I ran this in 2012 and I´m pleased to say things have improved, not perfect, but getting there.


Packet pick up was easy enough, even though the women who checked my medical certificate couldn´t speak a word of English (some do, some don´t) and couldn't understand my name even when I showed her my passport (got confused with surname and name) The expo is huge, as big as a World Major marathon.


The start has been improved. Corrals are split in two, left and right. One half leaves, then 30 seconds later the other half leaves. This is perfect if you´re up near the front, say a 3.00-3.30 runner, but not so good if you´re a 5 hour runner as you´re in for a long wait.


The crowd support was more animated this year, but there are still thousands that just stand and watch motionless instead of cheering you on.


Unless you´re a 3 hour runner or faster you will find the course congested in some parts as you run from 3 or 4 lane streets to 2 lane streets. After around the 30K mark it becomes much less dense.


There is still no energy drink or gels handed out. There is one Powerade station randomly placed, last year at the 33K mark, this year 22K. Which is still unbelievable for the world´s second largest marathon. Fingers crossed this changes.


Like most races in continental Europe aid stations are every 5K, they are big stations, but nearly always lined up on one side of the road so they do get congested easily, and can be dangerous as people discard banana skins on the ground.


This year there were members of the public on bicycles on the course which is just not acceptable for an IAAF Gold Label marathon. A major accident could very easily happen as the cyclists have to go much slower than normal to be with the runners they become unstable and nervous.


Unfortunately I was involved in a minor accident at the 40K aid station where the packs thins out and a female cyclist mixed with the runners and became nervous as she approached the aid station, she couldn´t get out of the way as the runners were approaching the tables and panicked, lost her balance and I ran into her, the pair of us crashing into the aid station.


I was furious obviously, thankfully I wasn´t trying to get a certain time, like a BQ but still wanted a PR, I did get a PR, but naturally l lost time because of her.


The finish line was well organised and there are now exits to leave the area quicker if you don´t have to pick up a bag.


Weather this year was perfect, cold but a rare Parisian cloudless day. 3C at the start and a high around 10C.


I would like to do this again next year. The course is fast and flat and has PR potential if you can manage the aid stations without energy drinks and avoid the cyclists.

Went to the expo on Friday - absolutely no line to pick up number. Course was beautiful, flat and fast. There were spectators to varying degree along almost the entire course which was very nice as I broke my arm 3 weeks before the race and had to run with a cast. The crowd was very supportive when I was struggling - always an encouraging 'Allez! Allez!'
Finish area well organized with several exits.
Toilets in the starting corrals is a good idea but there weren't nearly enough - my only complaint.
I would love to do it again.

I went to the expo on the first day. There were very few people. Almost nothing in the goody bag.
The start wasn't as chaotic as I had expected. Not enough potties at the start.
With 50000 people running together, I expected everywhere very crowded during the whole race. Fortunately, it's a lot better that I had thought. The official starting time was 8:45 but the whole crowd didn't start altogether. They were grouped according to your time. A group could only start running when the previously group had all gone. The good thing is that there aren't really many many people on the way, but then you have to wait more than one hour if you belong to the last group. You can be chilled to death on cold weather waiting so long.
The course is quite good, but not as beautiful as expected. There are constant ups and downs, but for short distance.
What is quite unbelievable is that energy drink is only provided once throughout the race. No gel is provided. Bottled water of 33cl is provided, which I think is a waste. You've got water and food(oranges, bananas, raisins and sugar are provided) stations every 5 km.
Upon finish, you get a T-shirt. The quality is really good. The medal and certificate are also very beautiful. I think the medal is the best part of this race.

Cons
Not enough toilets at start. Only 2 in the huge sub-3.45 pen! Women having to urinate on the street!
Toilets not marked on map and not signed on route
Spectators allowed on the track (even on the blue line!!). Some crossed the track through a dense stream of runners only 1.5 miles from the start.
Too much shoving and pushing due to poor layout of drink/food stations (2 female friends pushed to ground during race) and narrowness of track when spectators pushed in.
Tops of water bottles dangerously littered track at water stations: trip/slip risk
Fruit peel (including banana!) on track at/near food stations: slowed to avoid slipping
Very long wait in cold before start
Far too many runners on what became at times a very narrow track.
Requirement for a medical certificate (my GP charged £20)
Had to go to finish to drop off bag and then walk to start


Pros
Scenic
Well-organised expo and bib collection
Good value rice party at expo
Many water/food stations along the route

Only complaint, which was predictable, was with so many runners the pack never really spread out and i was constantly cutting around people. At times the course narrowed and caused mini traffic jams. But beautiful course and great organization. Mostly flat and fast, and always something great to look at. Good crowd support. Only my second 'mega marathon' (30,000+) and i was a little nervous about the crowds and organization but it was all good. Would race again.

Sure, every marathon has it's pros and cons, but I first ran this course in 2008. Since then, the organizers are trying to make improvements. They do listen to our comments! But I love this course...and the city...and even the French supporters as they cheer you on by name (first name printed on bib!)...I even like the wine stop at KM 38 or 39...typical French! This is a great spring time marathon...I will put it on my running calendar for as long as I am able to run it!! :-)

Hello! I'm an American living in Frankfurt, Germany. Just wondering if there's anyone from Frankfurt going to the Paris Marathon? It would be great to meet someone from this area who is also going, to give each other support and make new friends. It's better to enjoy the experience with friends, rather than alone.

Much of the course is run along the Seine, which is a wonderful thing. This is a scenic course, through the most beautiful city in the world. Organization is first rate. Fans are some of the best whom you could ever hope to run for.

This was another return to a great place. I always liked this course, and its fairly fast, scenic, and yes, it goes constantly up and down (at least from 25k-30k - though less hilly than in NY).

What i disliked:
- bad organisation of expo (bib pickup) sorry, but in Berlin and New York, bib pickup was more hassle-free and you didn't need to stand in line for a long time (and as always, there are plenty of queue jumpers).
- organisation of starting boxes - i was in 3:30 group, and 20 minutes before start it was quite a long wait to get in. Inside felt crowded.
- it got crowded at certain points - for example at around 30k, when spectators moved in... there should have been more barriers
- very crowded at the start. Champs d'elyses are wide, but why did they have to put so many cars in the middle for the first 300-400m?!?
- exit from the finish area was hectic... and completely disorganised...
- toilets (or better lack-of them) in the start and luggage area. Though this year they had a few more.

What I liked:
- start in the city, with good public transport connections to the start. You don't need to go to at least start 3-4 hours earlier as in New York.
- scenic and fairly good crowds, except in the parks
- food and drinks available every 5k! water, oranges, bananas, sugar, ... i would prefer two or three more sports drink points, and i don't care about gels, as i prefer to carry my own. I have to say, that unlike others here, i really liked small bottles (20-25cl). Basically you can drink from them, even if you run fast. From cups you usually get more on you than in you. And bottles are great to carry if you want!
- interesting medal, good finishers t-shirt (technical). I didn't find anything really useful in a goodybag.
- delayed start for different groups

And yes... it is one of my favourite marathons. Certainly coming back. Someday.

The first half of the course lived up to all the hype. The 2 tunnels and the quiet park during the last miles made the run harder. Having to pay for the medical certificate sucked. London crowds are more supportive but the runners at Paris were supportive! Water stops were the best I have seen rating all the marathons, 5K's, & 10K's I have ever done. Worth it to do it once!