pacertrip.

PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONFR / RACE GUIDE

Abalone Marathon de Nantes

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Nantes
FR

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France · Public domainMoroder / CC BY-SA 3.0Eusebius / CC BY 3.0

Race date in 196 days: Apr 25, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Nantes · 42.195km · 21.0975km · 10km
Entry fee: €61Varies by event and entry period
Status: SoonTue, September 22, 2026 ~ TBDSee how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 11, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

This city-center marathon in Nantes, France,

starts at Machines de l’Île and passes through downtown squares and parks and along the Erdre River before finishing at the La Beaujoire exhibition center.

In 2027, full marathon starts at 9:15 am on 25 April.

Just before the finish, runners cross a 324-meter temporary bridge over the Erdre.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2

le StyxRan in 2011 · Finish time 4:12:00

“I used the 4 hour 15 minute pacer balloons 50m ahead as my reference and ran at a steady rhythm.”

The runner raced the Nantes Marathon by feel without a watch, joining the 4 hour 15 minute pacer group after 30km. Stretching to relieve recurring cramps late on brought a net finish of 4 hours 12 minutes.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Je prends un rythme régulier avec pour repère le ballon des 4h15 à 50m.

Read the original on Kikourou

JuanmaRan in 2024

The 2024 finisher noted the contrast between the lively city streets and the relatively quiet Île de Nantes section on the two-lap course at the time. They rated the race organization, aid stations and supplies, and volunteers positively.

Their race in brief

Read the original on A todo trapo

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

2026 Full recap

Abalone Marathon de Nantes · Full recap

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

premium

Entry cost €179

Official premium entry. The regulations list a fee of 179 EUR.

Organizer's page

general

Entry cost TBD

Official online registration.

General registration opened on 22 September 2026 and may close early if places sell out.

Tiered prices by seating category: 61/71/81/91 EUR;

check the registration page for the applicable price and service fee.

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 42.195km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 09:15

Time limit5 hours 45 minutes

Event	Start	Time limit	Entry fee	Field size
Marathon42.195km	09:15	5:45:00	€61	7,000
Semi-marathon21.0975km	08:00	—	€55	—
Foulées de l’Éléphant10km	21:30	—	€25	—
Marathon Relais Entreprises (4-person team)42.195km	09:15	—	€552	—

START

Nefs des Machines de l’Île, Parc des Chantiers

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire

Finish · Google Maps

Cutoff
5km 00:41 · 10km 01:22 · 15km 02:03 · 21km 02:52 · 30km 04:05

The race will celebrate its 45th edition in 2027.

Starting at Machines de l’Île, this urban course heads into the city, passing Place Graslin,

Place Royale, Parc de Procé, the botanical garden and Île de Versailles.

The final section crosses Traversante, a temporary bridge over the river, before leading to finish at the La Beaujoire exhibition center.

The detailed 2027 course map has not been published yet.

In 2027, Entry fee general entries cost €61, €71, €81 or €91, depending on the entry tier, while premium entry costs €179.

General entries opened on 22 September 2026 and may close when capacity is reached.

Typical race-season temperature: around 11°C (51°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Marathon · Half · 10K

Medical support

Marathon · Half · 10K

Water stations

Marathon · Half · 10K

Aid stations

Marathon · Half · 10K

Finisher medal

Marathon · Half · 10K

Bag drop

Marathon · Half

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

Pick up your bib at the expo

You need ID and the collection card sent by email to pick up Packet Pickup.
There is no pickup on 25 April 2027.
Check the latest official FAQ for the location and opening hours.

Stations & transport near the venue

More details

2027 transit details have not been published. The organizer's current transport page describes the 2026 edition only; check the 2027 race-week diversions and parking notice before travel.

Previous-edition 2026: event-day transit was advertised as free under ticket validation, with Beaujoire stops, park-and-ride links and a regional rail discount; these terms do not carry over to 2027.

Source

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The official 2027 rules confirm the start, course cut-offs, and aid station details.

Entry requirements and documents

The 2027 full marathon is open to runners born in 2007 or earlier.
The organizers require adult runners without a competition licence to provide a PPS certificate. Runners of other nationalities must prepare the same document and check its validity period in the latest official rules.
The 10 km Foulées de l’Éléphant starts at 21:30 on 24 April 2027, the day before full marathon.

Start and finish

The start is at Machines de l’Île, and the finish is at Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire.
The start and finish are in different locations, so plan your travel before and after the race separately.

Packet Pickup

Please prepare the bib collection card from the advance email and your ID.
You cannot pick up your bib on race day, 25 April 2027.

Pace and time limit

A pace faster than 8 minutes 10 seconds/km is required for pace.
For the marathon, check the cut-off times: 41 minutes at 5 km, 1 hour 22 minutes at 10 km, 2 hours 3 minutes at 15 km, 2 hours 52 minutes at 21 km, and 4 hours 5 minutes at 30 km.
The overall time limit is 5 hours 45 minutes.

Aid stations

The official rules list aid stations approximately every 5 km and at the finish.
Water is provided in cups, along with fruit, dried fruit, sugar, and other items.
Under FFA regulations, you cannot receive personal supplies outside course.

Transport

The details currently on the transport page are from the 2026 event. Check again for public transport diversions and parking information during race week in 2027.

Times are local to Nantes. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Chambre D'hôtes Sur Île De Nantes

Bed & breakfast · 432m

9.8/10(30)

View on Booking.com

Nantes Car Rental | Wide Range of Vehicles

₩108,427

View on Klook

The Muscadet Experience: a fun sensory journey & tasting in Nantes

₩55,216

Abalone Marathon de Nantes

About Abalone Marathon de Nantes — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run