The Paris Marathon is a unique opportunity to discover the city whilst participating in one of the most exciting races over the mythical distance of 26 miles, 385 yards.

The Paris Marathon is today one of the five biggest in the world (along with New-York, London, Berlin and Chicago), not only in terms of the field present, but also by the performances accomplished, the services and logistics put in place and the media coverage.

More than one hundred nations and 40,000 participants will be competing over the 26 miles and 385 yards of the most mythical event that athletics has to offer.
On the second weekend of April, this journey through Paris, from the Champs-Elysées to avenue Foch via the Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne woods, boasts an unrivalled backdrop dotted with a wealth of popular events.

The “Running Expo” fair at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre during the 3 days leading up to the Marathon has also become an unmissable event, by bringing together 60,000 visitors and around 200 professionals from the running world.

The personal challenge of the race also combines with a visit of the city, as the runners hit the streets in the most prestigious of thoroughfares and squares: at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe, the participants take starter’s orders, before heading down the Champs-Elysées, towards Place de la Concorde. The Rue de Rivoli then leads them to the Place de la Bastille and after the greenery of the Bois de Vincennes wood, the difficulty of the return journey is soothed by views of the Notre-Dame Cathedral and then the Eiffel Tower.
Each year, this route appeals to more and more athlete-tourists, with almost 16,000 competitors from outside France, making up approximately 40% of the field.

 

 

The Paris Marathon is a mass event, involving 40 000 participants in the street. Starting on the prestigious Champs-Elysées is comfortable:

• access by public transport is very close
• access to start is easy by two broad sidewalks
• uggage deposit are relatively close (avenue Foch)
• the first km is run on a 28 meters wide avenue.

The route then takes you to the heart of the capital, along the beautiful sites and monuments.

To guarantee a more comfortable race throughout the 42 km of the Marathon, now we seek to spread the flow of runners, making the pack less compact.
Access to refreshment point will be facilitated, the closer streets can be taken without stress and you will take great pleasure in looking up to visit Paris.

The starting access and area don’t change (see diagram below) but we will stagger the departure of 40,000 participants.
After the warm up music orchestrated by the coaches, start area will be divided in the width direction (left and right side of the road) and open on one side at a time, randomly, to limit the number of competitors starting simultaneously.

The first three starting zones (elites, preferential and red) will go as a group, at the starting signal.
The start of each other areas (yellow, blue … pink) will be slowed and will be done by halves of the pack.
There will be no delay between the starts of different timing references.

We prefer you to wait in the starting line a few more minutes, and make your ride comfortable.

Of course, the timing system will allow you to get your real race time; the chip is detected when crossing the start line. Download start plan (.pdf, 3.33 Mo, 1 page)

Discover the route layout of the Paris Marathon.

This new map should help you locate route details more easily, along with refreshment points, sponges, kilometre points…

Start: up Champs-Elysées.
Finish: down Avenue Foch.

Starting time
• handisports : 8h35 (inscriptions auprès de la Fédération Française Handisport)
• marathon : 8h45

Refreshments
Every 5 km (water, raisins, oranges and bananas).

Sponges
Every 5 km from km 7,5.

Timing
Will be shown every 5 km, km 1, km 21,1 and at finish line.

Duration of the race : 5h40.

Medal and certificate for all finishers.