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.

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: 138 m
Typical temp: 7–16 °C
Cutoff: 7:00:00

Race data quality

Medium confidence

Last verified: source review pending

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

Approximate course model

Paid strategy guardrail

Official race packet remains source of truth

Published race organizer materials
Public course maps and elevation references
Historical climate normals for the race month

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.

Recent raceRecent timeGoal timeWeight (kg)

VDOT

49.1

Estimate

3:14:38

Course cost

+0:54

Fuel target

90 g/h

Course pressure12 °C · 65% RH

First 5 km preview

full race locked

km 14:41
km 24:42
km 34:40
km 44:43
km 54:45

km 6-42 locked · full splits, nutrition timeline, danger zones, printable race band

Continue with approximate course data

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Uses an approximate course model; verify final logistics against the official race packet.

Step 2 · Full Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris strategy

Per-km splits, nutrition timing, race-week checklist.

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Course elevation

138 m total gain · 138 m loss · max 73 m, min 28 m.

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.

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 (12 °C / 65 % 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	4:17:19	+0.5%	6:05/km
Intermediate (VDOT 45)	3:28:17	3:29:15	+0.5%	4:57/km
Trained (VDOT 50)	3:10:41	3:11:34	+0.5%	4:32/km
Competitive (VDOT 60)	2:43:24	2:44:09	+0.5%	3:53/km

Reference nutrition

For a 70 kg runner finishing in 3:11:34 at 12 °C. Adjust to your weight and tolerance — these are ISSN-window targets, not prescriptions.

Carbs / hour: 90 g
Total carbs: 287 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.

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Related races

New to the marathon? Start with our marathon pacing strategy guide or run the VDOT calculator.