Paris Marathon: record women
The Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris on April 12 now has nearly 20,800 women registered — about one‑third of the 60,000 field, a historic high for gender representation at the race ( ). Organisers say they’ll roll out greener refreshment stations and extra on‑course support as part of a push for inclusivity and sustainability (marathons.fr).
The race organiser’s post-race tally for 2025 listed 56,950 finishers and noted that 51% of those entrants were running their first marathon, offering a snapshot of why the 2026 field mix is shifting. The organiser’s year-on-year breakdown shows women made up 31% of the 2025 field, up from 28% in 2024 and 26% in 2023, indicating a steady climb in female representation at Paris. The event’s official logistics plan for 2026 increases on-course support to 13 refreshment points — nine full stations, four water-only points, one full station at the finish and two dedicated Ta Energy electrolyte stations — with full stations extended to 160 metres to reduce crowding. Organisers say they will shorten distances between stations, particularly in the race’s second half, to improve hydration flow and athlete safety during congested phases of the course. Separate coverage flagged a sustainability push that includes a cup‑free, bottle‑free aid‑station model billed as a world first for a major road race, an innovation organisers say is aimed at cutting single‑use plastic on the course. The organiser’s publicity also highlights faster sell-through of charity and tour-operator bibs and records of fundraising — the 2025 edition reported nearly €5 million raised by roughly 6,000 charity runners supporting about 300 associations. Event communications describe the 2026 elite entry as “one of the most competitive” in the race’s history, signalling organisers expect top-level competition alongside the growing mass‑participant diversity. (schneiderelectricparismarathon.com/)
