Race: Paris Marathon
Runner: Philippe d
Race Date: 04/14/2019
Location: Paris, France
Results: 3:40:32
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2288808368
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
– Getting to the start line was easy and didn’t require to wake up in the middle of the night. My hotel was close to the start line so I left 40 min before the start of my wave and still had plenty of time
– Mostly flat with a few hills at the end of tunnels and in the park
– At the end of the race, there were long tables available with a large variety of fresh fruit and healthy snacks
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
– My first time experiencing aggressive runners (a fair amount of them), pushing people to get to the aid stations
– Aid station every 3 miles or so – the first aid station wasn’t until mile 6 making it a quite hectic first stop considering the amount of people who needed water
– Several sections along the Seine where there was no barriers/tape to keep spectators away from the path which required runners to be in a single lane to go through, slowing everyone down
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
The security was quite low, and I saw multiple spectators join runners for a few miles and then leave the course. I didn’t know it was allowed!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
– The course is a great way to visit Paris, passing along most of the key landmarks (Arc de Triumph, Concorde, Paris Opera, Hotel de Ville, Bastille, Notre Dame, Orsay Museum, Eiffel Tower)
– I knew it would be a stretch but I decided to follow the 3:30 pacer and was able to maintain pace until mile 22.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
– Find hotel close to start line to make your morning as easy as possible
– Bring your own fluid if you need more than every 3-4 miles
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
– Cobblestones through out the course are tricky and make people lose their balance and fall on each other
– It’s mostly flat until the banks of the Seine with a big hill at the entrance of the park
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
YES! Combination of city landmarks and parks make the course really pretty
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Not really despite the few hills
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
It was well organized despite the 10-min delay for my wave. Entering the coral was easy and leaving the race was simple and quick.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
It felt like a good competition to me. My 3:30 wave was definitely on pace and I didn’t feel like I was passing a lot of people
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
It was pretty straightforward to register and plenty of hotels were available at reasonable prices
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Every 3 miles or so which was hard, especially with the first one not available until mile 6
Weather and typical race conditions
It was cold! We started around 34 degrees and finished around 42. No rain or wind though. Spring can be a hit or miss in Paris, and a 60 degree sunny day would have been pretty typical as well.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
I had to buy gloves and a hat the day before because of the cold but nothing special besides that.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes – super friendly spectators… but also undisciplined who cross the course everywhere and run along runners 🙂
How’s the Swag?
Swag was pretty good. The bag from the expo is a slim runner’s backpack. Medal is good size and finisher t-shirt is only given after crossing the finishing line.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4 out 5
