Paris Marathon set for April 12

Magdalyne Masai (schneiderelectricparismarathon.com) (PB 2:18:58) tops the women's entrants while Leul Gebresilase (schneiderelectricparismarathon.com) (PB 2:04:02) and Kenya’s Hillary Kipkoech (schneiderelectricparismarathon.com) (PB 2:04:45) are among several men listed with sub‑2:05 or low‑2:04 bests, creating what organisers call one of the strongest elite fields in the event’s history. (schneiderelectricparismarathon.com) Elisha Rotich’s course record of 2:04:21 (set in 2021) remains the mark to beat. (finishers.com) Last year’s winners—Benard Biwott (2:05:25) and Bedatu Hirpa (2:20:45)—arrived as proven pace‑setters for the 2026 showdown. (worldathletics.org) Organisers have announced that aid stations will no longer hand out disposable cups or plastic bottles in 2026, requiring participants to carry their own hydration containers — a change widely reported as a first for a race of this size. (leparisien.fr) The event’s Green Runners programme also promotes offsets and sustainability initiatives tied to Schneider Electric’s sponsorship. (schneiderelectricparismarathon.com) The 2025 edition set a participation record of 56,950 finishers and organisers reported nearly €5 million raised by about 6,000 charity bibs, with 51% of entrants running their first marathon and an average participant age of 37 years and four months. (schneiderelectricparismarathon.com) Race logistics list an 8:00 a.m. start for the event and staggered corral departures across the morning, with live national coverage scheduled on France 3 featuring Alexandre Boyon and Stéphane Diagana and on‑field reporting from Olivia Leray. (schneiderelectricparismarathon.com) The official route threads past Paris landmarks including the Palais Garnier, Notre‑Dame, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe before finishing near Avenue Foch, giving elites and mass runners the same landmark‑packed course organisers published on the route page. (schneiderelectricparismarathon.com)