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Paris Int'l Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Paris Int'l Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.6 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 191 [displaying comments 81 to 91]
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B. T. from London, England
(1/15/2009)
"You MUST run it" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Paris Int'l Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Paris is the best marathon I have ever participated. I've done it twice now. Running past the best sights of Pairs is wonderful in itself. Add it a very good organization with reliable pace makers, good water station with plenty of food (sugar, banana, grapes), and good cheering by the crowds. Plus, I finished in 3:09 and beat my PB for the second time in this city. Any marathon runner should run this one - at least once should be compulsory! | |
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V. C. from Ottawa, Canada
(11/15/2008)
"No regrets, but will try something else next time" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Paris Int'l Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 As a slow runner, I had mixed feelings about running in Paris. You are very much alone if you are running in 5 hours or more, with not too many spectators. The porta-potties were disgusting at the start line and throughout the race. I've lived in Africa and I didn't think there was a toilet left that could disgust me, but there were all in Paris - at 20 minutes before the starting gun all toilets were completely filled up and people had used the toilet floors to do their business. Ugh. The course was good, but included two substantial sections of running through park land for several kilometers, which is discouraging to an urban runner such as myself. The expo was fairly well organized, but we waited in line for hours for the pathetic pasta party - and we were there early and near the front of the line. However, I did love being in Paris and it was a great experience in many other ways, as I ran with friends. | |
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m. c. from toronto, canada
(5/6/2008)
"Great marathon... couldn't imagine any better" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Paris Int'l Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was perfect! I made it to the start line with a couple of minutes to spare (hotel was nearby). I went into the first corral without any problems, though I had to weave through a thick crowd. The temperature was perfect, the supporters were awesome, and the bananas and small Evian bottles were just what I needed. Sub 2:54... a PB. It really couldn't have been better. Unforgettable marathon! | |
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C. W. from New York, NY
(4/21/2008)
"CIty of Lights, City of Love, City of Marathon!" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Paris Int'l Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Ran the 2008 Marathon and had a great race. I read all the warnings beforehand (low number of bathrooms, no sport drinks or supplements) and made sure I took care of myself before and during the race. There were some bathrooms along the course and they were usually just a short wait. I agree with the opinion that Europeans have no hesitations urinating in the streets. The men were urinating everywhere on the course - in the city, in the park, against any standing wall. Which is kind of disgusting. However, overall the course is great. It takes you through the best parts of the city and two parks. The crowds were very supportive and would scream your name from your race bib. I loved how they separated runners by pace at the start. Because of this I didn't have to spend energy weaving in and out of people. We were all running the same pace, more or less, and I was able to run very even splits. The streets are wide for most of the course, but In the final miles the streets become smaller, so make sure you're in a good place by mile 23, as it gets a little difficult around here to pass people if you've got a final kick. I agree that the finish was a little crowded, but most races with 30,000 people are. Will definitely run this race again and recommend it to other runners too. | |
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K. P. from Belleville, WI
(4/19/2008)
"I love Paris :)" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Paris Int'l Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Things I liked: spectators cheering my name, running past so many famous places in Paris, the weather (temp was around 40 degrees F), bananas at aid stations, easy access to start line by metro line 6, starting right in front of the Arc de Triomphe, brass/woodwind bands along the course. Things I didn't like as much: people peeing on the ground in the start area, cobblestone (although it wasn't so bad), having to weave my way through slower runners and walkers throughout the race. My husband and I knew there wouldn't be Gatorade on the course, so we brought our own. We beat our PR by about three minutes. | |
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Luidi Andrade from Brazil
(4/18/2008)
"FANTASTIC" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Paris Int'l Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am from Brazil and it was my first marathon!!! I am really surprised about the organization. EXCELLENT!!!! | |
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Ted Pearce from Charlotte, North Carolina
(4/17/2008)
"Paris is the ultimate marathon experience" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Paris Int'l Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon in 28 years. I previously ran New York and Houston. There is absolutely nothing like running down the Champs d'Elysee!! There were almost 200,000 Parisians watching the race and they were incredibly supportive. I cannot tell you how many terms I heard "Allez Ted" during the race. Of course the course is scenic... unless you have no love of Paris. The race was well organized and what is really nice is that the start and finish are pretty close together. My hotel was right by the Arc de Triomphe so there were no bus rides or waiting at the start. I walked to the starting line 30 minutes before the race, entered my time pen and and waited 15 minutes for the start. The water stops were well managed (every 5KM) with bottles being issued instead of cups. Also served were oranges, bananas, oranges, dried fruit, sugar cubes, and pound cake. No foie gras sorry. You need to be somewhat careful at each of the stops as there are orange and banana peals left on the pavement. I found the French to be incredibly warm and friendly both in Paris and in other parts of France. Once people knew that you had run the marathon they were incredibly curious and supportive of you. I cannot imagine a marathon that is better than Paris. Of course the wine and sausages that they were serving at mile 25 was not something of which I partook, as my thoughts were just of finishing the course. One thing to keep in mind is that the course closes after 6 hours from the start so if you think that your time will be greater, this is not the marathon for you if you intend to earn a medal. The time from the gun to crossing the starting line was 12 minutes, but I was in the very back of the starting pack. The course is generally flat with a short but definite hill at about mile 18. | |
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p. v. from Ireland
(4/15/2008)
"Great Marathon" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Paris Int'l Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Very easy to get to the start, unlike New York or London. The downhill first kilometer was nice, and it was a very flat course. Bottles (much better than cups) of water and slices of fruit were a great help to me. A bit crowded at the finish, but my hotel was only a 5-minute walk away. Weather was cool, which helped me to a 10-minute PB. | |
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C. E. from Brussels, Belgium
(4/14/2008)
"Great course for first-timers!!!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Paris Int'l Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Although I didn't do as well as I had hoped, it was still quite an experience. I probably won't run again in Paris, ONLY because I would like to try other venues. The only downside I found was with so many runners - 35,000 - that it was extremely difficult to get a running rhythm, especially if you have a time goal. It took me nearly 15KMs to get some personal space, but by then I was already 6 minutes behind pace. My next marathon will definitely be a smaller one. One DEFINITE positive - and I don't know if they do this everywhere - but they put your first name on your bib making it very EASY for any stranger to cheer you on! In that respect, it was very comforting to be cheered on by so many. | |
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Brendan O'Hare from Ireland
(4/13/2008)
"A superb marathon in a beautiful city" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Paris Int'l Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I thoroughly enjoyed the 2008 Paris Marathon. Access to the start at the Arc de Triomphe was simple and quick. I was in the 3.45 pen and we were able to start running immediately we crossed the line. The route is flat and tours some of the most scenic areas of the city. There were water stops every 5 KM - adequate for the perfect conditions we enjoyed, but possibly not if it was hot. There really was a red wine and sausage stop at 22 miles and a cider stop at 23 miles. I love red wine but couldn't face it at that stage of the race. The support was fair but not on the scale of London. The Parisians themselves are not all very nice - especially the waiters. One refused to serve my friend a post-race beer shouting, "You stink, you stink!" I have run Dublin, Amsterdam and London (twice). This was without doubt my most enjoyable to date. |
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