Enter your goal time. Get hill-adjusted, mile-by-mile splits built from actual course data — including the Bois de Boulogne, the Vincennes double loop, and the final climb past the Eiffel Tower to Avenue Foch.
The Marathon de Paris sends 50,000 runners through some of the most iconic streets in the world. The Arc de Triomphe at the start. The Marais. Place de la Bastille. The Bois de Vincennes. The Eiffel Tower at mile 25. No other major marathon has this density of landmarks, and none generates quite the same emotional energy from the crowd.
What that energy hides is the course's real challenge: the final three miles. Miles 23 through 25 climb 97 feet through the Trocadéro and the Champ de Mars — including a 57-foot net gain in mile 25 alone. That's the steepest sustained climb on the entire course, and it arrives when your legs have already absorbed 22 miles of rolling city terrain. Runners who get swept up in the spectacle of the early miles — flying through the Bois de Boulogne, running fast through the Marais — consistently hit this wall with nothing left to spend.
This calculator helps you solve that problem by giving you an exact, step-by-step plan built on research, experience, and data. Enter your goal time, set your uphill sensitivity, and get a target pace for every mile from the Champs-Élysées to Avenue Foch that closes exactly to your goal time — accounting for every foot of elevation change on the course.
Enter your goal time and effort level. Your personalized mile-by-mile splits appear instantly.
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| Mile | Elev | Effort | vs Goal Pace | Target Pace (min/mi) |
Pace Bank | Elapsed |
|---|
Elevation data from official Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris course profile. Uphill penalty applied above +0.4% grade; downhill benefit applied below −0.75% grade. Math closes exactly to goal time.
What the elevation numbers don't fully capture — how the Bois de Boulogne traps runners early, why the Vincennes double loop is more draining than it looks, and what it actually means to hit mile 25 at the Champ de Mars.
The Paris Marathon begins on the Champs-Élysées, one of the most famous boulevards in the world, with the Arc de Triomphe looming at the starting gate. Mile 1 rises a gentle 13 feet as 50,000 runners find their rhythm heading south off the boulevard. The crowd is enormous here — the Parisians come out in full force for the first miles, and the energy makes every pace feel easier than it is.
Miles 2 and 3 enter the Bois de Boulogne, Paris's large western park. This is where the course's rolling character first reveals itself. Mile 2 climbs 21 feet through the park's opening roads; mile 3 descends 18 feet on the far side. It's gentle terrain, but the psychological effect of early hills in a major can tempt runners to surge on the downhills and push on the ups. Mile 4 exits the Bois de Boulogne near Porte Maillot — a 4-foot net gain on roads that feel faster than they are because of crowd density.
Mile 5 descends 11 feet through the Porte Maillot area and onto the city streets heading toward the Opéra. Mile 6 is Paris's biggest surprise to first-timers: a 43-foot net climb through what the course map calls flat city center. The gradient is spread over a mile so it never feels steep, but 43 feet of cumulative gain is the largest single-mile climb in the first half of the race. Mile 7 rolls back down 21 feet as the course turns east toward the Marais.
Miles 8 through 14 take the course through the heart of Paris's historic right bank — the Marais, Bastille, and Canal Saint-Martin neighborhoods. This is the most scenic urban stretch of the race, and by mile 8 the field has spread out enough that runners are operating in their own rhythm rather than fighting for road space. Mile 8 rises 3 feet; mile 9 at Place de la Bastille drops 2 feet. Both feel flat.
Mile 11 is the section's hidden challenge: a 28-foot net climb that arrives just when runners are settling into cruise control. It's not steep, but it's sustained enough to raise effort level without raising awareness — many Paris runners are running harder than their watch shows through mile 11 and don't realize it until mile 17. Mile 12 descends 16 feet along the Canal Saint-Martin; mile 13 at the halfway point (Porte de Vincennes) drops another 26 feet as the course begins its descent toward the Bois de Vincennes.
Mile 14 enters the Bois de Vincennes area with a gentle 4-foot net drop. By the time you reach Porte de Vincennes at the halfway mark, you should have a positive pace bank from the gradual descent of miles 12 and 13 — provided you held back through the earlier rolling terrain. That reserve is what powers the second half.
The Bois de Vincennes section is Paris's version of the Boston Newton Hills — not as steep, not as famous, but similarly punishing at miles 15 through 20. The course makes two partial loops through the park, which means runners see some sections twice. Miles 15 and 16 lose 10 and 12 feet respectively — net downhill, which feels encouraging but subtly taxes the quads that will need to work harder in the Champ de Mars at mile 25.
