Running in Paris: the city's marathon and 20km races

Paris hosts two of the best-known road races on the French running calendar: a marathon over the classic distance, held in spring, and a 20km race through the city, held in autumn. Both are long-running annual events, and their organisers publish the dates, routes and registration details on their official sites. Between them they give runners a spring and an autumn target within the same city.

The marathon covers the standard marathon distance and runs through central Paris, taking in a route past the city's landmarks. As a spring fixture, it is an event runners plan their training around, and the organiser's site is the reliable place to confirm the date, the course and how to register, along with any guidance on qualifying times or entry categories.

The 20km de Paris offers a shorter autumn option for runners who want a city race without committing to the full marathon distance. The two events sit at opposite ends of the year, which gives runners a spring and an autumn target within the same city if they want to build a season around them, and the shorter race can serve as a stepping stone for newer runners.

For spectators as much as participants, the practical information is the date and the route, both of which the organisers publish. A big-city race can affect roads and public transport on the day, so checking the official course maps and any travel guidance in advance is worth the time, whether you are running or planning to watch and support.

Neither the training plan nor the day itself needs inflated claims about times or crowds. The useful facts are the confirmed dates and routes, which the organisers publish on their sites, together with practical details on bib collection and start areas. Confirm the details there, pick the event that fits your goals and plan travel around the route and the expected crowds.

Running through Paris has an obvious draw for visitors, since a route through the centre of the city passes landmarks that many people otherwise see only on foot or from a tour. That appeal is part of why the events attract runners from well beyond France. Whether you are aiming for a personal best or simply want the experience of a big-city race, the organisers' official information on the course, the start areas and the timetable is the sensible starting point for planning the trip.