It has been three years since 2019 that the Paris marathon, the largest popular race in France, has not taken place in April. The pandemic in 2020 had purely and simply canceled it. Health constraints in 2021 had allowed it to be held, but exceptionally in October. Only six months later, the Parisian marathon therefore returns to its favorite date, at the beginning of April.
In the spring, yes, even if the weather conditions expected this Sunday April 3 in the morning in the capital will be wintry. It will be cool on the race and not far from 0°c at the start on the Champs-Élysées. These first departures are scheduled at 7.55 a.m. and will be spread out throughout the morning. When the first arrive, the last will not yet be gone.
45,000: the number of participants
Last fall, 35,000 brave people took the start. This time there are ten thousand more and 45,000 riders are expected on the line. If we count the usual 10% of defections, there will therefore be around 40,000 on the Champs-Élysées for a photo on the most beautiful avenue in the world which is always worth a look. Among the entrants are a few personalities such as Amélie Mauresmo, the new director of the Roland-Garros tournament. In 2019, the day before the Notre-Dame fire, the marathon had broken its participation record: 49,155 starters for 47,495 finishers. 46 years ago in 1976 for the first edition, 150 pioneers launched the adventure and it was a Frenchman, Jean-Pierre Eudier who triumphed in 2h20′57′’.
Restrictions in Paris
Areas to avoid
Tens of thousands of runners are expected at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe, where the race will start. The participants will leave due east, will pass by the Concorde, the Opéra Garnier, the Bastille, to the Bois de Vincennes where they will make a loop. Return in the opposite direction with Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Bois de Boulogne and the arrival on Avenue Foch on the menu. This therefore leads to many restrictions for motorists this Sunday. Here is a non-exhaustive list.
Traffic ban
From 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Avenue des Champs Elysées, between Place Charles de Gaulle (not included) and the Champs-Élysées-Marcel Dassault roundabout (not included); from 3 a.m. to 11 p.m.: avenue Foch, between place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny and place Charles de Gaulle; from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: along the route in Paris Centre, 8th and 9th arrondissements, rue de Rivoli, place Vendôme, avenue de l’Opéra; until 3:30 p.m.: 11th and 12th, rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, place de la Bastille; 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Voie Georges Pompidou, Avenue de New York; until 4.30 p.m.: avenue du Président Kennedy, boulevard Exelmans; until 5 p.m.: boulevard Suchet, allée de Longchamp, route de Suresnes. The bridges and the ring road are also affected by these restrictions, at different times.
Parking is also prohibited on the course so as not to disturb the runners. Finally, exit ramp number 1 of the A13 motorway in the Province-Paris direction is neutralized until 5 p.m.
2h04′21′′ : le record
It is not old: it dates from October 14, 2021 and is owned by Kenyan Elisha Rotich. He broke the previous record held since 2014 by legend and double Olympic champion in the 5 and 10,000m Kenenisa Bekele (2h05′03′′). Does this record have a chance of falling again? The two announced favorites are the Kenyan Hilary Kipsambu and the Ethiopian Deso Gelmisa and they are six runners on the board capable of running around 2:05′. So yes it is possible. Among the women, the record dates from 2017 and it remains the property of the Kenyan Purity Rionoripo in 2h20′55′’. He should not be beaten this year.
24: Kenya wins in Paris
Unsurprisingly, it is Kenya that holds the record for the total number of victories – 15 for men and 9 for women – in the Paris Marathon. With 15 men’s and women’s wins combined, Ethiopia comes behind and the counter could go up because the favorite this year comes from there: Yenenesh Dinkesa who came second here in October. Where there is a surprise is when we know which nation is following just behind on the podium. Yes, it’s France! French marathon runners have triumphed 14 times (10 men, 4 women), mainly in the 1970s and 1980s at a time when the 42.195 km were still confidential.
2002: the last French victory
It is nevertheless exactly 20 years – on April 7, 2002 – that a Frenchman has not won the Paris marathon. Benoît Zwierzchiewski won in 2h08′18′’. With a time displayed at 2h06′36′’, “Benoît Z” also holds the French record, a record he had beaten in Paris in 2003 but without winning that year. Will he have a successor in 2022? And why not… A Frenchman is in any case expected: Julien Wanders. He has no reference on the distance since he is running his first marathon. But he holds the European record for the half-marathon (59′13′’) and is aiming for a time for his debut between 2h06′ and 2h10′. If there are failures on the side of the African runners, he could take advantage of them. Morhad Amdouni is also capable of approaching the French record.
50,000: the strides of the last
A marathon is a trauma for the body. It is estimated that the winners will complete around 24,000 strides to complete the distance codified since the London Olympics in 1908. At the time, the race had to start from Windsor Castle to arrive at the foot of the royal box 42195m further , exactly. The last, knowing that to be on time you have to run in less than 6 hours, will tread the Parisian pavement… 50,000 times. They’ll spend three times as long running and run twice as long with a smaller stride. 50,000 strides: so many micro traumas for the joints. Fortunately, 600 medical people are scattered along the route and 30 podiatrists are waiting for the survivors at the finish line.
