Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris

The Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris is one of the world’s most celebrated city marathons, first run in 1976 and now an annual spring highlight that draws elite competitors and mass participants from across the globe. Over its decades-long history the race has grown into a major international event, showcasing professional fields alongside tens of thousands of recreational runners. The event is AIMS-certified and organized under the authority of the Fédération Française d'Athlétisme; it carries a World Athletics Elite/Label status and the course is officially measured and accepted as a Boston Marathon qualifying route. The route is quintessentially Parisian, traditionally starting on the Champs-Élysées and routing runners past a parade of iconic landmarks: Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame, the banks of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, and through elegant neighborhoods and the Bois de Vincennes before a grand finish on tree-lined avenues. The course is comparatively flat and fast for a major capital-city marathon, with long, straight stretches that are conducive to strong times while offering continuous, postcard-worthy views. Race day atmosphere is festive and distinctly French — large, enthusiastic crowds, live bands and DJ zones, costumed supporters, and numerous on-course aid stations and refreshment points. Logistics are runner-friendly, with plentiful pacers for common goal times, clear signage, secure bag drop, and strong public-transport access to start and finish areas. Whether chasing a personal best, a Boston qualifying standard, or simply soaking in Paris, runners can expect first-rate organization, memorable urban scenery, and a celebratory finish befitting one of Europe’s classic marathons.