Mile 17 starts the second loop and climbs 16 feet through the park's interior roads. Mile 18 is the sharpest single-mile descent in this section: 46 feet of net drop on roads that tempt a surge. Resist the urge. That 46-foot drop is followed by mile 19's 14-foot climb out of the valley — the legs that surged down mile 18 feel that climb differently than legs that ran it controlled. Mile 20 climbs 27 feet through Faubourg Saint-Antoine as the course exits Vincennes heading back west.
By mile 20, you're heading back into the city. The crowds will thicken again as the course threads through Faubourg Saint-Antoine and turns west toward the Seine. At mile 20 of Paris, if your pace bank is positive, you have the resources to run the final 6 miles well. If it's negative, miles 23–25 will be a very long conversation with your legs.
Miles 21 and 22 offer a brief respite. Mile 21 drops 9 feet through the city; mile 22 is nearly flat. The course is threading back toward the Seine, and the first glimpse of Paris's western skyline gives tired legs something to run toward. This 2-mile recovery window is Paris's last gift before the final climb begins.
Mile 23 climbs 12 feet approaching the Trocadéro — the plaza that frames the Eiffel Tower across the Seine. Mile 24 adds another 28 feet along the Quai d'Orsay on the left bank. These are not brutal hills in isolation, but at mile 23 of a marathon, 40 feet of cumulative gain over 2 miles tightens the legs and lifts the heart rate. Then mile 25 arrives: 57 feet of net climb through the Champ de Mars, the park between the Eiffel Tower and the Ecole Militaire.
Mile 26 descends 4 feet and brings the Avenue Foch finish into view — the same wide avenue that greeted you at the start, now pointing directly at the finish line. The final 0.2 miles is an emotional sprint past cheering crowds lining both sides of the avenue, with the Arc de Triomphe standing at the far end. Paris's finish is one of the great marathon endings. Whatever your time, you earned it on every one of those 26.2 miles.
Early April in Paris is mild and variable — good conditions most years, with the occasional warm day that reshuffles the field.
| Year | Start Temp | Humidity | Wind | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 52°F | 74% | 8 mph SW | Good Overcast, cool, light cloud |
| 2023 | 59°F | 65% | 11 mph W | Good Partly sunny, mild breeze |
| 2022 | 54°F | 69% | 9 mph NW | Good Partly cloudy, light breeze |
| 2019 | 72°F | 48% | 12 mph SE | Hot Unseasonably warm, tough day for PRs |
| 2018 | 57°F | 72% | 10 mph W | Good Overcast, moderate wind |
Paris in early April is typically mild, with start temperatures ranging from 48°F to 60°F in most years. The 2019 edition ran in exceptional heat (72°F), which pushed times up significantly across the field and caused widespread slowdowns on the final climb through the Champ de Mars. In favorable years — cool, overcast, and calm — Paris produces a high proportion of PRs and BQ times. Check the forecast in the week before race day and build your target time around conditions, not just fitness.
Yes — with the right pacing strategy through the parks and a reserve for the final climb.
The Marathon de Paris is one of the better BQ courses among the Abbott World Marathon Majors. The net elevation of +78 feet is modest — spread across 26.2 miles of rolling city terrain, it averages less than 3 feet of net climb per mile. The course roads are smooth, the crowd support is exceptional, and the first-Sunday-in-April date typically delivers cool running conditions. Many runners achieve their BQ at Paris who have struggled on hillier or warmer courses.
The course's one structural risk to a BQ attempt is the final section. Miles 23–25 climb 97 feet — including a 57-foot gain in mile 25 — that arrive when the body is least equipped to handle them. A runner who has managed their effort well through the Bois de Boulogne and Vincennes loops arrives at the Champ de Mars with enough left to climb and finish strong. A runner who has banked too much early time arrives at mile 25 in survival mode.
For BQ attempts, the calculator's "Ideal" pacing strategy builds in a conservative buffer through the Bois de Boulogne (miles 2–4) and the Vincennes loops (miles 15–19), and a controlled push through the final section. The math closes to your goal time exactly — which means if you run every split shown, you cross the line at your BQ target.
These are the official BAA standards for Boston 2026. To secure an entry, aim to beat your standard by at least 5 minutes — the cutoff typically falls several minutes under the stated standard due to field oversubscription.
| Age Group | Men | Women | Non-binary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 35–39 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 40–44 | 3:10:00 | 3:40:00 | 3:40:00 |
| 45–49 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 50–54 | 3:25:00 | 3:55:00 | 3:55:00 |
| 55–59 | 3:35:00 | 4:05:00 | 4:05:00 |
| 60–64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65–69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70–74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75–79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80+ | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 | 5:20:00 |
Paris's 6-hour cutoff accommodates runners of all paces. The calculator works for any goal time in the realistic marathon range — from 3-hour BQ attempts to 5:30 first-time finishers. Enter your target, set your hill sensitivity, and get splits that close exactly to your goal time regardless of pace level.
