FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday 7th April 2024: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC MARATHON DE PARIS 2024
Making Their Dreams Come True
55,922 runners, from the four corners of the globe, set out this Sunday
from the Champs-Elysees to start the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris.
The field on the world's largest marathon began a journey through the
world's most beautiful city. Regardless of the time achieved at the
finishing line, they will all return home with memories that will last a
lifetime.
Key points:
- A participation record: 55,922 runners start the world's biggest
marathon.
- 98% finished, 46% were running their first marathon, 28% of the field
were women, 31% were from abroad, with an average age of 38 years old.
- At the finishing line, there were shouts of joy, laughter, tears and, for
all, a feeling of great happiness on receiving their finisher's medal. -
Ethiopians Mulugeta Uma (2:05'33'') and Mestawut Fikir (2:20'45'') were
the quickest.
- 1.5 million raised by 1,800 runners in aid of nearly 250 charities: a
record for the solidarity bibs.
- The Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris will be back on Sunday 13th
April 2025. Log in to the timeto platform on Wednesday 10th April to
register.
They did it, they are finishers! This Sunday morning, 55,922 runners came
together for a day full of promise, with 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 km)
ahead of them to be covered in the world's most beautiful city. It is a
legendary distance, which has inspired dreams for a very long time. It is
also an intimidating one which some even find frightening. However, one day
each participant decided to try and make this dream come true. It demands
weeks, often months of training, in all sorts of conditions, as well as
efforts and sacrifices to finally be present on the starting line of the
Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris.
Running down the Champs-Elysees caught up in the euphoria of the start,
running around the Place de la Concorde, heading towards the Opéra de
Paris, then the Louvre, Hôtel de Ville, La Bastille, before rushing into
the Bois de Vincennes woods was all part of a beautiful and intense
journey. All around there was an atmosphere that transcended and carried
the runners along. With bands and kind words from volunteers along the
route or at refreshment points, Paris was in full celebration mode. The
runners reached the symbolic halfway point in East Paris before returning
to the French capital's centre. Due to flooding of the Seine River, the
race took the upper quays on its return to the Grand Palais, with the
Trocadero and Eiffel Tower overlooking them before tackling the last few
kilometres on the beautiful avenues of the 16th arrondissement. When the
time came to make the last effort, the runners' legs were already heavy.
However, the prospect of the finish gave rise to the first shivers of joy.
The emotions were already bubbling under, ready to explode. The last few
strides along Avenue Foch were swallowed up, transcended by the euphoria of
the moment. The dream was within touching distance. Two hundred metres, one
hundred metres, fifty metres and then the finishing line where they became
a finisher! For hours on end, they followed one another behind the day's
champions, Ethiopians Mulugeta Uma and Mestawut Fikir. All with different
objectives: breaking a record, going under a symbolic barrier, running for
a good cause or simply being a finisher.
Laughter, tears, shouts of joy… in short, happiness in all its guises
At the finishing line, some cried, some laughed, while others fell into the
arms of a friend or partner. Some also yelled out loud, very loud. "I just
need to let it all out," admits Mathis, who came from Brussels for his
first marathon. "Throughout the race, I was really focused and now I'm just
delighted to be here. I started running in December. I used to hate it, but
little by little, I developed a taste for it. The idea of running a
marathon soon came to mind. With my girlfriend who has also taken up
running, we wanted to do something legendary because we thought we might
only ever do one single marathon in our lives. Paris was an obvious choice.
Completing these 42 kilometres is fantastic. I had wonderful sensations in
an incredible city".
Almost half of the field were running their first marathon
Like Mathis, 46% of the field were starting their first marathon today.
Maxence, who travelled down form Caen, was among them. "A friend who had
been wanting to do it for several years got me motivated," he said. "It was
in December. I thought I wouldn't have enough time, but she told me not to
worry, to get stuck into training and it would be ok! And that's what has
happened. The finish was very tough. Fortunately, the crowds encourage you,
otherwise it wouldn't have been possible".
More and more young people are trying out the distance
The proportion of under-25s is growing every year, and now accounts for 10%
of participants in the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon, compared with 5%
5 years ago. Like Hugo, a native of Toulouse aged 24 years old, who
finished within a tiny bit less than 4 hours. "I'm really proud. The crowds
were crazy. I was expecting it, but not that much! The quality of the
organisation is also insane. I'll be back for sure and I'll train even
better to do even better".
Runners from all over the world
Maria Fernanda Vanzo Reis is an American living in Brazil. She was among
28% of the field made up of women and 31% of foreigners. "It was
incredible," she explained with a broad smile. "It's the second time I've
run here in Paris. It's like running through a postcard, what's not to
like? I'll keep coming back as long as I can run. It's a long journey to
get here, but it's worth it. Now, I'm going to treat myself to a glass of
champagne!" Shinichi Tanaka also came a long way, from Japan for his 26th
marathon. "It's the first time I've run in Paris. I'm really happy about
it. The spectators carried me throughout the race. They gave us incredible
strength".
As soon as they crossed the finishing line, many runners pulled out their
phones to take a selfie and immortalise the moment. Among them Leo and
Marie-France could be seen striking a pose. "The atmosphere was wonderful,
but I forgot that it hurt my legs so much," laughed Leo, a native of
Grenoble based in Barcelona and a member of the Schneider Electric team.
"But I beat my personal best! There's doubt I'll come back and do it
again!" "There were people everywhere all the time, cheering us on
constantly," added Marie-France. "It gives you such a boost, especially at
the end. All our family and friends were there to encourage us. When we saw
them it gave us wings!"
Running for a good cause
In the peloton, many are also there to support causes close to their
hearts, to pass on messages. The sport as ambassador, the surpassing of
oneself as symbol. This year, the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon broke
another record, with 1.5 million euros raised by 1,800 'solidarity bibs'
for nearly 250 charities.
Fantine Guégan came from Poissy, in the Yvelines to take part. With
Sébastien, Vincent, Guillaume, Julien and Pierre, they took it in turns to
carry the joëlette wheelchair and take Thibault, a soldier injured in
action, to the finishing line, with the desire to give him an unforgettable
memory.
Tomorrow, most of them will probably have very stiff legs, but whether it
took them 2 hours 30 minutes, 3 hours or even 6 hours for the last
finishers, they will never forget this unique memory of having crossed the
finishing line on a marathon.
On 13 April 2025, many of them will be there again for the next edition of
the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris.
In 2024, almost 28% of them were loyal. Alongside them will be other dream
chasers. See you on Wednesday 10 April to register for the 2025 event on
time to.
Visit the web site for more information.
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