Marathon de Paris

Marathon de Paris 2026 Course Analysis

Marathon de Paris is a full marathon held in Paris, France, scheduled for Sunday 12 April 2026. The course is run on trail surface with 131m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 70m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Marathon de Paris website.

Elevation Profile

With 131m of elevation gain, this is a moderately undulating course. The route ranges from 33m to 70m above sea level (37m total range). While not completely flat, the elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't significantly impact pacing strategy.

Surface Type: Trail

Marathon de Paris is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are inherently slower than road courses due to uneven footing, technical sections, and often steeper gradients. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended, and runners should expect a finish time 10-20% slower than their equivalent road marathon time.

How Difficult Is Marathon de Paris?

Our difficulty rating for Marathon de Paris is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.

Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Marathon de Paris against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.