Paris Marathon

The Paris International Marathon is an annual marathon which takes place from the Champs-Élysées

Champs-Élysées

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strip of real estate in the world. The name is...

heading towards the Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde

The Place de la Concorde in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.- History :...

and continuing through the city to finish at Foch Avenue.

Along with the Berlin Marathon

Berlin Marathon

The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur runners jointly participate...

and the London Marathon

London Marathon

The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...

, it is one of the most popular long-distance annual running events in Europe.

Tour de Paris

The first Paris Marathon, the Tour de Paris Marathon, took place in 1896. A big crowd gathered to watch 191 participants. It was run over a course of 40 km from Paris to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine

Conflans-Sainte-Honorine

Conflans-Sainte-Honorine is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the north-western suburbs of Paris from the center....

via Versailles

Versailles

Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...

, and the organisers decided to award a commemorative medal to all runners who finished the race in less than 4 hours.

The distance of 40 km was chosen as it was the distance separating Marathon from Athens. The current distance of the race is 42.195 km - the standard Olympic Marathon length.

This first race was won by Len Hurst from England who crossed the finishing line in 2 hours, 31 minutes and 30 seconds. His prize money was 200 francs.

Although the International Association of Athletics Federations

International Association of Athletics Federations

The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...

credits Violet Piercy

Violet Piercy

Violet Piercy was an English long-distance runner who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set the first women's world best in the marathon on October 3, 1926 with a time of 3:40:22....

as the first female to race the now-defined marathon distance of 42.195 km, other sources report that the 1918 performance of Frenchwoman

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

Marie-Louise Ledru

Marie-Louise Ledru was a French athlete who has been credited as the first woman to race the now-defined marathon distance of 42.195 km. On September 29, 1918, Ledru reportedly completed the Tour de Paris Marathon in a time of 5 hours and 40 minutes and finished in 38th place.The International...

in the Tour de Paris set the initial mark for women.

The modern Paris Marathon

The present Paris Marathon dates from 1976. It is normally held on a Sunday in April and is limited to 37,000 runners. It is organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation

Amaury Sport Organisation

The Amaury Sport Organisation is part of the French media group, EPA . It organises sporting events including the Tour de France and Paris–Nice professional cycle road races, and the Dakar Rally...

. It is notable for the attractive route through the heart of the city of Paris, and for the food and drinks stations which include wine, beer, cider and oysters.

Unlike most other marathons, but like all races in France, the Paris Marathon requires a doctor's note affirming the runner is physically fit to run a marathon.

Route

The race starts on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées

Champs-Élysées

going downhill to circle round the Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde

The Place de la Concorde in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.- History :...

before turning right onto Rue de Rivoli. The route passes the Louvre

Louvre

The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...

, then goes round the Place de la Bastille

Place de la Bastille

The Place de la Bastille is a square in Paris, where the Bastille prison stood until the 'Storming of the Bastille' and its subsequent physical destruction between 14 July 1789 and 14 July 1790 during the French Revolution; no vestige of it remains....

, and down Boulevard Soult to the Bois de Vincennes

Bois de Vincennes

The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris. The park is named after the nearby town of Vincennes....

. A long loop of the Bois de Vincennes returns the route into the heart of Paris. The halfway point is reached at Rue de Charenton. The route now follows the course of the Seine

Seine

The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...

, passing Île de la Cité

Île de la Cité

The Île de la Cité is one of two remaining natural islands in the Seine within the city of Paris . It is the centre of Paris and the location where the medieval city was refounded....

and going under the Pont Neuf

Pont Neuf

The Pont Neuf is, despite its name, the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France. Its name, which was given to distinguish it from older bridges that were lined on both sides with houses, has remained....

, then a series of tunnels. There is a large drinks station and foot massage at Trocadéro

Trocadéro

The Trocadéro, , site of the Palais de Chaillot, , is an area of Paris, France, in the 16th arrondissement, across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. The hill of the Trocadéro is the hill of Chaillot, a former village.- Origin of the name :...

