Paris Marathon

Paris Marathon

The official race logo
Date April
Location Paris, France
Event type Road
Distance Marathon
Established 1976
Official site Paris Marathon

The Paris International Marathon (French: Marathon International de Paris) is an annual marathon which takes place from the Champs-Élysées heading towards the Place de la Concorde and continuing through the city to finish at Foch Avenue.

Along with the Berlin Marathon and the London Marathon, it is one of the most popular long-distance annual running events in Europe.

Contents

History

Tour de Paris

The first Paris Marathon, the Tour de Paris Marathon, took place in 1896. A big crowd gathered to watch 191 participants. It was run over a course of 40 km from Paris to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine via Versailles, and the organisers decided to award a commemorative medal to all runners who finished the race in less than 4 hours.

The distance of 40 km was chosen as it was the distance separating Marathon from Athens. The current distance of the race is 42.195 km - the standard Olympic Marathon length.

This first race was won by Len Hurst from England who crossed the finishing line in 2 hours, 31 minutes and 30 seconds. His prize money was 200 francs.

Although the International Association of Athletics Federations credits Violet Piercy as the first female to race the now-defined marathon distance of 42.195 km,[1] other sources report that the 1918 performance of Frenchwoman Marie-Louise Ledru in the Tour de Paris set the initial mark for women.[2][3][4][5]

The modern Paris Marathon

The present Paris Marathon dates from 1976. It is normally held on a Sunday in April and is limited to 37,000 runners. It is organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. It is notable for the attractive route through the heart of the city of Paris, and for the food and drinks stations which include wine, beer, cider and oysters.

Unlike most other marathons, but like all races in France, the Paris Marathon requires a doctor's note affirming the runner is physically fit to run a marathon.

Route

The race starts on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées going downhill to circle round the Place de la Concorde before turning right onto Rue de Rivoli. The route passes the Louvre, then goes round the Place de la Bastille, and down Boulevard Soult to the Bois de Vincennes. A long loop of the Bois de Vincennes returns the route into the heart of Paris. The halfway point is reached at Rue de Charenton. The route now follows the course of the Seine, passing Île de la Cité and going under the Pont Neuf, then a series of tunnels. There is a large drinks station and foot massage at Trocadéro, opposite the Eiffel Tower. The route continues along the Seine, before branching off east to eventually pass though Bois de Boulogne, emerging for the final 200 metres and the finish on the Avenue Foch.

Race summaries

2008

The race was run on April 6, 2008. The top male finisher, Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede, just missed the course record with a time of 2h06’40. The top female finisher was Kenya's Martha Komu finishing in a time of 2h25’33. Her partner, Frenchman Simon Munyutu, qualified for this year's Olympics with a time of 2h09’24. The handisport race was won was by Mexico's Saul Mendoza in a time of 1h32’27 over France's Denis Lemeunier and Heinz Frei of Switzerland. 29,706 competitors started the race

2007

The race was run on April 15, 2007. The top male finisher was Shami Mubarak from Qatar in a time of 2:07:19 narrowly beating Indian Paul Astin. The top female finisher was Tafa Magarsa from Ethiopia in a time of 2:25:08. Handisport race was won by Kurt Fearnley in 1:30:45.A runner who also ran in London's British 10K that year. 28,261 competitors started the race.

2006

The race was run on April 9, 2006. The top male finisher was Gashaw Melese from Ethiopia in a time of 2:08:03. The top female finisher was Irina Timofeyeva from Russia in a time of 2:27:02.She also ran later in the British 10K. South African Ernst Van Dyck won the Handisport race in 1:33:58.

2005

The 29th Paris Marathon was run on 10 April 2005. The top male finisher was Kenyan runner Salim Kipsang with a time of 2h08'02, followed in by fellow Kenyan Paul Biwott 13 seconds later. The top female finisher was Lydiya Grigoryeva in 2h27'00. Ernst Van Dyck won the Handisport race in a time of 1h23’17.

2004

The top male finisher was newcomer Ethiopian Ambesse Tolossa in a time of 2:08:56. This was the Ethiopian's 9th ever marathon and he beat the race favourite - Kenya's Raymond Kipkoech who came in at 2:10:08. The fastest female was Kenyan runner Salina Kosgei (also a newcomer on the event) in 2:24:32, ahead of Ethopian Asha Gigi and France's Corrine Raux. Switzerland's Heinz Frei won the wheelchair event in 1h37'43. 30,430 competitors started the race.

2003

The top male finisher was Kenyan Mike Rotich with a time of 2:06:33, setting a new record for this event. Coming in second, France's Benoît Zwierzchiewski equalled the existing European record, at 2:06:33. The fastest female was Kenyan runner Béatrice Omwanza in 2:27:41, ahead of Italy's Rosaria Console.

France's Joel Jeannot won the wheelchair event.

