---
title: "Paris Marathon Elevation Profile & Course Map | TrainPace"
description: "Paris Marathon elevation profile: 135 m gain and 130 m loss over 42.195 km, with segment pacing, fueling notes, and race tips."
url: https://trainpace.com/preview-route/paris
---

# Paris Marathon Elevation Profile & Course Analysis

Paris Marathon elevation profile: 135 m gain and 130 m loss over 42.195 km, with segment pacing, fueling notes, and race tips.

## Paris Marathon course facts

The Paris Marathon is one of the world's most scenic marathons, starting on the Champs-Élysées and finishing near the Arc de Triomphe. The course passes iconic landmarks including the Louvre, Place de la Bastille, and the Bois de Vincennes.

**Paris Marathon at a glance**

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Location | Paris, France |
| Distance | 42.195 km |
| Elevation gain | 135 m (443 ft) |
| Elevation loss | 130 m (427 ft) |
| Start / finish elevation | 40 m / 45 m |
| Official site | https://www.schneiderelectricparismarathon.com/ |

## Paris Marathon pacing strategy

Paris is relatively flat with a few gentle climbs. The course suits even pacing, but watch out for cobblestones and the quieter stretch through the parks.

**Pacing by course segment (miles)**

| Miles | Terrain | Advice |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-4 | Flat (Champs-Élysées to Bastille) | Iconic start. Huge crowds. Don't get caught up in the excitement. |
| 5-10 | Bois de Vincennes | Park section. Crowds thin. Stay mentally engaged. |
| 11-16 | Return through eastern Paris | Back in the city. Crowds return. Check your splits. |
| 17-21 | Along the Seine | Beautiful scenery. Some cobblestones. Stay patient. |
| 22-24 | Bois de Boulogne | Final park. Dig deep. Finish approaching. |
| 25-26 | Avenue Foch to Arc de Triomphe | Fast downhill finish. Give it everything. |

## Fueling notes

French aid stations have excellent variety but may differ from what you've practiced with. Bring your own gels. The park sections (Vincennes, Boulogne) have consistent aid stations.

## Race-day tips

- Start at Champs-Élysées is electric - don't go out too fast
- Cobblestones in some sections require careful footing
- Bois de Vincennes (miles 8-15) can feel lonely after city crowds
- Fast finish downhill toward Arc de Triomphe

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the Paris Marathon a good PR course?

Yes, Paris is relatively flat (135m gain) and can produce fast times. The cobblestone sections require some caution, but overall it's comparable to London for speed.

### What landmarks do you pass in the Paris Marathon?

You'll start at the Champs-Élysées, pass the Louvre, Place de la Bastille, run through Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne, along the Seine, and finish near the Arc de Triomphe.

### What's the weather like for Paris Marathon?

April weather is variable: typically 8-16°C (46-61°F). Can be chilly at the start and warm by finish. Prepare for potential rain.

### How hard is it to get into Paris Marathon?

Easier than London or Tokyo. Registration typically opens in the fall and sells out in days to weeks. No lottery - first come, first served.

- [Paris Marathon race prep: paces and fueling](https://trainpace.com/race/paris-marathon)

## Other TrainPace tools

- [Pace Calculator](https://trainpace.com/calculator) — training paces from a recent race result
- [VDOT Calculator](https://trainpace.com/vdot) — fitness score and equivalent race times
- [Training Plan Builder](https://trainpace.com/plan) — week-by-week 5K to marathon plans
- [Race Fuel Planner](https://trainpace.com/fuel) — carbs per hour and gel counts
- [Elevation Finder](https://trainpace.com/elevation-finder) — GPX route and climb analysis

## For AI agents

Every public page on this site has a Markdown mirror at the same path with a .md suffix (for example /calculator.md), and honors an Accept: text/markdown request header on the HTML URL. The calculations here are also available as callable tools through a free public MCP server — no account or API key.

- [llms.txt](https://trainpace.com/llms.txt) — site index for agents
- [llms-full.txt](https://trainpace.com/llms-full.txt) — every page's Markdown in one file
- [MCP server docs](https://trainpace.com/mcp) — endpoint, tools, and client setup