Paris Texas Marathon, featuring the Paris Pair Challenge
Saturday, September 18, 2027
About The Race
Located in northeast Texas, Paris, Texas, this race takes place on the NETT Trail, a rails-to-trails conversion route. The trail is a mix of asphalt trail, soft ground, gravel trails and some bridge crossings. This is a flat and fast course. It’s like a road race with a trail vibe!
All distances start and end at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas/Love Civic Center and are an out and back on the NETT Trail, going east of Paris.
Run a race in the morning, at night, or both! Run Paris, y’all!
Events
- 100K (AM Start)
- 50K (AM Start)
- Marathon (AM Start)
- Half Marathon (AM and PM)
- 10K (AM Start)
- 5K (AM and PM)
Location
Love Civic Center
2025 S Collegiate Dr
Paris, TX 75460
Click here for the exact location. (Opens Google Maps in new tab.)
Paris, Texas is located approximately 90 minutes northeast of Dallas, TX, 90 minutes west of Texarkana, less than 20 minutes south of the Oklahoma/Texas border and three hours south of Tulsa, OK. It is close to Greenville, Sulphur Springs, Bogata, Clarksville, Denison and Sherman, TX.
Race Schedule
Friday Afternoon/Saturday Morning
Friday
3:30 – 6 p.m. Pre-race day Packet Pick up*
Saturday
5:00–8:15 AM Morning packet pick up*
5:45 AM 100K Pre-Race Briefing
6:00 AM 100K Race Starts
6:45 AM 50K/Marathon Pre-Race Briefing
7:00 AM 50K/Marathon Race Starts
7:15 AM Half Marathon Pre-Race Briefing
7:30 AM Half Marathon Race Starts
7:45 AM 10K Pre-Race Briefing
8:00 AM 10K Race Starts
8:15 AM 5K Pre-Race Briefing
8:30 AM 5K Race Starts
* There is no hard cutoff for daytime races, except for the 2 a.m. cutoff for the 100K and all PM races. If you are also running a PM race, you must finish your AM race before the PM races start at 6 PM.
* All packet pickups will be held at the Love Civic Center.
Saturday Evening
5:30-7:15 PM Afternoon packet pick up
6:45 PM Half Marathon Pre-Race Briefing
7:00 PM Half Marathon Race Starts
7:15 PM 5K Pre-Race Briefing
7:30 PM 5K Race Starts
Runners in PM races must have a headlamp
Important cutoff times
6:30 PM 100K runners must be past the Turnaround aid station (Mile 39.3)
10:30 PM 100K runners must leave for their final loop (Mile 52.4)
2:00 AM Cut off for 100K and all other races
Course
All races will be out and back on the NETT Trail. Moving along the path east of Paris, the first nine miles is asphalt. Beyond that point, the trail changes to a hard-packed gravel trail.
Runners in the AM Marathon (26.2) and both AM and PM Half Marathon (13.1), 10K and 5K will run the trail once. All runners will run half their distance and then turn around and head back to the finish line.
Runners in the PM Marathon will run the Half Marathon course twice. This will keep our runners closer together and provide an atmosphere that is safer and more fun for all.
Portable toilets will be located at the start/finish, and we will place one at the Blossom Aid Station. In addition, portable toilets are permanently placed along the NETT. We do not have exact mile markers, but one is near the Reno Aid Station.
Read Frequently Asked Questions
50K runners:
First, complete the marathon course: 13.1 miles from Start to Turnaround point, then 13.1 miles back to the Start/Finish aid station.
For your final mileage, run 2.45 miles from Start/Finish to the turnaround point, and then 2.45 miles back to the Finish Line
100K runners:
Complete the Marathon Course twice (26.2 x 2); returning to Start/Finish aid station both times
For your final mileage, run 4.85 miles from Start/Finish to the turnaround point, and 4.85 miles back to Finish Line
Aid Stations
IMPORTANT: All runners in all distances must carry a hydration device (i.e. Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder) to participate in the race.
