How To Train For The Paris Marathon

How To Train For The Paris Marathon

Paris marathon is a 42 kilometers race that is being organized annually since 1976.  In France, this is the biggest race that exists in terms of arrivals. The 2017 edition had 43 754 arrivals for 57 000 participants. On the women side, the record is detained by the Kenyan Purity Rionoripo who completed the race in 2hours, 20 minutes and 55 seconds in 2017.  On the men side, the record was set by the Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele back in 2014. He managed to complete the race in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 4 seconds.

Now on to the real deal. Do you wish to break those records? Or are you at least interested in learning a few tips on how to train for this marathon? Get ready to challenge yourself!

What you are getting yourself into

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Running a marathon is nothing but easy. You will need to train yourself really hard if you want to enjoy the race even a tiny bit. Professionals say you need to count at least eight to twelve weeks of training. Paris marathon is always organized at the beginning of April. It means that you will need to undertake a long and complete training during the winter period.  The goal is for you to develop your cardiovascular capacities and to gain strength and muscular tonicity.

Prerequisites

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First, in order to participate in the race, you need to have a recent medical certificate stipulating that you are able to practice running. Then, before starting training for a marathon, you should already be able to complete a 10 kilometers’ race and a half marathon.  In terms of running, patience is the key, you have to go gradually and develop your endurance step by step. It doesn’t matter how long it took you to complete the race, what matters is for you to know that your body has enough endurance to complete it. Finally, you need to be ready to train for at least eight weeks straight, around 3 times a week minimum.

The route

The different steps – Running addict

The marathon’s route is located on the right bank of Paris. It has the reputation of being quite hard due to the different hills along the way. By the way, Discover Walks runs a free walking tour of Paris’ right bank, find out more here.

There are different key points during the race. First one is the Champs-Elysées avenue. Then, there is a 10-kilometer loop in the Bois de Vincennes followed by a run near the Bir-Hakeim bridge giving runners the possibility to admire the Eiffel Tower. After you enter the Bois de Boulogne through the Auteuil gate and you do a 9-kilometer loop to the Dauphine gate. The arrival is located on the Foch avenue which is one-kilometer long!

Your number sign

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For those of you who thought that training was the only price to pay if you want to run a marathon, well, sorry to tell you that it is not.

You have to buy yourself a number sign. Let me tell you those ones run out quickly, you have to be fast. The more you wait, the higher the price is. There are different kinds of bibs that exist. For example, you have the cheapest one which is ninety euros. This one allows you to run the race, gives you a free tee-shirt and a medal. Then you have one called “My unforgettable marathon”, it is 150 euros and allows you, among other gifts, to have your medal personalized. Finally, the most expensive one is called “my five-stars marathon” and costs 270 euros. Why? You may ask. Well, if you are interested in getting a massage and VIP access then, that is why.

The Big Day

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Here it is! The big day has arrived! Before stepping on the departure line, here is a little recap of everything that you will need before, during and after the race.

Clothes and shoes

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First thing: don’t forget to check out the weather forecast the day before and dress consequently. As the marathon often starts early in the morning you can put on an old sweater or a plastic cloak that you will leave on the side of the road. You also have the less glamorous option of the bin bag with two holes in it.

Think positive

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This advice is coming from two champions: the twins Anna and Lisa Hanner. They are the most famous women runners of Germany and authors of the book “Time to Run”.

They recommend having only positive thoughts while running. Easier said than done you might say, and you are right. But at least, try to tell yourself that every kilometer gets you closer to the finishing line. You can also use the spectators’ enthusiasm, that can work really well. Be proud of yourself, what you are doing is not easy.

What to eat

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During the race, your diet has a big role to play. You need to be careful to drink enough water and to have the right quantity of carbohydrate in your body. To do so you can eat energy gels, they are really good as they provide quick and efficient energy. They have no fat nor fiber so can be digested quickly. The recommended use is one 15 minutes before the race and another 30 to 45 minutes after you started running.

Energy bars are also an option. They provide you with quick delivery of calories for extra fuel. As an added bonus, bars that contain high-quality protein can help your body in muscle building and injury repair. It is recommended to eat them before and not during the race.

One last thing as well. Your last proper meal needs to be taken at least three or four hours prior to the race. It will give the time necessary for your body to digest. Also, avoid drinking while eating as it will slow your digestion down.

Here it is! Now that you have all the informations, on to you to start training!