Marathon Poitiers-Futuroscope: Course, Route Profile & Map

Course & Elevation

The start is on Place du Maréchal Leclerc in the heart of Poitiers, and the first two thirds of the race are two loops of roughly 13.6 km that bring you back through that square at about 13.6 and 27.3 km, which is where the relay teams hand over. Our profile of the organiser's 2027 route keeps these loops mostly between 110 and 130 m, with a few short dips of 20 to 25 m on each lap.

After the second pass through the centre the course leaves the old town for good. Around km 28 to 29 it drops about 40 m to the lower ground north of the city, and the last 13 km run at roughly 65 to 90 m, with small rises but nothing steep, via the Bonillet roundabout (the final relay exchange, 6.5 km out) to the finish at Futuroscope in Chasseneuil-du-Poitou. In total we measure about 280 m of climbing and slightly more descent, since the finish sits lower than the start.

The race is a big regional occasion: around 2,000 marathon runners share the day with 4,000 on the half and 250 relay teams, and every marathon entry comes with two tickets for the Futuroscope park, handed out with the bib. Refreshments come every 5 km, with extra water points from km 30.

Pacing Strategy

Treat the two city loops as the controlled part of the race. They are never steep, but the repeated short dips and rises break the rhythm, so pace them by effort and let the watch fluctuate by a few seconds per kilometre instead of forcing an even split through every rise.

The second pass through Place du Maréchal Leclerc at about 27 km is the psychological trap: crowds, relay changeovers and the sense that the hard part is over. It is not. The drop off the plateau just afterwards invites a surge; take the descent relaxed and use it to recover rather than to bank time.

The last 13 km are the fastest and flattest ground of the day, and that is where the race is decided. If you arrive at km 30 with fuel on board and your breathing under control, this is where to hold or even lift the pace; if you overcooked the loops, this long, open run to Futuroscope is where it will show.

Training plan for Marathon Poitiers-Futuroscope: 12-week build

Most age-group runners will be out for between three and five and a half hours, the time limit, as a steady aerobic effort. The course is not hilly, but the first 28 km roll constantly, so it asks for a runner who can absorb short gradient changes without spiking the heart rate.

The backbone is the usual marathon block: weekly long runs building to 30-35 km, plus marathon-pace segments of 8-15 km. Put some of those long runs on gently rolling roads rather than a flat riverside path, so the legs get used to small, frequent climbs and descents over three hours.

The race is decided in the last 13 km on flatter ground, so practise finishing long runs with the final 8-10 km at goal pace or slightly quicker. That trains exactly what this course rewards: holding pace late, after the rolling loops have taken their toll.

With an April date, most of the preparation falls in winter and early spring. Rehearse your race-day fuelling on long runs, taking something every 5 km as the aid stations allow, and plan how you will get from the finish at Futuroscope back to Poitiers.