Simply Sporting: Annecy Laces Up Once More for the Marathon

Bernie
May 6
4 min read

Updated: Nov 10

It's not London or Boston but if you live in Annecy you’ve almost certainly heard of the Annecy Marathon, you might even have taken part! For those who don't live here (yet), this weekend is one of the biggest dates in Annecy's cultural and sporting calendar. This post isn't going to give you the official lowdown, the organisers have that covered. Instead, I want to give you an on-the-ground perspective of what it would be like for you, if you were here and wanted to take part.

A billboard advertising the upcoming Annecy marathon. — Local advertising for the marathon.

Is Running on the Rise?

I don't know how you feel about this but I sense that we're in the midst of a running boom. I see more people out running than ever before whether it's 7 in the morning or 10 at night! It’s brilliant for our general health and well-being but it also means getting into big running events like marathons is becoming increasingly difficult. In the last seven years alone, the number of applicants for the London Marathon has more than doubled — from 386,000 in 2018 to over 840,000 this year! That's a staggering number. (Source: Wikipedia).

And in case you missed it, this year (2025), TCS, the London Marathon organisers, recently informed each of the 56,640 finishers that they helped break a Guinness World Record for the "largest number of finishers in a marathon."

Needless to say, the Annecy marathon hasn't escaped this running fever. According to an interview on France Bleu with Claude Plisson, head of the Annecy marathon organising committee, he remembers a time, not too many years ago, when they were struggling to get entries in. He continues, "For this years 44th edition, the race numbers were sold out in three weeks and we had to put 20,000 people on the waiting list, that's more people on that list than there are participants".

A horizontal view of a goup of runners passing by. We just see the legs.

What Makes the Annecy Marathon Special?

I know I am biased but I think Annecy is popular for several reasons:

The route is flat, most of it is on the cycle path which circumvents the lake
everything is within close proximity of the start and finish. The bib pick-up point, bag drop-off and toilets are all located on the Pâquier, the main park which hugs the north western corner of the lake and Annecy town.
The atmosphere is one of exuberance, live vibes and positive camaraderie
They have the best selection of post-race snacks :-)
Last and most important of all, the route offers spectacular views of the lake along the western shoreline!
View from Sevrier beach

Improvement Points

As with any 'large' sporting event, there are some things that might irritate you or that you wish were done differently. If I were to pick holes in this event it would be the following:

If you want to run hard and fast I suggest you enter yourself into one of the quicker start times because parts of the route are quite narrow and can feel crowded, forcing you to slow down or dodge around runners.
Annecy is a relatively small town and with everything concentrated in and around the Pâquier, certain roads are closed and parking is restricted. If you're driving in, I suggest you arrive early to avoid the frantic search for a parking space. If you plan to come to Annecy for the weekend, I recommend you book your accommodation well in advance as rooms fill up fast once registration opens.

Race Registration - What You Need To Know

Do you still need a medical certificate to run in France?

When I first signed up for a race in France, I was surprised to learn I needed a medical certificate. This meant making an appointment with my doctor for a basic check-up, after which she signed a form saying I was fit to run.

As a French resident, this wasn’t a big deal but for international runners, it can be tricky. I know of UK runners who wanted to take part in the Paris Olympics “Marathon for Tous” but couldn’t get their doctor to sign off, fearing liability if anything went wrong.

Tip! If you're a member of a French running club, you only need to provide a medical certificate when you first join and then renew it every 3 years. For races, you just complete a quick annual health questionnaire — unless you declare a risk factor (e.g. asthma), in which case you'll need a new certificate.

Introducing The Parcours de Prévention Santé (PPS) Certificate

You may or may not have heard of the PPS. If not, you will be happy to hear that all the hassle with the medical certificate as described above is now a thing of the past, literally. I think the Fédération Française d’Athlétisme (FFA) recognised that with a growing number of races throughout France, the need for a medical certificate, which in itself was a very rudimentary medical check, was not very effective, added little value and only upped the workload of the already over-stretched doctors' practices. That’s where the PPS comes in. Introduced in March 2022 by the FFA, the Parcours de Prévention Santé is a quick, free online program aimed at raising awareness about health risks, safety precautions and best practices for runners. It’s straight-forward and takes around 10 minutes to complete. You’ll

enter your personal details and race date
watch a few short videos in French (with English subtitles)
confirm that you’ve understood the information.

Once you’re done, you’ll receive a unique PPS number to include with your race registration. You can also download and print a certificate to bring with you on race day, if you wish.

Final Thoughts

The Annecy Marathon continues to grow in popularity — and for good reason. Whether you’re chasing a PB or just want to soak in the scenery, it’s a race well worth doing. And thanks to the new PPS system, registration is now a little more runner-friendly, especially for international visitors! Below are some photos of this years pre-race day and the marathon itself. Click on the black side arrows to view. Bravo to all the runners turning up and taking part! Who knows, I might even join in myself next year ;-).