Paris Marathon
Paris Marathon race day weather
Cool conditions, steady wind shifts
Runners will face temperatures ranging from 42°F at the start to 53°F at the finish, with a light headwind throughout the later miles. Humidity will be high at 71%, so pacing adjustments are advised to maintain comfort. Tailwinds from miles 1-6 and 8, followed by headwinds from miles 11-24, will affect pacing strategies, requiring runners to conserve energy during tougher segments.
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Paris Marathon route and elevation
The Paris Marathon course has about 1,189 ft (362 m) of climbing and 1,183 ft (361 m) of descent, and finishes near the elevation it starts. It is hillier than 66% of the marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. The hardest mile is mile 17, with 104 ft (32 m) of climbing.
Biggest climbs
- Miles 7.9 to 9.4: climbs about 75 ft (23 m).
- Miles 15.3 to 15.8: climbs about 80 ft (24 m).
- Miles 21.2 to 22.1: climbs about 70 ft (21 m).
What the hills cost
- 3:30 on a flat course is about 3:31 here (1 minute slower).
- 4:00 on a flat course is about 4:02 here (2 minutes slower).
- 4:30 on a flat course is about 4:32 here (2 minutes slower).
Hills only, priced mile by mile on the course map. The pace calculator above adds the race-day weather.
Even-effort splits for a 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 finish
| Mile | Climb | Descent | 3:30 | 4:00 | 4:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51 ft | 82 ft | 7:50 | 8:58 | 10:05 |
| 2 | 78 ft | 44 ft | 8:15 | 9:25 | 10:36 |
| 3 | 48 ft | 69 ft | 7:53 | 9:00 | 10:08 |
| 4 | 45 ft | 55 ft | 7:55 | 9:04 | 10:11 |
| 5 | 82 ft | 39 ft | 8:19 | 9:30 | 10:42 |
| 6 | 52 ft | 59 ft | 7:57 | 9:04 | 10:12 |
| 7 | 23 ft | 36 ft | 7:55 | 9:03 | 10:11 |
| 8 | 38 ft | 26 ft | 8:03 | 9:13 | 10:22 |
| 9 | 36 ft | 17 ft | 8:08 | 9:17 | 10:26 |
| 10 | 96 ft | 69 ft | 8:11 | 9:22 | 10:32 |
| 11 | 18 ft | 62 ft | 7:48 | 8:54 | 10:02 |
| 12 | 36 ft | 66 ft | 7:51 | 8:59 | 10:05 |
| 13 | 44 ft | 56 ft | 7:55 | 9:02 | 10:11 |
| 14 | 53 ft | 53 ft | 7:58 | 9:06 | 10:14 |
| 15 | 59 ft | 55 ft | 7:59 | 9:08 | 10:17 |
| 16 | 109 ft | 138 ft | 7:51 | 8:59 | 10:05 |
| 17 | 104 ft | 108 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:14 |
| 18 | 94 ft | 83 ft | 8:04 | 9:12 | 10:21 |
| 19 | 64 ft | 62 ft | 7:59 | 9:08 | 10:16 |
| 20 | 82 ft | 47 ft | 8:15 | 9:26 | 10:37 |
| 21 | 43 ft | 63 ft | 7:53 | 9:01 | 10:08 |
| 22 | 71 ft | 18 ft | 8:25 | 9:36 | 10:49 |
| 23 | 42 ft | 52 ft | 7:55 | 9:04 | 10:11 |
| 24 | 18 ft | 36 ft | 7:54 | 9:01 | 10:10 |
| 25 | 41 ft | 45 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:13 |
| 26 | 59 ft | 44 ft | 8:05 | 9:15 | 10:23 |
| Last 0.2 | 13 ft | 7 ft | 1:48 | 2:03 | 2:19 |
Explore the Paris Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
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About the Paris Marathon
The Paris Marathon is run every spring through the streets of Paris and draws one of the largest fields of any marathon in the world, trailing only New York City in finisher numbers. The 42.195-kilometer course starts on the Champs-Élysées, heads southeast to the Bois de Vincennes, follows the Seine back through the city, and finishes on Avenue Foch near the Arc de Triomphe.
Tips from Runners
From 19 race reports by runners: what worked for them, not official race information.
Keep some effort in hand through the Seine tunnels. The climb in the Bois de Boulogne near km 34 to 35 is where you will need it.
Plan extra walking time for bag drop. A 2024 runner had to loop around from the nearest metro to reach it, then walk back to the start. A 2023 couple skipped it and carried everything in belts and pockets.
Friends and family can settle into a cafe right on the course near km 41 to cheer. Two runners' groups did this, and then celebrated there afterward.
