Paris, FR · April 2027
Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris
Paris Marathon pacing strategy — per-km splits for the Champs-Élysées start, the river kilometres, and the rolling Bois de Boulogne finish.
- Distance
- 42.20 km
- Elevation gain
- 68 m
- Typical temp
- 6–15 °C
- Cutoff
- 7:00:00
The short version
A fair test with a few teeth
- Most runners crack near km 32 — fuel before km 30, not at it.
- Full overhead sun from km 19 — sunscreen and run the shaded side.
Next edition
11 April 2027
Typical race-day conditions
6–15 °C
We lock the real forecast into your plan in race week.
Course difficulty
ModerateDriven by a flat, fast course with mild conditions. Harder than Nagoya Women's Marathon (4.5), easier than TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon (4.5) — tougher than 25% of the races we cover.
Race data quality
Medium confidence
Auto-generated from GPS route + elevation data
Course distance, climate, and broad course features are suitable for pacing previews. Elevation profiles and aid-station details are approximate and should be checked against the official race packet before race day.
Elevation profile
Route-derived (GPX + DEM)
Paid strategy guardrail
Official race packet remains source of truth
- Open-Meteo historical climate archive (2022–2024)
Step 1 · Free preview
See the course-adjusted plan first
Enter one recent result. The preview returns course cost, first splits, and fuel target from the deterministic engine and the current course data model.
VDOT
49.1
Estimate
3:14:41
Course cost
+0:57
Fuel target
60 g/h
60 g/h needs a trained gut — practise it in training, never try new fuelling on race day. Your full plan tunes this to your experience.
First 5 km preview
full race locked
- km 14:35
- km 24:59
- km 34:45
- km 44:36
- km 54:53
First race free · then €7 Race Pass · no monthly subscription
Uses an approximate course model; verify final logistics against the official race packet.
Step 2 · Your full Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris plan
The preview shows the shape. The plan races it for you.
Course preview
Free
what you see now
- Difficulty score & course data
- Course-cost & toughest km
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Race Pass
€7
one-time, this race
- Every km split, weather-adjusted
- Nutrition & fluid timeline
- Heat, wind & sun race tactics
- Danger zones + watch file (GPX)
- Race-week forecast & reminders
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Continue with approximate course data →Course elevation
68 m total gain · 52 m loss · max 74 m, min 26 m.
Fly the course
At Champs-Élysées startSun & shade
Sun in your eyes
9 km
Sun on your back
12 km
Side / overhead
21 km
From km 19 the sun sits high overhead — peak UV and radiant heat, so keep sunscreen on and run the shaded side of the road where you can.
Approximate — solar position from the route geometry and a 08:45:00 start (timezone estimated from longitude), for a mid-pack finishing time.
Signature sections
Champs-Élysées start · km 0–1
Downhill start from Champs-Élysées towards Place de la Concorde — easy to overshoot pace.
Bois de Boulogne finish · km 39–42.195
Slight inclines through the park; final 2 km roll up to Avenue Foch.
Aid stations
8 stations on course — plan your fueling around them.
Race overview
Paris is a downhill-into-rolling course. The first 4 km from the Champs-Élysées drop about 30 m, which tempts runners into a fast opening. After that the course rolls through the Marais, along the Seine, past the Bois de Vincennes (km 13–17), and back along the river to the Bois de Boulogne finish. 138 m of cumulative gain — modest, but felt because much of it is in the final 10 km when fatigue is setting in. April weather averages 7–16 °C with moderate humidity.
How hard is this course?
Reference table — how the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris compares to a flat sea-level course for four typical fitness levels. Computed from the route profile, mean course altitude, and typical race-week climate (11 °C / 73 % humidity). Your personal strategy uses your VDOT, per-km splits, nutrition timing, and the typical climate baseline for this static sample; paid strategies use Open-Meteo when a verified race date is inside the forecast window.
| Runner | Flat-course finish | Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris finish | Course cost | Adjusted pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (VDOT 35) | 4:16:08 | 4:17:23 | +0.5% | 6:05/km |
| Intermediate (VDOT 45) | 3:28:17 | 3:29:18 | +0.5% | 4:57/km |
| Trained (VDOT 50) | 3:10:41 | 3:11:37 | +0.5% | 4:32/km |
| Competitive (VDOT 60) | 2:43:24 | 2:44:12 | +0.5% | 3:53/km |
Reference nutrition
For a 70 kg runner finishing in 3:11:37 at 11 °C. Adjust to your weight and tolerance — these are ISSN-window targets, not prescriptions.
- Carbs / hour
- 60 g
- Total carbs
- 192 g
- Fluid / hour
- 640 ml
- Sodium / hour
- 500 mg
FAQ
How does the downhill start affect pacing?
The first 4 km drop about 30 m. Holding back here saves quad strain that compounds over the rolling final 10 km.
Is the Paris finish flat?
No — the final 3 km through the Bois de Boulogne and onto Avenue Foch include a gentle but persistent rise of about 25 m.
Get your personalized strategy
The numbers above are samples. Sign up free and get the full Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris strategy from your VDOT, the current course model, Open-Meteo race-week forecast when available, and your nutrition preferences.
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New to the marathon? Start with our marathon pacing strategy guide or run the VDOT calculator.