Past winners

Paris Marathon

Key:       Course record       French championship race

Year Men's winner Nationality Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Nationality Time (h:m:s)
2011 Benjamin Kiptoo  Kenya 2:06:29 Priscah Jeptoo  Kenya 2:22:51
2010 Tadesse Tola  Ethiopia 2:06:41 Atsede Baysa  Ethiopia 2:22:04
2009 Vincent Kipruto  Kenya 2:05:47 Atsede Baysa  Ethiopia 2:24:42
2008 Tsegay Kebede  Ethiopia 2:06:40 Martha Komu  Kenya 2:25:33
2007 Shami Mubarak  Qatar 2:07:17 Askale Tafa  Ethiopia 2:25:08
2006 Gashaw Asfaw  Ethiopia 2:08:03 Irina Timofeyeva  Russia 2:27:19
2005 Salim Kipsang  Kenya 2:08:02 Lidiya Grigoryeva  Russia 2:27:00
2004 Ambesse Tolosa  Ethiopia 2:08:56 Salina Kosgei  Kenya 2:24:32
2003 Michael Kosgei Rotich  Kenya 2:06:33 Beatrice Omwanza  Kenya 2:27:41
2002 Benoît Zwierzchiewski  France 2:08:18 Marleen Renders  Belgium 2:23:05
2001 Simon Biwott  Kenya 2:09:40 Florence Barsosio  Kenya 2:27:53
2000 Mohamed Ouaadi  France 2:08:49 Marleen Renders  Belgium 2:23:43
1999 Julius Rutto  Kenya 2:08:10 Cristina Costea  Romania 2:26:11
1998 Jackson Kabiga  Kenya 2:09:37 Nicole Caroll  Australia 2:27:06
1997 John Kemboi  Kenya 2:10:14 Yelena Razdrogina  Russia 2:29:10
1996 Henrique Crisostomo  Portugal 2:12:18 Alina Tecuta  Romania 2:29:32
1995 Domingos Castro  Portugal 2:10:06 Judit Nagy  Hungary 2:31:43
1994 Saïd Ermili  Morocco 2:10:56 Mari Tanigawa  Japan 2:27:55
1993 Leszek Beblo  Poland 2:10:46 Mitsuyo Yoshida  Japan 2:29:16
1992 Luis Soares  France 2:10:03 Tatyana Titova  Russia 2:31:12
1991 Not held due to Gulf War
1990 Steve Brace  United Kingdom 2:13:10 Yoshiko Yamamoto  Japan 2:35:11
1989 Steve Brace  United Kingdom 2:13:03 Kazue Kojima  Japan 2:29:23
1988 Manuel Matias  Portugal 2:13:53 Aurora Cunha  Portugal 2:34:56
1987 Abebe Mekonnen  Ethiopia 2:11:09 Elena Cobos  Spain 2:34:47
1986 Ahmed Salah  Djibouti 2:12:44 Maria Rebelo  France 2:32:16
1985 Jacky Boxberger  France 2:10:49 Maureen Hurst  United Kingdom 2:43:31
1984 Ahmed Salah  Djibouti 2:11:58 Sylviane Levesque  France 2:38:20
1984 Additional women's race Lorraine Moller  New Zealand 2:32:44
1983 Jacky Boxberger  France 2:12:38 Jacqueline Courtade  France 2:58:14
1982 Ian Thompson  United Kingdom 2:14:07 Anne Marie Cienka  France 2:56:14
1981 Dave Cannon
Ron Tabb (ex-æquo)		  United Kingdom
 United States		 2:11:44 Chantal Langlacé  France 2:48:24
1980 Sylvain Cacciatore  France 2:25:50 Gillian Adams  United Kingdom 2:49:42
1979 Fernand Kolbeck  France 2:18:53 Vreni Forster  Switzerland 2:51:14
1978 Gilbert Coutant  France 2:34:55 "Lawrence"  United States 3:26:15
1977 Gérard Métayer  France 2:30:41 Not Held
1976 Jean-Pierre Eudier  France 2:20:57 Not Held

Tour de Paris Marathon

Year Men's winner Nationality Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Nationality Time (h:m:s)
1903 Albert Charbonnel  France [6] No women's race held
1902 Albert Charbonnel  France [6]
1900 Len Hurst  United Kingdom 2:26:28[nb 1]
1899 Albert Charbonnel  France [6]
1896 Len Hurst  United Kingdom 2:31:30

Notes

  1. ^ According to the "Sporting Records" section of The Canadian Year Book for 1905: "Len Hurst won the Marathon race, 40 kilometres (24 miles, 1505 yards), over roads, Conflans to Paris, Fr., in the record time of 2.26:27 3-5, July 8, 1900. *G Touquet won a Marathon race for amateurs over the same course in 2.51:48, September 2, 1900."[7] Other sources confirm that the direction of the 1900 race was reversed but note Hurst's finishing time as 2:26:47.4[6] or 2:26:48.[8]

References

  1. ^ "12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009." (pdf). Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. p. 565. http://www.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/05/15/63/20090706014834_httppostedfile_p345-688_11303.pdf. Retrieved May 19, 2010. 
  2. ^ http://www.arrs.net/RecProg/RP_wwR.htm
  3. ^ http://www.arrs.net/HP_ParisTourMa.htm
  4. ^ Fast tracks: the history of distance running since 884 B.C. By Raymond Krise, Bill Squires
  5. ^ Endurance By Albert C. Gross
  6. ^ a b c d Martin, David E.; Roger W. H. Gynn (May 2000). The Olympic Marathon. Human Kinetics Publishers. p. 37. ISBN 978-0880119696. http://books.google.com/books?id=Qb125O62NVQC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
  7. ^ "Sporting Records", The Canadian Year Book for 1905, 8, Toronto Canada: Alfred Hewitt, 1905, p. 147, http://books.google.com/books?id=bYACMpbJzQcC&pg=PA147#v=onepage&q&f=false 
  8. ^ Noakes, Tim (2003). The Lore of Running (Fourth ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-87322-959-2. 
List of winners

External links
Paris Men's Marathon Winners
Paris Women's Marathon Winners