France
Annecy Lake Marathon 2027
Sunday 18 April 2027 · expected date
177 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 18 April 2027
- Expected date
- Start
- 08:30
- local time
- Course
- Flat · Out and back
- Le Pâquier, Annecy lakefront to Le Pâquier, Annecy lakefront
- Total climb
- 78 m
- First held
- 1980
The organisers haven’t announced the 2027 date yet. It follows the usual pattern (a Sunday in mid-April); check the official website before you book travel.
The race
About the Annecy Lake Marathon
The Annecy Lake Marathon is one of France's longest-running marathons, first held in 1980 and organised by the Annecy Haute-Savoie Athlétisme club. Its 45th edition, in April 2026, drew more than 15,000 participants across the weekend's races, with marathon places raised to 5,500.
The appeal is simple: a flat out-and-back along the shore of Lake Annecy, with mountains rising on both sides of the water. Kenyan and Ethiopian runners have won most recent editions, so the front of the race is fast. It suits runners chasing a spring time on a flat course and anyone who wants a scenic marathon without hills.
Course
The Annecy Lake Marathon course
The race starts and finishes at Le Pâquier, the lawns on the Annecy lakefront, with a few passages through town. From there it follows the cycle path along the west shore of the lake through Sevrier and Saint-Jorioz, past the Marais de l'Enfer wetland, to Duingt, and turns at Doussard at the southern end of the lake before coming back the same way. The course is flat, with only about 78 m of total climb, which makes it well suited to fast times. The out-and-back format lets you see the leaders on their way back. The cycle path is narrower than a road, so start in the pen that matches your goal.
Race-day weather
Mid-April mornings in Annecy are usually cool, around 5-11°C at the start, with mild afternoons and a chance of showers.
Train
Training for the Annecy Lake Marathon 2027
25 weeks to go. A marathon plan runs 12 to 24 weeks and ends on race week. Here is when each one starts.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 2 November 2026 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 30 November 2026 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 28 December 2026 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 25 January 2027 |
For this course
A mid-April race means your build-up runs through the winter. If you live in the mountains, look for flat routes for your marathon-pace work, since the race itself has almost no climbing. Lakeside mornings can be cold at the start, so practise running in light layers you can remove. On an out-and-back, a breeze along the lake helps you one way and slows you the other: in training, practise holding effort, not pace, into a headwind.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Annecy Lake Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Registration is online. As an FFA-labelled race, it asks runners without an FFA licence for a PPS (Pass Prévention Santé, valid for one year), and licence holders for their FFA licence. Marathon places were capped at 5,500 in 2026. The organiser's website was being rebuilt in autumn 2026, so check it for the 2027 date and registration opening.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by Annecy Haute-Savoie Athlétisme
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Annecy Lake Marathon 2027?
The Annecy Lake Marathon 2027 is expected on Sunday 18 April 2027: the race is usually held on a Sunday in mid-April. Check the official website before you book travel.
When should I start training for the Annecy Lake Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 28 December 2026, a 20-week plan on 30 November 2026. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Is the Annecy Lake Marathon course flat?
Yes. It follows the cycle path along the west shore of the lake, with about 78 m of total climb.
Does the marathon go all the way around the lake?
No. It is an out-and-back along the west shore, turning at Doussard at the southern end of the lake.
Do I need a medical certificate?
Under FFA rules, runners without an FFA licence need a PPS (Pass Prévention Santé), done online and valid for one year. Licence holders use their licence.
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