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Everything you need to know about running the 2023 Paris marathon

The Local France
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Everything you need to know about running the 2023 Paris marathon
What you need to know about the Paris marathon. Photo:AFP

Up to 45,000 people, including thousands from abroad, will run, jog, even stumble through the streets of Paris on Sunday April 2nd for the city's annual marathon. Here's what to expect, including a new route.

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The Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris takes place in the French capital on Sunday and if you are one of the 45,000 set to make your way around Paris then you might find this info useful.

1. There's a new route this year

The big change about the 2023 Paris Marathon is the route, or to be more specific the end of the route.

Traditionally the last few punishing kilometres have mostly been through the Bois de Boulogne woods on the western edge of Paris. Whilst it's a nice place to run through, anyone who has done the Paris marathon will know that last slog has felt a bit like a death march because of the lack of crowds and atmosphere.

Organisers finally appear to have take note and switched the ending for this year's competition, bringing runners out of the trees and into the wealthy and wide streets of the 16th arrondissement, where family and friends will be able to cheer on.

And runners will be able to take in even more famous sites such as Le Trocadéro and Place Victor Hugo before heading to Porte Dauphine and the traditional finish line on Avenue Foch, within site of the Arc de Triomphe.  

 

Image: Schneider Electric Marathon

Whilst runners will appreciate the crowds towards the end, the new route has made it a little hilly just as runners could do with a stretch of flat course, as the image below shows.

Image: Schneider Electric Marathon

2. There could be long queues to get your number

If you haven’t managed to pick up your number - or “dossard” as they are called in France - on Thursday or Friday then be prepared to face long queues on Saturday.

You could be standing for more than an hour or so, which isn’t exactly ideal preparation for a 42-kilometre run the next day. Remember it's not possible to pick up your race number on the day of the Marathon.

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3. The weather forecast

Spring has finally arrived in Paris but Sunday doesn't look like being too warm in the French capital. The morning will begin cloudy with a temperature of 8C before rising to around 11C by early afternoon, according to forecaster Méteo France.

Morning:
 
 
Images: Météo France

4. Prepare for the slow start

When The Local’s editor Ben McPartland ran the Paris Marathon a few years ago, he didn’t get past the start line until a full 50 minutes after the starting gun was fired. This basically meant his hi-carb breakfast had all but been digested, he was starving and cold and only had a few wine gums to keep going.

"The organisers were trying out a staggered start, which was fine for those at the front, but a nightmare for those at the back. I could have had an extra hour in bed," he said.

Basically you need to take plenty of food to the start and even if the gun goes off, you might still have time to pop for a croissant and coffee in a nearby café.

Race veteran Kwame Amaning suggests starting as near the front as possible " to give yourself as much 'clean air' early in the race (even if it means loads of people will pass you)".

Runners compete on the Champs-Elysees avenue in the 42,195 km Paris Marathon, as part of its 45th edition on October 17, 2021. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

5. People will be weeing on the Champs-Elysées

The Paris marathon is probably the only time in your life you’ll see French women squatting on the Champs-Elysées to take a pee.

The lack of toilets is often a real problem at the start of the race and you’ll see hundreds of people relieving themselves on the City of Light’s famous avenue. Either wear a nappy or don't be afraid to join them. You won't find a much more picturesque toilet in any city in the world.

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6. The cobble stones can be dangerous

It's not fun running on cobbles especially if you have done all your training on nice flat roads, says marathon runner David Chambers.

Have a little run on them the day before to get used to them, or just take it easy over the cobbled parts of the course.

Runners compete past the Eiffel tower during the 43rd edition of the Paris Marathon on April 14, 2019 in Paris. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)

7. You might find the atmosphere flat 

Parisians don’t really tend to turn out and support the marathon runners like the locals do in London or New York. As a result the atmosphere is fairly flat throughout the whole course. Although things have improved in recent years.

There’ll be parts of the course where there’ll be no spectators at all, so don’t expect any help from the crowd. Although with the number of charities supporting runners in Paris, the atmosphere is improving. There are points where you can let the crowd carry you. Enjoy them.

7. You should enjoy the scenery

What the Paris marathon lacks in atmosphere it makes up for scenery. Who needs crowds when you can run down the Champs-Elysées, around place de la Concorde and Bastille, along the banks of the River Seine, past the Eiffel Tower (on the other side of the river) before finishing (almost) under the Arc de Triomphe?

If you can, try to enjoy the view. It's spectacular and much better than from an open top bus.

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8. Prepare for the woods

The course in Paris takes in two big woods  - Bois de Vincennes on the eastern side of the city and Bois de Boulogne to the west. It’s a good chance to run in the shade if it’s hot and also to nip behind a bush to go the toilet, if you've been desperately holding it in.

Although if you’re at the back of the field, be warned that the ground around these “natural toilets” in the Bois de Vincennes can become hazardously slippery and you don’t want to pull a hamstring after all that training.

9. Don't accept wine near the end

See if you can spot the funny folks handing out little glasses of wine near the end. Although you might be tempted, it's best to get across that line before you enjoy the tipple the city has to offer.

Good luck!

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