This thread has been rolling since 2005-2006 times and renews itself every year. We're a friendly, supportive bunch. Many people keep coming back to run the same marathon and there are always new 'faces' on the thread. So join in, introduce yourself. We've always got lots to talk about and sometimes it even has to do with running and Paris. Welcome
Paris Marathon official website
ASO Challenges website - you need to have an account with ASO to register for the race. I believe it is now Timeto
Medical Certificate
You will need a certificate signed and stamped from your doctor, download the certificate from the Paris Marathon website.
http://www.schneiderelectricparismarathon.com/us/registration/medical-certificate Some doctors do it for free, others a minimum consultancy charge. Take it with you if you have to see the doctor between now and the race.
Travel
Eurostar is a personal favourite to Gare du Nord as you arrive in the centre of Paris. Tickets available begining of October.
EXPO
If possible arrive on the Friday as the Expo is extremely busy on the Saturday. If you must go to the Expo on the Saturday, don’t worry, others have and they survived.
To get to the Expo. GARE DU NORD, take Metro 4 direction Maire de Monterouge, change at MONTPARNASSE, Metro 12 to PORTE DE VERSAILLES.
You will require; ???
ID ???
Medical Certificate ???
Convocation (Confirmation slip, printed off the ASO website, available 2 weeks before the race. ASO will send you an email reminder)
You will be given your bib, a ticket for the bag drop and 4 safety pins. Also a basic goody bag; plastic bin liner, sponge, water bottle, bumbag….
Saturday Evening
We have our own meet up at a pasta restaurant, numbers are confirmed a couple of weeks before the race.
Race Day
The Arc de Triomphe. Metro station Charles de Gaulle Etoile. RER A. Metro lines 1, 2, 6
Bag drop.
You can take any bag to the drop zone, attach your ticket to the handle. Allow 15 minutes to walk from the Arc to the bag drop and back.
Group Photo.
Our second meeting point, at 8am we have a group photo. Facing the Arc with back to the Champs, we’ll be by the right leg. This gives the fast runners time to get to their pens.
There are limited portaloos in the pens and urinals. Some go in the side streets and even in the pen. It happens, if you get caught short you’ll understand.
Start Area
The Champs Eylsées is in the shade, it can be very cold, bring throw away clothes to discard in the pen. Wait until last minute because there are staggered starts.
The pens are split in two, each pen goes one after the other then one side of the pen, then the other. Last pen leaves just after 10 am.
The Race
The course is fairly flat however start is downhill for 2km, it is easy to get carried away and start too fast. There is a small climb at 32km depending on your race, you’ll either not notice it or it will seem like Everest. Save Energy, not time.
There are makers every kilometre and mile.
Water stations every 5km. 33cl bottled water.
There are two sports drink stations one at 28km, this year it was Isostar in small cups.
You start on the Champs Elysées, down to the Concorde, pass the Louvre, around the Bastille, around the Bois de Vincennes back along the Seine, Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower, up to to Roland Garros and the Longchamps race course, around Bois de Boulogne and finishing along avenue Foch with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. The support is great and your own supporters can cheer you on 3-6 occasions along the route. In the two woods (Bois), the support is sparse but generally there is a great atmosphere.
Sunday night
Come to the pub, 3rd meet up, wear your medal with pride. No matter your time, you have earned that medal. Everyone will be sharing their race stories. Please say hello, tell us your pen and bib number, perhaps a little about yourselves. If the thread moves on or life gets in the way, doesn’t matter join in when you can.
This thread has been rolling since 2005-2006 times and renews itself every year. We're a friendly, supportive bunch. Many people keep coming back to run the same marathon and there are always new 'faces' on the thread. So join in, introduce yourself. We've always got lots to talk about and sometimes it even has to do with running and Paris.
Comments
Please all join me to offer support and have a fun time
I won’t be in Paris this year, but will hang around here and try and answer any questions people have.
It’s a great event. Keeping the meet ups going is a great thing. I’ve made some great friends over the years in Paris.
Have booked my travel - Eurostar Friday morning to Sunday evening. Now onto the accommodation
I think not knowing what was coming was helpful for me at Beachy. I’m not from that end of the country, so only knew the course profile from people talking about it. I spent the entire run chatting with friends. I certainly wasn’t racing that one. It’s a great little event.
I hope everyone is doing OK - my motivation is waning so I really need to give myself a good kicking and get some consistency in my running before the training really ramps up!!
I'm doing my first marathon.. well since 2002, in December, the Portsmouth one..if I'm ready. Hoping for 5 hours for that.. and hope for some improvement in Paris.
Looking forwards to Spring now, with the Tokyo Marathon at the start of March to get out of the way first!