Expect small water bottles at the aid stops, which a 2023 runner found every 5 km. If you are running in a pack, a 2025 runner found it safer to move ahead before each station.
If you want a pacer, get to the right side of the start on the Champs-Élysées. A 2024 runner found that the two sides are released in turns and the pacers all line up on the right.
You have to collect your bib in person at the expo in the south of Paris. A 2024 runner said organizers strongly recommended going on a weekday.
- Keep some effort in hand through the Seine tunnels. The climb in the Bois de Boulogne near km 34 to 35 is where you will need it.
- If you want a pacer, get to the right side of the start on the Champs-Élysées. A 2024 runner found that the two sides are released in turns and the pacers all line up on the right.
- Plan extra walking time for bag drop. A 2024 runner had to loop around from the nearest metro to reach it, then walk back to the start. A 2023 couple skipped it and carried everything in belts and pockets.
- Friends and family can settle into a cafe right on the course near km 41 to cheer. Two runners' groups did this, and then celebrated there afterward.
- You have to collect your bib in person at the expo in the south of Paris. A 2024 runner said organizers strongly recommended going on a weekday.
- Expect small water bottles at the aid stops, which a 2023 runner found every 5 km. If you are running in a pack, a 2025 runner found it safer to move ahead before each station.
Paris Marathon FAQ
When is the 2027 Paris Marathon?
Is the Paris Marathon a Boston Marathon Qualifier?
What will the weather be like for the 2027 Paris Marathon?
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Paris Marathon reviews and race reports
A sightseeing course with a packed field. The Seine tunnels and the Bois de Boulogne climbs hit hard late.
The Champs-Élysées start and the monuments — The race drops downhill on the cobbled Champs-Élysées and packs Concorde, the Louvre and Bastille into the early kilometers. A couple of runners called the start amazing, and one was moved to tears by the crowd at Bastille.
The tunnels along the Seine — After the Bois de Vincennes, the course follows the Seine and ducks through tunnels. Each one is a short drop and a sharp climb back to river level. Several runners felt these climbs in their legs, though one called the course not hilly at all. Some tunnels had bands or club lighting.
The Bois de Boulogne and the Trocadéro climb — Around km 34 the course enters the Bois de Boulogne, with a steep hill, a cobbled stretch and thin crowds. Then comes a long climb to the Trocadéro, where the crowds return, and a downhill run to the finish.
Bottlenecks in a huge field — A few runners hit bottlenecks and found passing hard. A 2024 runner also saw spectators cutting across the course where there were no barriers.
Fought through pain to finish strong despite tough final miles
0-5k = the support was insane, starting down the Champ-Élysées was amazing. The start corrals were a little segmented so I'd ended up in an area without any pacers and only with my mate aiming for sub 2h50. Said goodbye to him in the first km and saw my wife and kids for the first time this race, high-fives all around! First km was downhill, with huge crowds of runners and supporters but I managed to control my pacing.
Cried with joy at Place de la Bastille during the race
The first 2km was a soup of nerves and testosterone. I took the outside track to avoid the chaos in the middle of the road, and slowly things started to calm down. I was hitting 3:35-3:40 and knew I needed to check myself. I gradually dropped to 3:50 and at km 4, I heard a stampede at my tail.
Fought through injury, nearly hit sub-3 despite training setbacks
After a caffeine gel before the start, we were away. I’d decided that the race was a bit of a free-hit due to the injury and lack of training so I was going to go out at my original goal pace (sub-3) and see how long I could cling on for. The first 5/6km ticked by and I was broadly on for around 3 hours, my HR was under control (sub-170 bpm vs max of 206) generally and I got my first gel down as I passed my family at the 7km mark.
Crashed hard after 30k, but finished strong with a fast last 2k
The first 30 kilometers were really uneventful, I was keeping a good pace and even managed to make 2 and a half minutes of extra time vs. the target. Then the climbs began and I crashed super hard - my pace went from just below 05:00/km to 05:17/km from 30th to 35th kilometer, then to shocking balls turtle speed of 05:38/km for 35th till 40th kilometer. As last time the end was way faster, got 05:05/km on the last two kilometers.
Felt strong until 37K, then struggled with boredom and tight hips
And we were off!!! The beginning felt so surreal and it didn’t hit me that I was actually running the Paris marathon after months of dedicated training until we reached faubourg Saint-Antoine after Bastille, that’s right next to the ophthalmology hospital I go to, and where my parents used to take me to get little treats after appointments as a teen. I was so happy and smiled the whole time!! I honestly felt excellent for the first 37 kilometres (23 miles), I stopped at every water station, took my gels and generally felt strong and so damn happy and accomplished!