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Event Information:
The
The Paris International Marathon
(French: Marathon International de
Paris) is an annual marathon which
takes place from the Champs-Élysées
heading towards the Place de la
Concorde and continuing through the
city to finish at Foch Avenue. The
present Paris Marathon dates from
1976. It is normally held on a
Sunday in April and is limited to
37,000 runners. It is organised by
the Amaury Sport Organisation. It is
notable for the attractive route
through the heart of the city of
Paris, and for the food and drinks
stations which include wine, beer,
cider and oysters.
Unlike
most other marathons, but like all
races in France, the Paris Marathon
requires a doctor's note affirming
the runner is physically fit to run
a marathon. The race starts on the
Avenue des Champs-Élysées going
downhill to circle round the Place
de la Concorde before turning right
onto Rue de Rivoli. The route passes
the Louvre, then goes round the
Place de la Bastille, and down
Boulevard Soult to the Bois de
Vincennes. A long loop of the Bois
de Vincennes returns the route into
the heart of Paris. The halfway
point is reached at Rue de Charenton.
The route now follows the course of
the Seine, passing Île de la Cité
and going under the Pont Neuf, then
a series of tunnels. There is a
large drinks station and foot
massage at Trocadéro, opposite the
Eiffel Tower. The route continues
along the Seine, before branching
off east to eventually pass though
Bois de Boulogne, emerging for the
final 200 metres and the finish on
the Avenue Foch.
The
first Paris Marathon, the Tour de
Paris Marathon, took place in 1896.
A big crowd gathered to watch 191
participants. It was run over a
course of 40 km from Paris to
Conflans-Sainte-Honorine via
Versailles, and the organisers
decided to award a commemorative
medal to all runners who finished
the race in less than 4 hours.
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