Paris Marathon 2025

This month I took on the Paris Marathon. Full disclosure - I am not a fast runner and never will be. I did it because doing a marathon has always been on my bucket list. I don’t think races should just be for the fast runners. 

I feel like there’s so much focus on time, pace, and comparing to others through apps like Strava when it comes to running. For me, this can suck all the fun out of it and just make you feel like you’re never good enough. 

Instead I just focus on my training, and what my end goal is. I feel like the sooner you think like this (in every aspect of life, not just running) the happier you’ll be. 

Why Paris Marathon? 

I did the Yorkshire Marathon back in 2021 and loved it, but I was full of cold on the day so didn’t feel like I gave it my all. 

You can read all about that experience here.

Last year I was sat at work talking to someone that’s done LOADS of marathons and I told him I was tempted to do one more, thinking that would be London (knowing full well that getting a place on the London is like winning the lottery). 

Anyway, he turned around and told me: “If you’re only going to do one more, then I’d recommend the Paris.” 

He raved about the route, and given that I’d never been to Paris and could make a mini holiday out of it - I signed up!

Training

I started training six months before the race, and my week looked like this:

Three runs - two short in the week, one long at the weekend 

Two strength sessions - one hour each, in the gym

Two rest days

The longest run I did was 20 miles, three weeks before the race.

Last time I had lots of knee problems throughout training, went to physio a lot, and was always taped up. 

This was because I wasn’t putting enough focus on strength training alongside the runs. Yes you need to run a lot, but if you don’t build up the strength in your legs - you’re going to get injured. 

I won’t go into the exact exercises I did for my strength training as I’m no expert. Instead I’d recommend looking up @runwithrachel_ on Instagram. She posts lots of brilliant videos. I used her throughout the whole process and had no problems whatsoever - hallelujah! 

I don’t work a 9-5 so no week was the same in terms of what I did each day. I found it tough sometimes fitting everything in because of my job, but you’ve just got to be disciplined with it. 

I always tell people anyone can do a marathon. The biggest challenge isn’t the physical element, it’s the discipline of training. Sometimes you have to miss out on plans because you need to fit in a long run, sometimes you can’t go on the night out, sometimes you have to train when you can’t be bothered - those are the challenges. 

This time around I was working towards an April race, so training through the winter months.

This wasn’t fun. Most of my runs were on a treadmill which isn’t ideal, but it’s just not safe to run around in the dark on your own. Yes there are run clubs, but they don’t work with my shift times and I don’t particularly like running with people either! 

Running for hours on a treadmill did mean I got through a lot of films I’ve never seen before. Big mistake was watching some tear-jerkers though - I got many looks when I was sobbing and running at the same time. 

To sum up, the big takeaway for me with training this time was - FOCUS ON STRENGTH. I had no issues at all this time. No pain, no physio, no tape. 

Jeffing 

"Jeffing" is a running technique named after Jeff Galloway, an American Olympian. It basically means alternating between running and walking. 

There’s no rule about how you do this. I do nine minutes running and one minute walking. This just means I never hit a wall because it breaks the distance down into manageable chunks. 

I did it last time and I did it this time - I love it. If I’m feeling great I’ll skip a walk, but I know if I’m struggling there’s always a walk coming up. 

The other benefit of it is it gives you time to eat and drink on those longer runs. 

I use the ‘RUN interval’ app on my phone as I don’t have a fitness watch. This means a bell goes off to tell you when to run and walk. You can also put in your distance aim so it tells you when you’ve finished and what your pace was - everything is all in one place. 

Food and drink 

Last time I tried gels and hated them so ended up using a combination of Clif Blok energy chews, jelly babies, Lucozade Sport, and water.

This time I swapped out the chews for oaty breakfast bars. This just felt a bit more substantial and less processed. I start eating/drinking from about 5k into the run to avoid ever hitting that wall. 

There are of course options out on the course, but I’d always say use what you’ve trained with to avoid upsetting your stomach. I bring everything with me and run right by the options on the course. Yes it’s annoying to carry everything (I use a running vest), but it means I’ve got what I need and what I’m used to. 

Race day

I got into Paris on the Saturday evening, collected my bib, and then carbed up ready for race day. 

Everything was really well-organised, which made the whole process as relaxing as it could be. 

The route itself was beautiful. You start on the Champs-Élysées and run by lots of famous landmarks. There’s also a gorgeously green section where you go around the Bois de Vincennes (a bit like Central Park in New York). 

It’s not a flat route. There are some steady hills and a few tunnels near the end, but overall it’s okay in terms of elevation. 

What I was surprised by was that when everyone’s watches/phones started to ping that we’d done 26.2 miles, the signs on the course said we still had 5k left. So according to my phone I ran 29 miles that day! Can I call myself an ultramarathon runner now?

There’s lots of spots for crowds, live music, and just a great atmosphere the whole way round really. I loved it. 

The next morning I had a very painful, but very beneficial, sport massage. This meant I felt fine to do a few days of exploring round the city with lots of walking. I'd always recommend getting a massage after - money well spent.

Another one?

I’ve done two marathons now, got a time I’m happy with, and I’ve come out injury-free. I’m done.

Saying that, I’m going to watch the London Marathon on Sunday and I know I’ll be tempted to sign up again but I’m going to stick to half marathons from now on, and maybe a triathlon one day too? 

The marathon box is well and truly ticked now!