This is a cupless race. We do not provide cups to participants. However, we sell a rubber reusable collapsable cup for $5 each that can be purchased when you pick up your race packet.
Aid stations will have volunteer support. In addition to Water and Gatorade, we will stock the aid station with bananas, oranges, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, Oreos, fig cookies, soda, Salt Stick and much more.
Runners in the Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K and 100K will hit aid stations twice or at the turnaround points. 10K and 5K runners will not hit an aid station.
Aid Station Locations
- Mile 4 (Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K and 100K runners will pass 2x on each loop)
- Mile 8.5 (Marathon, 50K, 100K runners will pass 2x on each loop)
- Mile 13.1 (100K, 50K, Marathon AM)
- Start/Finish (For runners in the 50K and 100K)
Pacers
We will only allow pacers in the 100K race. Pacers will only be allowed in the final out and back (approximately 10 miles). Pacers will be asked to check in with the race director when they arrive and sign a waiver form.
Drop Bags
Drop bags can. be left at the start/finish area for runners in any distance. A place will be set up near the aid station for easy access.
On the course, we will deliver drop bags to the Blossom aid station. This is primarily for 100K runners, but anyone in the longer distance can choose to have a drop bag. Runners in the 100K will pass the Blossom aid station four times, and runners in the 50K and Marathon will pass the aid station twice. Runners in other distances will not pass this aid station.
- Drop bags should be a reasonable size and weight — “shoebox size” is recommended. Drop bags should also not be fragile, leak or require special handling.
- Drop bags must be left at packet pick up on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning before 5:45 a.m. Any drop bags left after this time will not be delivered to the aid station.
- Drop bags will be returned to the start/finish when the Blossom aid station shuts down, around 9 p.m. on Saturday. If you want your bag before the aid station shuts down, you will need to drive to Blossom to pick it up.
- Drop bags will not be mailed to runners.
Lodging and Camping
Lodging
We have negotiated a special deal with the Hampton Inn and Homes2Suites in Paris, TX, providing our participants with a 12% discount. To use the discount, you can call the hotel and state that you qualify for the “Lamar County Chamber” discount, or, book online using the links below, select “special rates” and include the code “0003309707” in the corporate account box.
Hampton Inn: 3563 NE Loop 286, Paris, TX 75460, 903.784.6536
Home2Suites: 3143 NE Loop 286, Paris, TX 75460, 430.900.1337
Camping
Car, tent, and limited RV camping will be available at the Start/Finish at the Love Civic Center.
For RV and tent camping, reserve a spot ahead of time campspot.com.
Awards/Medals/Shirts
Registration and Refund Policy
We understand that things come up. If you can no longer run the race, if you cancel more than 30 days in advance, you will receive 100% race credit for another Blaze Trails Running event. If you cancel between 30 days and two weeks prior to race day, you will receive 50% race credit towards another Blaze Trails Running event. We will not allow any refunds or transfers less than two weeks before race day. No exceptions.
To cancel, log into Ultrasignup > Registration History and select “Edit” to cancel your race. Your credit needs to be used within one year. If you need an extended time to use your credit due to medical reasons (including pregnancy) or military deployments, please reach out ahead of time.
Bib transfers to another runner are allowed up until the two weeks prior to the race only if the race has not sold out and there is no waitlist. If you are interested in transferring your bib to a friend, please contact us immediately. It is very important for the safety of all runners that we have the correct contact and medical information. If the shirt order has already been placed, your friend agrees to accept the shirt size that you ordered. A $15 administration fee (plus transaction fee) will be charged to the person who is accepting the bib transfer. We require transfers to be completed no later than two weeks prior to the race. This allows us to keep our focus on producing the event and other important race details during the race week. If you contact us in the last two weeks to ask for a transfer, we will not reply and the transfer is not allowed. No exceptions.
When you register, you acknowledge that we do not provide a refund if we are forced to cancel the race due to unforeseen circumstances that risk the safety of our participants due to conditions that are out of the race director’s control. This may include, but is not limited to flooding, lightning or any other weather condition that makes the course unsafe for participants.