Anyone done the Paris Marathon and have any advice? My Ma is headed over there and will be running it without her normal entourage and is a little nervous. If anyone has any tips that I could pass on to her I would really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance
Ran it several years ago. Tried to PR but got jammed up on a few narrow streets. Missed my PR by 20 seconds…grrrr. My advice is:
Allez, allez, allez!
I’ve done it few years ago too. The best point is the number of things to look around, starting with the Champs Elysées (downhill start). The crowd is good, but you run across two parks/woods where it is a bit quieter. During the secon dhalf there are a couple of tunnels along the river Seine and it’s about the only place not flat. Otherwise classic advises, take it easy before the race, don’t waste energy at the expo (use the metro to go everywhere), start gently and the race really start at km 30.
Is it her first marathon? What is she nervous about (race itself, travel?)? BTW, she will find out that French people do like American people 
I did it last year and found it to be a great big city marathon. While it is crowded like any big city race (no worse than NYC marathon for example), I found crowds didn’t interfere with my pace (ran 3:20 with pretty even splits) and in fact might have been helpful in making me hold back in the early miles. Course is flat until some rollers along the river (maybe miles 15-18?) - they don’t seem like much but it hurt. I ate a whole jar of nutella at the finish which was really enjoyable.
Paris is a great city to explore on foot so the best advice I can give is to make time see the town after the race. I walked around all afternoon following the race and again the next day seeing the sights and eating great food. Legs will be supersore but they will be sore sitting around the hotel, too.
If you have any other specific questions just let me know.
I did it in 1999 while I was living in the USA and last year now that I live in Paris
This is a great marathon but wihtout great crowd support
Most Parisians do not even know there is a marathon that week end
You may want to bring your own gel since few brands in Frqnce and definitely not enough porta potty so either leave your hotel late or arrive earlier to go to portapotty before
If you do not plan for a PR, carry a small camera since you will run along the Seine river
Enjoy
PP
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Did it a few years ago.
Everything has been covered, the only thing I will add is about the help station. At the time they had NO energy drink/gels. They gave you little bottle of water, some dry fruits (3-4 different kinds) and sugar cubes. I was not prepared for it, ended up diluting a bunch of sugar in the water and was fine. I hate solid food when I run. Just be prepared for it.
For the anecdote, I had a perfectly good race and PR’d by 5mn. Made me realize how nutrition for me is not about the quality but the quantity. Because of no Gatorade I freaked out and ended up drinking 300-400ml of water at EACH station along with 4-5 cubes of sugar by fear of crashing.
I did this one in 2004 and it was great! I found that there were tons of spectators even though I’m slow and was way behind the pros. Everything regarding the actual course logistics has been pretty much covered and is similar to my experience. It’s a beautiful race though, and I met some cool people who I ended up running with since we were the same pace. Once the crowd thins out a bit after a few kms from the start, I’m sure she will find people to run with. There were probably pace bunnies, but I was quite the novice and didn’t think to look/ask. That might be a good option for her as well.
I did make the mistake of drinking a wee cup of wine that they were serving at the final aid station which pretty much made me instantly drunk so the last few km’s were a bit sketchy. It wasn’t even a big cup! The pastries that went with it were awesome though.
Yeah, I was wondering about the pace rabbits, that’s good to know.
I heard they offered Champagne at the last water stop, She’ll love that!
Thanks for the help.
I’ve done it few years ago too. The best point is the number of things to look around, starting with the Champs Elysées (downhill start). The crowd is good, but you run across two parks/woods where it is a bit quieter. During the secon dhalf there are a couple of tunnels along the river Seine and it’s about the only place not flat. Otherwise classic advises, take it easy before the race, don’t waste energy at the expo (use the metro to go everywhere), start gently and the race really start at km 30.
Is it her first marathon? What is she nervous about (race itself, travel?)? BTW, she will find out that French people do like American people
No, it’ll be her 9th or so. She’s Irish Catholic, she’s just plain nervous. I think the foreign language and not having anyone from her running group running with her have her a little nervous.
Thanks for the help!
Does anyone know if it’s a Boston Qualifier?
I ran it last year and loved it, best marathon experience ever! Below is my post from Marathonguide.com, you can check out others opinions as well (many have mixed feeling about the race) but everyone is in agreement that it is a beautiful route: http://www.marathonguide.com/races/racedetails.cfm?MIDD=562100411
Expo/Packet-pick up: Great expo - one of the best I’ve seen. As for the packet pick up, please remember to bring your passport with you - US drivers’ license will work (although it took 5 minutes of arguing for me to persuade them to let me register). Also, send in you medical certificate in advance and bring a second version to the registration table.
Day before UNESCO “breakfast run”: At the UNESCO headquarters, they start a 5.2K run on the day before the marathon. A few things to consider before you decide to run it: 1) You must run BEHIND the flag carriers at all times and they are running about 10:30 pace. 2) The “breakfast” is really simply pre-packaged muffins and the like. My experience was that it was fun, but I would not do it again.
Race Day Staging: The Champs was packed - 37,000 registered. Toilets are hard to find and the lines are quite long. Also, don’t even think about starting towards the front if your bib number does not indicate a 3:00, 3:15 or 3:30 marathon. These portions are barricaded and the entrance points are strictly enforced (you will be physically removed).
Race Course: I’d call if “fairly flat,” but it’s no pancake. If you plan to finish in around 3:15, expect to be running shoulder-to-shoulder, with runners 1-meter in front and behind you until about mile 22.
Spectators: Great; I cannot think of one part of the course without spectators.
Race replenishment: OK. No gels, but they had oranges and bottled water. I like the bottled water but I saw a few people get tripped up by the bottles. Watch your step in the aid station zones - it’s very slick.
After-race goodies: Pretty poor - basically, the same stuff at the aid stations with some PowerAde tossed in.
Overall, I highly recommend this marathon!
Dave in VA
Does anyone know if it’s a Boston Qualifier?
Of course, in fact, it was my BQ last year.
Is she travelling with a Group?
In fact many shops and people can manage basic English
Tell her not to worry and most French people are nice but it is a well kept secret 
PP
Perfect, Thanks a lot!
She is traveling with neighbor whose son lives there and speaks the language (obviously) but no one whom she runs with. She’l be running by herself and all of her other marathons she’s run with other members from her running groups.
She’s not really a shopper but she’ll definitely be up for site-seeing, good food and the wine!!!