The Paris Marathon, officially the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, is set for its 48th edition on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Its breathtaking course through the French capital, a byword for this iconic event, attracts over 50,000 runners and 250,000 spectators to its courses annually, making it one of the world’s largest and most scenic marathons. As the event approaches, organizers are revealing fresh updates aimed at providing an even more enjoyable experience for runners and spectators. From faster registration processes to environmental efforts and people-friendlier innovations, here is the latest on the Paris Marathon 2025.
A Streamlined Health Protocol for Runners
One of the most prominent changes for 2025 is eliminating the need for a medical certificate for international participants, something which began being phased out in 2024. Previously, runners had to submit a doctor’s note verifying their suitability to race run, within one year of the date of the event. Now that is substituted with the PPS (Parcours de Prévention Santé, or Health Prevention Course), an internet application that members have to fill out three months prior to race day. This was forced by French law to minimize bureaucratic obstacles while maintaining security. Runners download and upload their PPS certificate into their registration account—a quicker, more modern method that’s especially welcomed by the 23,000+ foreign runners that flock to Paris each year. To newcomers or beginners, it’s a small but welcome change that simplifies pre-race preparation.
Eco-Conscious Improvements
Environmental concern remains center stage at the Paris Marathon, and the “Green Runners Challenge” will be launched on a larger scale in 2025. The challenge urges individuals to adopt “green” living habits, i.e., sharing transport on public transport from the beginning zone along the Champs-Élysées, or using re-useable water bottles. Nature-derived products continue to dominate the selection at the hydrating stations—bananas, oranges, pretzels, water in re-cycleable bottles—a change from petrochemical products such as gels and sports drink. Something new this year: Organizers are teaming with local environmental associations to neutralize the event’s carbon footprint through the planting of trees in Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne, two park courses along which the event passes. Spectators can expect greater recycling points as well as campaigns online promoting a “zero-waste” spirit, in consonance with the broader shift by Paris toward eco-friendliness following the 2024 Olympics.
Tech Advances for a Hitch-Free Experience
Technology is taking center stage in 2025, with improvements intended to benefit both runners and spectators. The official marathon app is getting a makeover, including improved real-time tracking so that friends and family can follow runners as they pass landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame. For runners, the app will generate personalized pace warnings and estimated times of finish based on their bib data—a beneficial feature for the six-hour finish time limit. Spectators, too, will have new interactive maps at optimal viewing points—like Place de la Bastille and Avenue Foch—indicated runner status and estimated times of arrival. These upgrades aim to bridge the distance between the race and its spectators so that it is easier to cheer for relatives amidst the crowd of 54,000 people.
Paris Run For All: Inclusion in Action
A highlight feature is the expansion of the “Paris Run For All” event, a 4km solidarity run on April 12, the day prior to the marathon. It is for all ages and abilities, including para-athletes, and starts in the center of Paris with a common breakfast finish. After its successful debut in 2023 with 3,360 runners from 97 countries, organizers are stepping up promotion for 2025 with an aim to double the number of participants. Runners may register as an add-on to their marathon bib, fostering community and fellowship. Spectators benefit too—the more vantage points along the shorter course mean more opportunities to see the pre-marathon action without shelling out for a whole day of spectating.
Spectator Zones and Entertainment
For the quarter-million spectators on the course, 2025 holds promise for better viewings. New cheer zones will be located along picturesque routes like Rue de Rivoli and the finish on Avenue Foch, equipped with bleachers, live bands, and food stalls selling up Parisian specialties like croissants and crêpes. “Marathon Viewing Passes” are also available through the app, with priority access to these areas for a small charge—a nod to crowd control experience gained at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Entertainment along the course will become more frenetic, with over 60 bands and DJs scheduled to provide a boost of morale even as runners face the daunting hill just after kilometer 34 in Bois de Boulogne.
Course Adjustments and Logistical Switches
Despite the 42.195km course maintaining its overall footprint—starting at the Arc de Triomphe, looping through Paris’s famous boulevards, and finishing nearer Avenue Foch—the finer adjustments might be accomplished on the basis of capricious Seine flooding in Paris. In 2024, there was a slight detour to the top quays, and organizers are happy to make further changes if needed. Logistically, bib pickup at Run Experience Expo (April 10-12 at Porte de Versailles) will have more staff and extended hours to reduce wait times for the anticipated 80,000 visitors. These changes reflect a commitment to keeping the race uneventful and pleasant despite rising numbers of participants.
Why It Matters
The Paris Marathon 2025 is not just a race, it’s a celebration of power, friendship, and the Timeless beauty of the City of Light. For runners, these changes mean less red tape, more green solutions, and better tools for dominating the course. For fans, it’s a chance to connect more with an event that makes Paris a lively, people-oriented playground. As the marathon builds on its record-setting 2024 finisher count of 54,175, these innovations suggest a bid to stay ahead of the pack on the global running scene while still honoring its traditions. By lacing up or cheering from the sidelines, April 13, 2025, is going to be a day of personal achievement and public spectacle.