, opposite the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...

. The route continues along the Seine, before branching off east to eventually pass though Bois de Boulogne

Bois de Boulogne

The Bois de Boulogne is a park located along the western edge of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, near the suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt and Neuilly-sur-Seine...

, emerging for the final 200 metres and the finish on the Avenue Foch

Avenue Foch

Avenue Foch is a street in Paris, France, named after Ferdinand Foch in 1929. It was previously named Avenue du Bois de Boulogne. It is one of the most prestigious streets in Paris, and one of the most expensive addresses in the world, home to many grand palaces, including ones belonging to the...

2008

The race was run on April 6, 2008. The top male finisher, Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede, just missed the course record with a time of 2h06’40. The top female finisher was Kenya's Martha Komu finishing in a time of 2h25’33. Her partner, Frenchman Simon Munyutu, qualified for this year's Olympics with a time of 2h09’24. The handisport race was won was by Mexico's Saul Mendoza in a time of 1h32’27 over France's Denis Lemeunier and Heinz Frei of Switzerland. 29,706 competitors started the race

2007

The race was run on April 15, 2007. The top male finisher was Shami Mubarak from Qatar in a time of 2:07:19 narrowly beating Indian Paul Astin. The top female finisher was Tafa Magarsa from Ethiopia in a time of 2:25:08. Handisport race was won by Kurt Fearnley in 1:30:45.A runner who also ran in London's British 10K that year. 28,261 competitors started the race.

2006

The race was run on April 9, 2006. The top male finisher was Gashaw Melese from Ethiopia in a time of 2:08:03. The top female finisher was Irina Timofeyeva from Russia in a time of 2:27:02.She also ran later in the British 10K. South African Ernst Van Dyck won the Handisport race in 1:33:58.

2005

The 29th Paris Marathon was run on 10 April 2005. The top male finisher was Kenyan runner Salim Kipsang with a time of 2h08'02, followed in by fellow Kenyan Paul Biwott 13 seconds later. The top female finisher was Lydiya Grigoryeva in 2h27'00. Ernst Van Dyck won the Handisport race in a time of 1h23’17.

2004

The top male finisher was newcomer Ethiopian Ambesse Tolossa in a time of 2:08:56. This was the Ethiopian's 9th ever marathon and he beat the race favourite - Kenya's Raymond Kipkoech who came in at 2:10:08. The fastest female was Kenyan runner Salina Kosgei (also a newcomer on the event) in 2:24:32, ahead of Ethopian Asha Gigi and France's Corrine Raux. Switzerland's Heinz Frei won the wheelchair event in 1h37'43. 30,430 competitors started the race.

2003

The top male finisher was Kenyan Mike Rotich with a time of 2:06:33, setting a new record for this event. Coming in second, France's Benoît Zwierzchiewski equalled the existing European record, at 2:06:33. The fastest female was Kenyan runner Béatrice Omwanza in 2:27:41, ahead of Italy's Rosaria Console.

France's Joel Jeannot

Joel Jeannot

Joel Jeannot is a French Olympic wheelchair racer. At the 2004 Olympic Games, he finished 7th in the demonstration sport of Men's 1,500 m wheelchair. He also participated in the 2004 Summer Paralympics, where he took gold in the 10000 metre race and silver in the 4×400 metre relay...

won the wheelchair event.

Key:

