Paris Int'l Marathon

This was a well run event with a scenic course and outstanding spectators. Some info for those considering: EXPO: Well organized, easy to change starting corral from original signup, lots of vendors. Easy to get to by Metro or car. COURSE: Fairly flat with some deceptive hills in the latter half, particularly in the Bois de Boulogne (where crowds were also sparse). Quite scenic, runs past a number of sights along the Seine and through some gorgeous neighborhoods. Excellent way to experience Paris for those who haven't visited. Main downside: lots of cobblestone, which starts to wear on your feet by the end. FOOD/DRINK: Water is all in bottles - Vittel - which was much easier to navigate than I expected (volunteers uncapped the bottles, making it easy to drink and then recycle in large bins along the route). No sports drinks and no gels, but ample bananas, sugar cubes, pieces of pastry, etc. SPECTATORS: The crowd was amazing. In only a couple of parts of the course - Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes - were crowds sparse. Otherwise they lined the streets and were exceptionally enthusiastic. A number of drumlines and bands. The only drawback is that their enthusiasm sometimes caused them to crowd the course a bit, and police were not great about asking them to step back. Some of the course was pretty narrow as a result. START/FINISH: The start was split into multiple corrals that were clearly labeled and easy to access (if crowded). Outside the corrals were port-a-potties, and inside the corrals were dozens of urinals (for both men and women). The finish was very congested, and it took a while to make it through the runners to the water/food/t-shirt/medal. The start and finish are close but not *that* close; you will do some walking if you expect to be done right at the Arc de Triomphe. Family cannot enter the finish area, so make sure to have a meeting spot picked out in the neighborhood (cafe or hotel). OTHER TAKEAWAYS: This was a large race with a very crowded course that didn't really thin out much as the race progressed. You get a medal and finisher's t-shirt upon completion, both of which I liked but were met with mixed reviews.