u/BarrisonFord

Race Information

Name: Paris Marathon
Date: April 12, 2026
Distance: 26.2 miles
Location: Paris, France
Website: https://www.schneiderelectricparismarathon.com/en
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/18078334629/overview
Time: 3:30:02

Goals

Goal	Description	Completed?
A	3:27:00	No
B	3:30:00	No
C	3:35:00	Yes

Training

Disrupted. This is why I'm writing this report because I wasn't following a specific plan and my 12-week block was hampered by an injury half-way through. Perhaps it might be useful to somebody!

In more detail, between September 2025 and December 31st I was averaging 40-45km per week. This was with a run club and included tempo, easy, track, and a long trail run on the weekends. I decided to do Paris during the first week of January, 12 weeks before the marathon (charity bib). Thus, I had a relatively solid base before starting the block or at least compared to my only prior marathon (3:35 in 2024, Barcelona).

With this base (I know it's quite low compared to some runners around here) I felt confident and started out at 4 sessions per week (Monday tempo @ 8-10km, Wednesday easy @ 6-8km, Thursday intervals @ 7ish km, and then a long 20 on road or trail on Saturday). In late Jan I recorded a 5km pb of 18:51. In early February, i did a 19km trail race and it aggravated my knee. I have never set foot in a gym and I'm an idiot for never giving strength training a go as this is a fairly persistent problem.

This meant week 6 (7km total), week 7 (+/- 10km) were very low. I then bought an 8 EUR knee strap in Boots (a pharmacy/drugstore) and well, feck, placebo or not it got me back up and running. It meant the 3 x lead-up months looked like this:

Jan: 150km, Feb: 105km, March: 160km

Race

I kneeeewwwww I was underestimating it. I think because I've done a fair few thru-hikes and you often put down 30-40km days on repeat, your mind and body have a 'well, there's only one way to get to that camp spot'. Yet, 'casual' hiking and running (with a goal time in mind) are two very different blistered fish.

The Paris startline was buzzzzing but our 3:30 wave kicked off 50 minutes late due to the sheer number in that wave and because they were only letting micro waves go every minute or two. If you're running Paris next year, keep this in mind for those last-minute gels and for your clothing.

I had no idea how to pace this one given the disrupted block. I had completed one 30km (18.6m) gradually dialling up the pace to test the knee but my long runs were limited. A wiser friend proposed the below plan:

11k @ 5:20/km (8:33) → 58:40 11k @ 5:00/km (8:03)→ 55:00 10k @ 4:45/km (7:39) → 47:30 10.2k @ 4:35/km (7:22) → 46:47

I of course went out too fast. Too excited. Too pushy. My watch had me in a croc role because I couldn't ignore my heart rate which was already at 166ish (thresholds: 4:04km/6:31m // HR: 166) and that was while running 5:10. So, I was stressing out. And I knew/suspected very strongly that I wouldn't be able to go up to 4:35 at that stage for that long. Thus, I ran km 3-13 in this overthinking middle-ground. A soup of a pacing plan. I just knew I should stay above 5:00km pace until 20 and then dial it up. Knee was all good. God bless you, Boots.

At km 17, I did 4:55 and stayed under 5:00 until the remainder immediately failing my prior plan.

Once you loop back from the Bois de Boulogne, you're eventually running along the Seine. The fans are ferociously good but the little tunnel hills, as mentioned by many, are ferociously bad. At km 28, I was doing the maths in my head to see if I could make 3:30. That stressed me out. At km 31, a girl who I had dated (when I lived in France 10 years prior) happened to be there supporting and ran with me for a few hundred metres and that gave me such a boost. Supporters, known and strangers, are just the best.

This gave me the buzz to push and push and i was really happy with how I negatively split and, according to my watch, I was on course for a sub 3:30. Alas, with 300 metres to go, and the line in sight, I was reminded that the only time that matters is that of the marathon. And so I missed out by 2 seconds. I don't mind at all. I felt and feel eternally grateful that the knee recovered and that I had this privilege of running around a city.

Post-race

The sunday, fine. The Monday? I think my immune system just conked out. I felt incredibly down and vulnerable (not because of the 'goal' being achieved' but the physicality of it all just plucks away your armour and I felt very meh. I'm curious have others have often felt this?

Age, context

I'm a 33 y/o man. I go on some big multi-week hikes every now and then and walk everywhere while generally maintaining 30-40km running. This comes in waves and it's only in the past 8 months that i've kept it consistent. Like many, I started running here and there in 2020.

Anyway, if you made it this far, fair play. I've found reading other reports quite helpful as there's always a resonating element here and there. If this is a complete waste of your time, sorry! Happy running !

Made with a new race report generator created by /u/herumph.

25km in and around Nice, France