Year	Men's winner	Nationality	Time (h Hour The hour is a unit of measurement of time. In modern usage, an hour comprises 60 minutes, or 3,600 seconds... :m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... )	Women's winner	Nationality	Time (h Hour The hour is a unit of measurement of time. In modern usage, an hour comprises 60 minutes, or 3,600 seconds... :m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... )
2011	Benjamin Kiptoo Benjamin Kiptoo Benjamin Kolum Kiptoo is a Kenyan professional marathon runner. He has won marathons in Rome, Beijing and Chuncheon, and represented Kenya at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. He holds a personal best of 2:06:31 for the distance, set en-route to victory at the 2011 Paris Marathon...	Kenya	2:06:29	Priscah Jeptoo Priscah Jeptoo Priscah Jeptoo is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in the marathon. She has won marathons in Paris and Turin and has a best time of 2:22:55 for the distance...	Kenya	2:22:51
2010	Tadesse Tola	Ethiopia	2:06:41	Atsede Baysa Atsede Baysa Atsede Baysa Tesema, also known as Atsede Bayisa, is an Ethiopian long distance runner who specialises in road running events. She has won the Paris Marathon twice consecutively, and has also won at the Xiamen International Marathon and the Istanbul Marathon...	Ethiopia	2:22:04
2009	Vincent Kipruto Vincent Kipruto Vincent Kipruto Limo is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in the marathon. He made his debut in the event in 2008 and won the Paris Marathon a year later...	Kenya	2:05:47	Atsede Baysa Atsede Baysa Atsede Baysa Tesema, also known as Atsede Bayisa, is an Ethiopian long distance runner who specialises in road running events. She has won the Paris Marathon twice consecutively, and has also won at the Xiamen International Marathon and the Istanbul Marathon...	Ethiopia	2:24:42
2008	Tsegay Kebede	Ethiopia	2:06:40	Martha Komu Martha Komu Martha Komu is a Kenyan runner who specialises in a marathon. She won the Paris Marathon in 2008 and finished 5th at the 2008 Summer Olympics.- Career :...	Kenya	2:25:33
2007	Shami Mubarak	Qatar	2:07:17	Askale Tafa	Ethiopia	2:25:08
2006	Gashaw Asfaw Gashaw Asfaw Gashaw Asfaw is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.Ashaw won the silver medal at the 2003 All-Africa Games and finished fourteenth in the marathon at the 2007 World Championships. He has also participated in the 2005 edition, but did not finish the race.His personal best time is 2:08:03 hours,...	Ethiopia	2:08:03	Irina Timofeyeva Irina Timofeyeva Irina Nikolayevna Timofeyeva is a Russian long-distance runner who specializes in running the marathon. She won the Singapore Marathon in 2005 and the Paris Marathon in 2006. She ran for Russia at the 2008 Summer Olympics, placing 7th in the marathon race...	Russia	2:27:19
2005	Salim Kipsang Salim Kipsang Salim Kipsang is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specializes in the 10,000 metres and marathon.Kipsang won a silver medal over 10,000 m at the 1998 World Junior Championships in Annecy. Moving on to cross country running, he claimed victory at the 2000 edition of the Cross de Soria in Spain...	Kenya	2:08:02	Lidiya Grigoryeva	Russia	2:27:00
2004	Ambesse Tolosa Ambesse Tolosa Ambesse Tolosa is an Ethiopian long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon race.Tolosa tested positive for banned substances in February 2008 and received a two-year ban from competitive athletics...	Ethiopia	2:08:56	Salina Kosgei Salina Kosgei Salina Jebet Kosgei is a long distance runner from Kenya. She is a Commonwealth Games gold medalist, has competed at the Olympics and has won various marathons, including the 2009 Boston Marathon.- Career :...	Kenya	2:24:32
2003	Michael Kosgei Rotich Michael Kosgei Rotich Michael Kosgei Rotich, or Mike Rotich is a marathon runner from Kenya.Rotich finished second in the 2002 Milan Marathon. Winner Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Rotich and third placed Daniele Caimmi all clocked the same time, 2:08:59 hours.He won Paris Marathon in 2003 setting course record and...	Kenya	2:06:33	Beatrice Omwanza Beatrice Omwanza Beatrice Omwanza is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in marathon and half marathon races. She represented Kenya in the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics in 2003 and 2005. Her personal best for the event is 2:27:19 hours.The biggest achievement of her career is a win at the...	Kenya	2:27:41
