find the runner after the race?

The arrival is located at the Place de la Gare de Saint-Jérôme, where kiosks and activities welcome families on the Place des Festivities. Agree on a specific meeting point before departure and take traffic into account. Sportstats tracking helps estimate arrival time, but it does not replace a clear plan if the cellular network is busy.

What to do if you have a medical problem during the race?

Patrollers, first responders and defibrillators are present throughout the course, and a medical station awaits runners at the finish. The Marathon Médical emergency number, 514 307-0636, is written on the back of the bib. Drop-off vehicles are also stationed on the course and bring runners back to the finish line.

Conclusion

The Marathon P’tit Train du Nord 2026 begins in Val-David, but all the logistics take place between Val-David and Saint-Jérôme. A bib collected on time, access to the planned start without a car, a clear meeting point and accommodation chosen according to the route allow you to approach the race with much more peace of mind.

If your travel plan is established, you can now consult the chalets available at KM42 and prepare for a simple weekend, within walking distance of the departure, the village and the P’tit Train du Nord.