Running Races in Paris: Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K Calendar

Courses annuelles à Paris

Training for one of these? The 10K and long run routes in Paris use the same roads several of these courses do.

Frequently asked

What is the biggest running race in Paris?

Marathon de Paris (Marathon), normally held in April. Champs-Élysées start, along the Seine and through both the Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne.

Is there a marathon in Paris?

Yes — Marathon de Paris (April). Champs-Élysées start, along the Seine and through both the Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne.

Are there half marathons in Paris?

Yes — Semi-Marathon de Paris (March) and 20 km de Paris (October).

Are there 10K races in Paris?

No dedicated 10K is listed for Paris; the marathon and half marathon events above are the main options.

Are there 5K or shorter races in Paris?

Yes — 6.7K at La Parisienne (September). Shorter distances are the easiest way into a city's race scene: entry usually stays open later and the fields are less competitive.

When is the running season in Paris?

The events listed here fall in March, April, September and October. That spread means you can build a year around two peaks rather than one.

What is the weather like for the Marathon de Paris?

In April, Paris averages a daily high of 15.5°C and a low of 5.8°C, with rain on about 33% of days. That sits in the range most runners race best in. Figures are a ten-year average of recorded conditions for that month, not a forecast.

Which race in Paris is best for a personal best?

Semi-Marathon de Paris — it is the flattest half marathon on this list, run in March when highs average 12.2°C. A flat course in a cool month is worth more to a finishing time than anything you can do in race week.

Which Paris race is the hardest?

20 km de Paris — Starts under the Eiffel Tower and runs the Bois de Boulogne; one steady climb near the finish. Expect to run 20–40 seconds per kilometre slower than your flat pace for the same effort, and train the descents, not just the climbs.

How do I enter a race in Paris?

Entry opens on each organiser's own site, and fees, closing dates and start times change every year. Each race above links to its own page here, which covers the course, the conditions and how to train for it, and points you at the organiser for the current year's entry details rather than repeating a number that may already be out of date.

Why are exact race dates not shown?

Race dates move every year and a stale date is worse than none. The month each event is normally held is listed instead, which is what you need to plan a training block. The organiser's site carries the confirmed date once it is announced.

What distances can I race in Paris?

Across the 5 events listed: Marathon, Half marathon, 20K, 16K, 6.7K. Pick the distance first and the date second — the build-up a distance needs is what decides which month is realistic.

How long should I train for the Marathon de Paris?

Allow 16 to 20 weeks from a base you already hold, not from scratch. That is the marathon standard, and it assumes you can already run comfortably three times a week before the block starts. The race page for each event breaks the build-up down further.

How far in advance should I enter?

The larger city marathons fill within days of opening, or run a ballot months ahead; smaller 10K and 5K events often take entries until race week. Check the organiser's site as soon as you have picked a race — entry timing is the one thing you cannot make up for later in training.

Can I run these courses outside race day?

Mostly yes, and it is worth doing. City-centre courses use public roads and parks that are open year round, so you can run the closing kilometres as a training session and know exactly what they feel like. The mapped Paris routes are a practical starting point for that.

Where can I train for these races in Paris?

The 10K and long-run routes mapped for Paris use many of the same roads and paths these courses do, so they work as course reconnaissance as well as training. Each race page also lists how long a build-up the distance needs.

Explorer les pages pour Paris