Everything you need to know before race weekend — from expo pickup in the Bois de Vincennes to race-morning transport to what running past the Eiffel Tower at mile 25 actually feels like.
Friday and Saturday (expo days): The race expo and bib pickup are held at Parc Floral de Paris, located in the Bois de Vincennes — the same park you'll run through at miles 14–19. This is a useful preview of part of the course. Expect large crowds Saturday afternoon; Friday pickup is significantly calmer.
Sunday (race day): The marathon starts on Avenue des Champs-Élysées in waves from approximately 8:45am to 9:30am. Corrals close 15 minutes before your wave start — plan to be in position well before that, as the Champs-Élysées area fills quickly on race morning.
The start line is on the Champs-Élysées near the Arc de Triomphe. Métro Line 1 to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile is the easiest approach. Line 2 to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile from the north also works well. On race morning, trains run early and fill quickly by 7:30am.
Road closures affect a significant portion of western Paris on race day. If you're staying near the finish on Avenue Foch, walking to the start is possible and preferable to fighting subway crowds. Many runners prefer hotels within walking distance of the Champs-Élysées start.
Aid stations are placed approximately every 5 km (every 3.1 miles) along the course. Water and sports drink (typically Apurna or a French-branded electrolyte) are available at each station. Energy gels are distributed at designated stations — check the official website each year for brand and positions.
Medical support is comprehensive, with medics stationed throughout the course and at the finish. Paris is well-organized for race-day emergencies, with multiple hospitals accessible along the route.
The finish line is on Avenue Foch, the wide residential avenue near the Arc de Triomphe — close to where the race began. Finisher medals, mylar blankets, water, and food bags are distributed in the post-finish area. Family meeting zones are organized by color-coded bib numbers.
Bag drop is available near the start line, and bags are transported to the finish. Retrieval can take time in the post-race crowd — plan 20–30 minutes to retrieve your bag after finishing. The finish area is large but the narrow avenue creates congestion as 50,000 runners filter through.
Paris has hotels throughout the city. For the Paris Marathon, the most practical areas are the 8th arrondissement (walking distance to the Champs-Élysées start and Avenue Foch finish), the 16th arrondissement (near Avenue Foch and the Bois de Boulogne), or anywhere along Métro Line 1 for quick access.
Race weekend in April is peak Paris tourist season. Book 12–18 months in advance if possible — prices rise significantly in the weeks before the race, and availability near the start/finish area disappears quickly once entries are confirmed.
The Paris Marathon uses an online registration system that opens in autumn for the following April's race. Entry typically sells out within hours of opening. International runners register through the official Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris website alongside French runners.
There are no qualifying time requirements for general entry. The race is open to all ability levels provided you can finish within the 6-hour cutoff. Some travel agencies offer guaranteed entry packages that include hotel and race registration together — useful for international runners who want certainty.
Not by major marathon standards, but it has more elevation change than its reputation suggests. The net climb of +78 feet is spread across 26.2 miles of rolling city terrain — two park sections (Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes), a notable mid-course climb in mile 6 (+43 ft), and the defining late-race challenge in miles 23–25 (+97 ft combined). Paris isn't flat. It's rolly in a way that rewards conservative pacing and punishes runners who treat the first half as a warm-up.
Mile 25 — the Champ de Mars climb near the Eiffel Tower. It gains 57 feet in a single mile and arrives at mile 25 of a marathon. The damage for most runners started much earlier: in the excitement of the Champs-Élysées start, through the Bois de Boulogne, or in the Bois de Vincennes loops where the crowd thins and the roads feel like they go on forever. The mile 25 climb is where all of that borrowed energy gets repaid. Physically and psychologically, it's Paris's defining mile.
Yes. The Paris Marathon has produced thousands of BQ times. The smooth city roads, cool early-April temperatures, and modest average grade make it a realistic BQ course for well-trained runners. The main caveat is the late-race climbing. Miles 23–25 demand that you arrive there with something left, which means executing a disciplined first half through the parks. Runners who go out too fast through the Bois de Boulogne or push the Vincennes loops often run out of legs at mile 25. The calculator's "Ideal" pacing strategy is specifically designed to hold enough in reserve for that final climb.
The calculator uses net elevation data for each mile of the official Paris Marathon course and applies a research-backed penalty for uphill grades and a benefit for downhill grades. The math closes exactly to your goal time — if you run every mile at the target pace shown, you'll finish in your goal time. What it can't account for is weather (Paris in 2019 was 72°F and dramatically slower for most runners), race-morning congestion in the early miles, and individual variation in how your legs respond to the rolling park terrain. Use the splits as your target range and check in at the Bois de Vincennes exit (mile 20) and Trocadéro (mile 23) to assess whether you're on pace for the final climb.