2002	Benoît Zwierzchiewski Benoît Zwierzchiewski thumb\|200px\|Benoît Zwierzchiewski in 2007Benoît Zwierzchiewski is a male long-distance runner from France who mainly competes in the marathon race during his career...	Early Modern France	2:08:18	Marleen Renders Marleen Renders Marleen Renders is a retired female long-distance runner from Belgium, who represented her native country thrice at the Summer Olympics: in 1988, 1996 and 2000...	Belgium	2:23:05
2001	Simon Biwott Simon Biwott Simon Biwott is a former long-distance runner from Kenya, who won the silver medal in the men's marathon at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics. The race in Edmonton, Canada was won by Ethiopia's reigning Olympic champion Gezahegne Abera. A year later Biwott won the Rotterdam Marathon...	Kenya	2:09:40	Florence Barsosio Florence Barsosio Florence Jepkemoi Barsosio is a Kenyan athlete who specialises in long-distance running. Her sister, Sally Barsosio, is also a professional runner....	Kenya	2:27:53
2000	Mohamed Ouaadi Mohamed Ouaadi Mohamed Ouaadi is a retired French long-distance runner who specialized in the marathon.-Achievements:-Personal bests:5000 metres - 13:44.8 minutes 10,000 metres - 28:33.59 minutes...	Early Modern France	2:08:49	Marleen Renders Marleen Renders Marleen Renders is a retired female long-distance runner from Belgium, who represented her native country thrice at the Summer Olympics: in 1988, 1996 and 2000...	Belgium	2:23:43
1999	Julius Rutto	Kenya	2:08:10	Cristina Costea	Kingdom of Romania	2:26:11
1998	Jackson Kabiga Jackson Kabiga Jackson Kabiga is a retired long-distance runner from Kenya, who won the 1998 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:09:30 on December 6, 1998. He defeated Japan's Nobuyuki Sato . Earlier that year Kabiga triumphed in the Paris Marathon.-Achievements:-References:*...	Kenya	2:09:37	Nicole Caroll	Australia	2:27:06
1997	John Kemboi	Kenya	2:10:14	Yelena Razdrogina	Russia	2:29:10
1996	Henrique Crisostomo	Portugal	2:12:18	Alina Tecuta	Kingdom of Romania	2:29:32
1995	Domingos Castro Domingos Castro Domingos Silva Castro is a former long-distance runner from Portugal, who was one of the leading athletes in the longer events during the late 1980s, early 1990s. He won the silver medal in the 5,000 metres at the 1987 World Championships...	Portugal	2:10:06	Judit Nagy	Hungary	2:31:43
1994	Saïd Ermili	Morocco	2:10:56	Mari Tanigawa	Japan	2:27:55
1993	Leszek Beblo Leszek Beblo Leszek Bebło is a former long-distance runner from Poland, who represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain. He set his personal best in the classic distance in 1995.-Achievements:-References:*...	Poland	2:10:46	Mitsuyo Yoshida	Japan	2:29:16
1992	Luis Soares Luis Soares Luis Soares is a former long-distance runner, who was born in Portugal. He represented France at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He set his personal best in the classic distance in 1992....	Early Modern France	2:10:03	Tatyana Titova Tatyana Titova Tatyana Titova is a retired long-distance runner from Russia who has won eleven marathons during her career. Her personal best of 2:29:36 was set during her victory at the 2004 San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon....	Russia	2:31:12
1991	Not held due to Gulf War Gulf War The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
1990	Steve Brace Steve Brace Steve Brace is a former long-distance runner from Wales, who represented the United Kingdom in the men's marathon at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics. He finished in 27th and in 60th place respectively. Brace triumphed at the Paris Marathon in 1989 and 1990 and at the Berlin Marathon in 1991...	United Kingdom	2:13:10	Yoshiko Yamamoto	Japan	2:35:11
1989	Steve Brace Steve Brace Steve Brace is a former long-distance runner from Wales, who represented the United Kingdom in the men's marathon at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics. He finished in 27th and in 60th place respectively. Brace triumphed at the Paris Marathon in 1989 and 1990 and at the Berlin Marathon in 1991...	United Kingdom	2:13:03	Kazue Kojima	Japan	2:29:23
