Preparing for the 2026 Nice-Cannes Marathon: 42 km facing the sea

A point-to-point course, two bumps

Start on the Promenade des Anglais, finish on the Croisette: the route follows the sea almost continuously. The only two difficulties are the climbs of Cap d'Antibes around the 20th and 28th kilometre, short but badly timed.

Total climbing stays modest, around 120 metres, but the second bump comes when the legs start to stiffen. The plan answers with 2-to-3-minute hill repeats in the last six weeks.

Autumn heat and sea wind

In early November on the Côte d'Azur, it can be 20 °C at the 8 a.m. start. The plan schedules two long runs in light kit with water every 20 minutes, to test what you tolerate.

The sea wind is unpredictable: head-on along a straight, it costs dearly on a course with no shelter. The instruction: low end of the pace range into the wind, never catching up.

Managing a point-to-point race

Unlike a loop, you never pass the same spot twice: no landmark to compare your two halves. The watch becomes your only judge. Schedule the plan's "Race" session with its pace range per segment.

• — 2-to-3-minute hill repeats, weeks 7 to 12.
• — Two long runs in light kit, water every 20 minutes.
• — Climb instruction: + 15 s/km, descent at target pace, never faster.

The pacing rule: first three kilometres at target pace plus 10 seconds, target pace afterwards, plus 15 seconds on each Cap d'Antibes climb without making it up on the descent.

Frequently asked questions