Paris, 16 April 2019

Schneider Electric de : 49,155 runners take part in the carbon-neutral marathon under the blue skies of Paris.

49,155 runners —including 16,863 rookies— started the 43rd edition of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris with cool temperatures and sunny skies. An increasing number of women are signing up for the race, which featured Place Vendôme and the Opéra Garnier for the first time this year. All good things come in pairs, with the Parisian event also becoming the first carbon-neutral marathon this year.

Key points: - 43rd edition - 60,000 registered participants - 49,155 starters - 27% women / 73% men - 12,484 women - 16,863 first-time marathoners - 14,049 runners from abroad - 97.8% of finishers - Registration for the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris (5 April 2020) now open on time to.

Women step to the fore It is a gradual but significant trend. More and more women are joining the field of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris. In 2019, women made up 27% of the field for a total of 12,484 female runners. A support plan including the ParisMarathon Girls Facebook group, which launched in 2017, has helped push up these numbers. Members who took part in this experience found a forum where runners can exchange views on their sport and get tailored answers to all their questions. Female runners definitely left their mark on the 43rd edition of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, the first one in which a woman —'s — crossed the finish line in first place. The early start of the elite women, 16 minutes and 39 seconds before the male field, enhanced the standing of the girls in the field by maximising media coverage at just the right time!

Séverine, 47 years old: "I've been running since I was 15. It was my fifth Paris Marathon. For a long time, I heard people say women were afraid of running 42 km. It's not true, you just need to look around you, they're signing up for the marathon without a second thought. Women are just as capable as men. Indeed, their performances are getting closer."

Rookies step up to the plate The numbers do not lie: more and more runners choose the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris for their first marathon. Although one could be forgiven for thinking the prospect of facing the Everest of running would scare rookies away, nothing is further from the truth. 16,863 runners tackled their very first marathon in the French capital on Sunday. First-

time marathoners got tailored training plans from time to that guided their preparation and boosted their morale. Together with a practical guide covering all the topics and packed with tips, the "My 1st marathon" space in the Salon du Running dispelled all their last-minute doubts and helped them relax before the start…

Lola, 26 years old: "It's done. I finished my first marathon. It gives me goosebumps. My stomach was tied in knots this morning. I managed the race well, taking it easy in the first half to make sure I could finish the marathon and avoid hitting the 30 km wall hard. I'm really emotional to have made it."

The most beautiful course in the world Paris will always be Paris! Just ask the locals or the tourists who criss-cross the French capital from west to east, rushing down its quays, streets and boulevards. The revamped course of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris dazzled the 49,155 runners. The organisers had a pleasant surprise in store for the 43rd edition, with the addition of two historic places: the Opéra Garnier and Place Vendôme. These two sites joined a roster of iconic landmarks: Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, , Trocadéro… The Schneider Electric Paris Marathon boasts the most beautiful running course in the world.

Pierre, 58 years old: "I can't feel my legs any more, but I must admit it was worth it. Paris is truly an extraordinary city. I loved touring the city in my trainers. We get to see the city in a new light, at our own pace. Running through Place Vendôme made quite an impression."

An example for the world Mission accomplished! 2019 will forever be remembered as the year the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris achieved one of its most ambitious goals: becoming the first carbon-neutral marathon in the world. In order to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (6% of which come from the organisation side of the event), it has mitigated its footprint by switching to an all-electric fleet of race vehicles (cars, buses and scooters). The other major plank of this policy consists of offsetting unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions, i.e. the travels of all the runners, representing 94% of all emissions. The marathon has offset almost 25,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent through its support for the Hifadhi project. This scheme, led by the Livelihoods Funds, aims to improve the living conditions of rural populations in by providing them with improved baked-clay cook stoves that use far less wood. The Hifadhi Project has saved 2,400 hectares of forest, reduced carbon emissions by 3.5 million metric tonnes in Kenya, planted a million trees and created 300 local jobs.

Registration for the next Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, scheduled for 5 April 2020, is now open on time to.

More information: www.schneiderelectricmarathondeparis.com

Press contact [email protected]

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