Starting in 2008, the French Riviera Marathon is a marathon which takes place on part of the Alpes-Maritimes coastline, between the towns of Nice and Cannes, and is one of the largest marathons in France by number of participants. For this 2024 edition, we’re going to take a look at the history of the French Riviera Marathon, the route and the details of how candidates can sign up, before giving you some practical advice for this emblematic race.
The History of the French Riviera Marathon
The French Riviera Marathon first set off on 9th November 2008, with more than 10,000 participants. Since then, it has become an annual fixture in the Alpes-Maritimes region in November for marathon runners from all over the world. The first winner of this marathon was the Kenyan runner Jacob Kitur, who finished in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 12 seconds. Since its creation, nearly 175,000 runners have signed up to take up the challenge and enjoy the sea and the Indian summer on the Riviera in their own way.
This year, the French Riviera Marathon will take place on 3rd November 2024, and more than 70 nations will be represented at the starting line across all the distances available.
As far as the records are concerned, the figures are impressive: in the men’s event, the record has been held since 2018 by Milaw Abrha, with a time of 2 hours 07 minutes and 25 seconds, and 2 hours 28 minutes and 15 seconds in the women’s event (the record won by Zenebu Fikadu in 2022).
Course and race details
For this French Riviera Marathon, owing to its route, runners will compete along the coast on the road which runs beside the sea. So participants will follow a route which passes by beaches, creeks and rocky coastlines. Departing from Nice on the Promenade des Anglais, participants then head for Cannes, passing through Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Villeneuve-Loubet, Antibes Juan-les-Pins and Vallauris Golfe-Juan before arriving at the foot of the steps of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. The French Riviera Marathon is 42.195 kilometres long, with a recorded climb of 173 metres, almost all of which is in the second half of the marathon. It also has a time limit: if you’re taking part, bear in mind that the marathon is limited to 6 hours, so the aim is to finish as quickly as possible!
As far as the events are concerned, there are several to choose between: you can run the marathon as an individual and cover the total distance of 42.195 kilometres on your own, or you can cover half the distance and stop at Villeneuve-Loubet; you will then be able to run alongside the marathon runners and just behind the elite runners to this destination, with preferentials from the 3:15 start to the 5:00 start.
What’s more, you can also run the marathon in pairs, in an event which is simply called the “2x21km” and which will follow the route of the individual French Riviera Marathon event. So this is a relay race where the changeover takes place in Antibes Juan-Les-Pins.
Last but not least, this year’s event will also include a parasports race to make this unique marathon accessible to all.
At the end of the race, you’ll have the chance to take part in the After Race, which is a time for you to relax and enjoy local specialities in a private room set aside for the occasion in the Palais de la Méditerranée.
Marathon – 42 KM
www.marathon06.com
Semi-Marathon – 20 KM
www.marathon06.com
Départ
www.marathon06.com
How to sign up and take part in the French Riviera Marathon
Signing up for the French Riviera Marathon couldn’t be simpler: all you have to do is visit the official French Riviera Marathon website if you were born in 2007 or earlier. From there, there are several options: you can sign up for the full distance of the marathon, but also for the other events. Note that the price for taking part varies depending on which option you choose, starting at €65 for the official route (price reserved for the first 1,000 sign-ups).
It is also important to note that you must hold a licence issued by the FFA (Fédération Française d’Athlétisme), or a sports licence or medical certificate stating that there is no medical reason why you cannot take part in the race.
Some practical advice for runners
Marathons mean preparing in advance: if you want to complete the course without encountering any difficulties, there are a number of things we recommend:
- First of all, be regular and progressive in your training: to get your body used to this intense event, it’s a good idea to be progressive; so, if you haven’t run for a long time, don’t be afraid to slow down and walk when you need to – the key is to keep moving.
- Extend your training distances: because a marathon is an endurance event, you need to get used to doing long sessions to get your body accustomed to the effort. The final objective would be to put in a final long training session of 2-2.5 hours a few weeks before the race, so adapt your sessions accordingly.
- Work on your speed, but also your physique: it’s important to work on these two aspects, as they are so important to performance and stamina. Your speed will affect your final time over the marathon distance, and your physique is an essential factor if you want to get over the “wall” of the thirtieth kilometre without any problems. So don’t hesitate to strengthen your muscles or vary your sporting activities.
- Sleep and eat accordingly: this advice is key to optimal training: regular training, a balanced diet and quality sleep will all help you succeed in the French Riviera Marathon.
Come and take part in the French Riviera Marathon 2024
To sum up, the French Riviera Marathon is a real challenge for anyone who wants to put their body to the test. On top of the beauty of the scenery which the region has to offer, this is a popular event with an exceptional course which will delight all sports fans. Feel like putting on your running shoes and heading to the seaside? Visit our website to compare and find the accommodation which will best prepare you before taking part in the race!