# Paris Marathon training plan A Paris Marathon plan for April 2027: the Champs-Élysées start, the two park loops, when to start, and a coach that plans each week from your runs. Page: https://www.createrunplan.com/paris-marathon-training-plan. Race day: Sunday 11 April 2027 (expected) (Paris, France). ## The course ### Champs-Élysées to Avenue Foch The race starts on the Champs-Élysées, heading downhill, and finishes on Avenue Foch. ### The city, then a long park loop You pass the Louvre on Rue de Rivoli and circle the Bastille, then head out for a long loop of the Bois de Vincennes. Halfway comes back in the city, on Rue de Charenton. ### The Seine and its tunnels In the second half you run along the Seine, past the Île de la Cité and through a series of tunnels, with the Eiffel Tower opposite the big drinks station at the Trocadéro. ### The Bois de Boulogne, then the finish The last miles go through the Bois de Boulogne. Runner guides call the course mostly flat with short rises and quote different totals for the climbing, so plan for rolling rather than pancake flat. ## When to start Count back from race day. The marathon runs on a Sunday in April. The 2027 date is expected, not yet confirmed. | Length | Start by | Suits | | --- | --- | --- | | 12 weeks | Monday 11 January 2027 | You run regularly now | | 16 weeks | Monday 14 December 2026 | A common length for a marathon | | 20 weeks | Monday 16 November 2026 | More room if you run little now | ## What matters for the Paris Marathon ### Start easier than the downhill says The Champs-Élysées start runs downhill, and the Vincennes loop comes while you are fresh. Keep the first kilometres easy. ### Run by effort in the tunnels Tunnels can confuse a watch's GPS. Use effort and the kilometre markers, and practise running by feel in training. ### Finish the long runs with steady running The Bois de Boulogne comes at the end, when your legs are tired. In the later weeks some long runs finish at marathon pace, so the last miles are practised. ## Getting a place Entry has asked for a medical certificate; since 2025 the organisers have accepted an online self-certification. Check their site for this year's rules. ## Week 1 of a sample marathon plan For someone running about 4 h a week now. | Day | Run | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | Monday | Easy run | 30 min | | Tuesday | Hill repeats | 47 min | | Thursday | Easy run + strides | 40 min | | Saturday | Easy run | 35 min | | Sunday | Long run | 90 min | Total: 4 h 2 min. ## Every week to race day A sample marathon plan, not one for this race: a runner’s weeks to race day if every week goes as planned. Yours is planned from your race, your days and what you run now. | Week | Running time | Phase | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 4 h 2 min | Build | | 2 | 4 h 24 min | Build | | 3 | 4 h 48 min | Build | | 4 | 5 h 18 min | Build | | 5 | 5 h 18 min | Build | | 6 | 4 h 2 min | Easier | | 7 | 5 h 19 min | Race-specific | | 8 | 5 h 51 min | Race-specific | | 9 | 6 h 19 min | Race-specific | | 10 | 4 h 43 min | Easier | | 11 | 6 h 16 min | Race-specific | | 12 | 6 h 47 min | Race-specific | | 13 | 6 h 58 min | Race-specific | | 14 | 5 h 26 min | Taper | | 15 | 4 h 21 min | Taper | | 16 | 7 h 13 min | Race week | ## Questions before you start ### When should I start training for the Paris Marathon? For a plan of at least 16 weeks, start by Monday 14 December 2026. 12 weeks (Monday 11 January 2027) suits a runner who already runs regularly, and 20 weeks (Monday 16 November 2026) gives more room if you run little now. A spring race puts most of the plan in the cold and the dark, so choose run times you can keep on a dark morning. The date is expected rather than confirmed, so count back from the organisers' date once it is published. When you set your race, your coach checks the date against your running and tells you if it comes too soon. ### Is the Paris Marathon flat? Mostly, with short rises. Runner guides give different totals for the climbing, so plan for rolling rather than pancake flat, and for a downhill start on the Champs-Élysées. ### Do I need a medical certificate for the Paris Marathon? It used to be required. Since 2025 the organisers have accepted an online self-certification instead. Rules change, so check the organisers' site for your year. ### What if I miss a run? Skip it with a reason, or just leave it. Missed runs are never made up: next week is planned from what you actually ran. ### What happens after the 14 days? Unless you subscribe, for $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year, your coach stops: no new weeks, logging, check-ins or reminders. You can still see your plan, past weeks and logged runs, and download or delete your data. We never asked for a card, so nothing is charged. ## Other race plans - [London Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/london-marathon-training-plan): 24–25 April 2027. - [Boston Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/boston-marathon-training-plan): 19 April 2027. - [Berlin Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/berlin-marathon-training-plan): 26 September 2027. - [Chicago Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/chicago-marathon-training-plan): 10 October 2027. - [New York City Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/new-york-city-marathon-training-plan): 7 November 2027. ## Other plans - [Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/marathon-training-plan): 16 weeks. A marathon plan that builds your long run and weekly time from the runs you log, with marathon-pace weeks and a taper before race day. - [Sub-4 hour marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/sub-4-hour-marathon-training-plan): 16 weeks. Sub-4 means 5:41 per km (9:09 per mile). Your coach plans each week from your current fitness and what you log, with marathon-pace work and a taper. - [12-week half marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/12-week-half-marathon-training-plan): 12 weeks. Twelve weeks to a half marathon: your coach checks the date fits your running, then plans each week from what you log, with a taper at the end. [All plan guides](https://www.createrunplan.com/examples) ## See your first week in a few questions Choose marathon, set the days you can run and what you run now. Your plan starts from there, and every week is planned from the one before. [Start your 14 free days](https://www.createrunplan.com/start?goal=marathon&days=4): 14 days free, no card, then $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year.