1988	Manuel Matias Manuel Matias Manuel Fernando Gonilho Matias is a retired long-distance runner from Portugal, who won the 1989 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:12:54 on December 3, 1989. A year earlier he triumphed in the Paris Marathon...	Portugal	2:13:53	Aurora Cunha Aurora Cunha Aurora Cunha is a retired long-distance runner from Portugal, who represented her native country in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1984. She won several marathons during her career, including Paris , Tokyo , Chicago and Rotterdam .-Achievements:-References:...	Portugal	2:34:56
1987	Abebe Mekonnen Abebe Mekonnen Abebe Mekonnen is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.Mekkonen was the winner of the 93rd Boston Marathon in 1989. He also competed for Ethiopia in the 1992 Olympics and 1996 Olympics in the marathon...	Ethiopia	2:11:09	Elena Cobos	Spain	2:34:47
1986	Ahmed Salah	Djibouti	2:12:44	Maria Rebelo Maria Rebélo Maria Rebelo is a retired female long-distance runner from France. She set her personal best in the marathon in 1991.-Achievements:-References:* *...	Early Modern France	2:32:16
1985	Jacky Boxberger	Early Modern France	2:10:49	Maureen Hurst	United Kingdom	2:43:31
1984	Ahmed Salah	Djibouti	2:11:58	Sylviane Levesque	Early Modern France	2:38:20
1984	Additional women's race			Lorraine Moller Lorraine Moller Lorraine Mary Moller is a former athlete from New Zealand who competed in track athletics and later specialised in the marathon. Moller's international career lasted over 20 years and included three Commonwealth and four Olympic Games...	New Zealand	2:32:44
1983	Jacky Boxberger	Early Modern France	2:12:38	Jacqueline Courtade	Early Modern France	2:58:14
1982	Ian Thompson Ian Thompson Ian Reginald Thompson in Birkenhead, Merseyside is an English athlete, who gained success in marathon running. His Commonwealth Games marathon record set in 1974 remains unbeaten.-Making up the numbers:...	United Kingdom	2:14:07	Anne Marie Cienka	Early Modern France	2:56:14
1981	Dave Cannon David Cannon (athlete) David Albert Cannon is a retired male long-distance runner from England, who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the men's marathon. He won the 1981 edition of the Paris Marathon ex-æquo with USA's Ron Tabb.... Ron Tabb Ron Tabb Ron Tabb is a retired male long-distance runner from the United States, who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the men's marathon. He won the 1981 edition of the Paris Marathon ex-æquo with England's Dave Cannon... (ex-æquo)	United Kingdom United States	2:11:44	Chantal Langlacé Chantal Langlacé Chantal Langlacé is a former French long-distance runner who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set a world best in the marathon on two different occasions...	Early Modern France	2:48:24
1980	Sylvain Cacciatore	Early Modern France	2:25:50	Gillian Adams Gillian Horovitz Gillian Pamela Horovitz is a retired female long-distance runner from England, who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the women's marathon. Born as Gillian Adams she is married to American screenwriter Israel Horovitz, author of more than 50 produced plays.-Achievements:-References:****...	United Kingdom	2:49:42
1979	Fernand Kolbeck	Early Modern France	2:18:53	Vreni Forster	Switzerland	2:51:14
1978	Gilbert Coutant	Early Modern France	2:34:55	"Lawrence"	United States	3:26:15
1977	Gérard Métayer	Early Modern France	2:30:41	Not Held
1976	Jean-Pierre Eudier	Early Modern France	2:20:57	Not Held

Tour de Paris Marathon

Year	Men's winner	Nationality	Time (h Hour The hour is a unit of measurement of time. In modern usage, an hour comprises 60 minutes, or 3,600 seconds... :m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... )	Women's winner
1903	Albert Charbonnel	Early Modern France		No women's race held
1902	Albert Charbonnel	Early Modern France
1900	Len Hurst	United Kingdom	2:26:28
1899	Albert Charbonnel	Early Modern France
1896	Len Hurst	United Kingdom	2:31:30

External links

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