Paris Marathon Start

Probably the best start I've witnessed in a big marathon. Definitely the most scenic. Wide street, slightly downhill the first mile so people take off fast and it opens up quickly. The cobblestone didn't bother me at all, it's very smooth and there's only a mile of it.

First turn is on Place de la Concorde, but it's not really a turn, more like a swerve around the obelisk, so it doesn't bunch up a whole lot. After that, you're on smooth blacktop.

It's a great, fast course, a really fast field (second only to Berlin in terms of sub-3 finishers) and surprisingly well organized for something that takes place in France.

Based on 2005:

Very nice but confined. Get there early or you'll have to crowd in the back since there isn't much room to maneuver around the corral, and unlike in New York and London all the runners start together. And do your toilet duty before you get there because there are only a few portaloos about.

Start at L'Etoile, nice gentle downward slope to Place de la Concorde (some cobblestone-like paving briefly); hang a right, take a long loop of central Paris, the 1st and 8th I guess. That's the first 5k.

Then head east for the boring middle portion of the route at Parc de Vincennes.

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thanks

we are in the preferential start - anyone with experience using that

thanks