In recent years, you have had to know how to plan ahead and block your diary six months to a year in advance to be able to pin your bib for the Paris marathon or half-marathon. From now on, you will have to be even luckier. Like what already exists on the Ultra-trail du Mont-Blanc in France, or on certain famous marathons around the world (London, New York, Berlin, Valencia, etc.), the new organizers of the Paris marathon and half-marathon – the Cadence Running group – announced, Tuesday September 8, the establishment of a draw for their two races, scheduled for March 7, 2027 (half) and April 4 2027 (marathon).
“The objective is to restore serenity in the process of accessing bibs. The old system caused stress, explained Thomas Cailleau, associate director at Havas, one of the founding entities of Cadence Running. “The price connection bonus did not correspond to us either,” he continued, pointing out the new single prices of 169 euros and 79 euros for the marathon and the half-marathon, while last year that of the marathon ranged from 135 to 179 euros.
The ticketing model for cultural shows
The French are now accustomed to this system which is being deployed more and more, from the Paris Olympic Games to Roland-Garros via Celine Dion concerts. Runners will be able to register for free until September 30 at 11:59 p.m. in the lottery and will know from October 1 if they are one of the lucky ones. Registering as early as possible will have no impact on the result.
No need to be sharp behind the screen, however, you will have to be sharp when taking out your bank card. The lucky winners will be contacted by email and will have 72 hours to pay the bill. Beyond that, the bib will be returned to the lottery. Last year, all 60,000 bibs were sold in the fall, more than six months in advance. The first ones were even sold the day after the race, so a year in advance.
“On the one hand, it suits me because I have never managed to plan ahead and take a bib a year before an event. On the other hand, having to condition an annual objective on a draw is not crazy either."
Valentin, member of a Parisian athletics club
“It’s a good idea because the first-come, first-served rule didn’t seem fair to me,” says Victorine, an emergency doctor, limited in her planning by her professional schedule. To ensure a fair system, the runner suggests an adjustment: “Those who have already participated should have a negative weighting in order to allow everyone to have a bib within three years. And then, I find it hard to believe that they are going to draw lots for the elite airlocks or for the bibs allocated to sponsors.”
“If I am not drawn, I will do my first marathon elsewhere”
Licensees of the French Athletics Federation will, for the moment, only have a 5% reduction on the price, a regulatory advantage linked to the labeling of the event. Nevertheless, “discussions are underway with the organizers, the FFA and the Ligue Ile-de-France on a range of advantages”, assures Adrien Tarenne, responsible for developing practices at the FFA.
If there are around sixty road marathons in France today, that of Paris attracts French and foreign runners, and fights with that of New York for the title of world record for the number of arrivals (around 57,000 each year). It has benefited greatly from the boom in running in France since the Covid-19 pandemic. Not very smooth, due to the many small, challenging climbs on the banks of the Seine, the 42.195 kilometers of Paris initially appeal to crowds looking for an experience. As proof, the growing share of “neo-marathoners” registered each year.
“I find it a shame for people like me who are preparing to run a marathon, and perhaps certainly the only one, that we cannot do it in our capital,” regrets Caroline, from Iséroise who took up running seriously last year and who is ambivalent about the announcements. “If I am not drawn, I will do a marathon elsewhere where registrations are possible directly within the limits of available stocks,” continues the runner, who had checked Paris as her objective.
Group registration possible to guarantee team spirit
Some runners, faced with the frenzy of bib sales at popular marathons, might also be tempted to reserve their place elsewhere well in advance so as not to leave their race schedule to fate. "It's good to have renewal but here they went to the extreme with a draw. My licensees tell me 'How do we do it? Without being a champion, I'm worth 2h55 in the marathon, I want to do the Paris marathon, I might not have a priority. For our efficient runners, it's a bit complicated, I think many will look elsewhere", slips Dominique Chauvelier, figure of the tricolor marathon in the years 1990 and president of a running club in Sarthe.
Chosen by the Paris town hall for its project to open a “popular” and festive marathon – with the slogan “joy runs through the streets” – Cadence Running thought carefully about offering the possibility of registering as a group. If a runner wants to participate with friends, they can enter the lottery in a team of two to six people. The chances are thus multiplied because any member of the team can be drawn and allow their companions to buy a bib.
In case of unforeseen circumstances, the organizers announced the launch of an official resale platform, which did not exist before. “It’s very cool, but it’s likely that a lot of people will take a bib just in case,” remarks Valentin, especially impatient to know about any developments on the course. To do this, he will have to be patient, the routes of the marathon, which will not change over the next four years, and the semi, which will change every year, will not be revealed until next January.
