Semi-Marathon de Saint-Witz.
The Saint-Witz Half Marathon is a measured French federation half on the northern fringe of the Paris region, run as two laps on roads linking Saint-Witz, Plailly and Vémars. A good day here depends on running the climb out of Plailly well twice and keeping enough in hand for the second lap.
Saint-Witz Half Marathon 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are in Saint-Witz, a small town on the slopes of the Montmélian hill above the Plaine de France, about 25 km north of Paris where the Val-d'Oise, Oise and Seine-et-Marne meet. The lap runs on tarmac through villages, fields and woodland: first north-east and some 60 m down into Plailly, then from about km 3.5 nearly a kilometre at around six percent back up, before crossing open country south to Vémars and returning past the lakes on gently rising roads towards Saint-Witz.
Just after ten kilometres the course climbs back into the village centre, where an extra aid station marks the start of the second, identical lap. That brings the climb out of Plailly round again near km 14, this time on tired legs. Overall the course gathers a little over 250 m of ascent; the organiser quotes 228 m.
March 2027 brings the 45th edition, run by a local Saint-Witz association. With the 10.3 km, the 5 km, a walk and children's races, the organiser counts more than 2,000 participants each year. The race starts on a Saturday afternoon from the Gymnase Pierre Salvi, which also provides bag drop, showers and physiotherapists.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 3.5 | 0.9 km | 5.9 % | 11.4 % | +53 m | — |
| km 10.3 | 0.7 km | 3.7 % | 5.4 % | +25 m | — |
| km 14.3 | 0.9 km | 5.9 % | 11.4 % | +53 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Saint-Witz Half Marathon.
Start under control
The first two kilometres stay high and then drop into Plailly. Hold back here: the descent makes you quick, and right after it comes the steepest stretch of the lap. Run the climb from km 3.5 by feel, let the pace go for that kilometre and find your rhythm again on the field roads towards Vémars.
Hold your rhythm
The second lap decides the race. The run back up into the village centre around km 10 is a short, shallow rise that costs more than it looks, and the first lap has already shown you what returns at km 14. Go through the first lap too fast and the second Plailly climb takes back more than you banked.
Spend what is left
The organiser's four pacers are a useful guide, but not on the climbs: let a gap open there and close it again on the long, gently rising road back from Vémars.
Training plan for Saint-Witz Half Marathon: 12-week build
Build the base
Most runners will finish this half in between 1:30 and 2:30. The effort is steady and aerobic but broken up on each lap by a real climb and a longer descent, so it is rolling rather than flat.
Train race pace
The key sections are the two climbs out of Plailly, the second of them at around 14 km. Build your long runs on rolling routes and deliberately place a short, steep climb in their second half, so you learn to stay smooth uphill when tired.
Rehearse the course
Threshold sessions at half-marathon pace with hills built in help you settle back to race pace quickly after a climb. Because the two laps are identical, you can treat the first as a reference: practise the changes of pace in training that you plan to use on lap two.
Arrive fresh
The race is held on a Saturday afternoon in March, on open field roads between the villages. Train through the winter in wind and cool conditions as well, and test your kit for an afternoon start when temperatures can still swing.
Courses
Download the Saint-Witz Half Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Semi-Marathon de Saint-Witz dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Semi-Marathon de Saint-Witz.
How long is Saint-Witz Half Marathon?
Saint-Witz Half Marathon is 21.1 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Saint-Witz Half Marathon have?
Saint-Witz Half Marathon has around 258 m of elevation gain over 21.1 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Saint-Witz Half Marathon?
Saint-Witz Half Marathon is classified as Rolling, averaging 12.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 32% of the route is flat, 30% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 2% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Saint-Witz Half Marathon have?
The hardest climb of Saint-Witz Half Marathon starts at kilometre 3.5, runs for 0.9 km at an average of 5.9% and gains 53 metres. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Saint-Witz Half Marathon a loop course?
Yes, Saint-Witz Half Marathon is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Saint-Witz Half Marathon course?
Yes. The Saint-Witz Half Marathon course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Saint-Witz Half Marathon?
Preparation for Saint-Witz Half Marathon should account for 21.1 km, 258 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Saint-Witz Half Marathon?
The pacing strategy for Saint-Witz Half Marathon should reflect 21.1 km, 258 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Semi-Marathon de Saint-Witz take place?
Semi-Marathon de Saint-Witz takes place on March 20, 2027.
Where does Semi-Marathon de Saint-Witz take place?
Semi-Marathon de Saint-Witz takes place in Saint-Witz, France.
Which distances does Saint-Witz Half Marathon offer?
Saint-Witz Half Marathon offers 3 distances — Semi-Marathon de Saint-Witz: 21.1 km; Les 3 Villages 10,3 km: 10.3 km; Circuit de Saint-Witz 5 km: 5 km.
How do I register for Saint-Witz Half Marathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: semi-marathon-saint-witz.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
