• 10k
• Europe
• France
• Half Marathon
• Marathon
• Normandy
• Paris
• Running
• Spring 2021

The D-Day Marathon & Half Marathon – Normandy D-Day Beaches & Paris  

77th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

Please Visit the 2022 D-Day Marathon Tour

Dates are tentative.   Please contact us for details.

We will see many WWII historical sites and we will learn the personal stories (sometimes triumphant, sometimes tragic) of those who helped to win freedom for France and the World.  Whether you are a history buff, or you have had your interest piqued by a movie or tv show, you will find this tour immensely rewarding.  Our guide gives you the necessary background information plus the in-depth, personal stories to make the D-Day Landing Beaches come to life.

After Normandy, we will head back to Paris, our favorite city!  Paris has many must-see sights, but it also has so much more for those of us who like to immerse ourselves in the neighborhood culture.

If this is your first visit to Paris, we will give you time to visit some of the iconic landmarks: impressionist art at the Musee d’Orsay, Monet’s Water Lilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre… the list goes on and on!

But, we will also slow down and give you a feel of the “real” Paris – cute neighborhood shops, the many parks and gardens where you can just relax with a baguette for lunch, or the outdoor cafe where you can sit with a glass of rosé and just watch Parisian life go by.

Some of the highlights of this tour^*:

Our two days with our private guide in Normandy is an obvious highlight — there is nothing like standing on the sandy beaches in awe of what our soldiers accomplished and sacrificed.

In Paris, we have a delicious, private wine-tasting dinner planned.  We will be pairing French wine with a multi-course meal, all while picking the brain of our host and sommelier!

We have one “introduction to Paris” and a Parisian food tour on tap.  We’ll explore the “locals” Paris with our guide and learn the history and “hidden gems.”  We will find delightful shops, quaint restaurants, and open-air markets which will make Paris feel like your local hangout.  Then, we will explore the many French food delights!  Pastries, cheese, chocolate, bread, pâté, and more!

The Races:

The D-Day Landings Marathon (Marathon de la Liberté) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  You will run along the famous beaches and battle sites of the Normandy Landings (Juno and Sword Beaches, the Casino d’Ouistreham, Pegasus Bridge, etc.) making your way to the finish line in Caen.  The Pegasus Half Marathon, named after the famous bridge from which it sets off, was the first bridge liberated by British soldiers from the 6th Airborne Division.  You will wind your way through quaint villages and the idyllic French countryside to the finish in Caen.

Other Race Options:

4-person marathon relay (approximately 10km for each person) is a great way to experience the full marathon, but with much less training!   🙂

10km through the city of Caen with 5,000 local runners!

La Rochambelle, a 5km women’s walk/run in aid of the fight against breast cancer.  (This event is Saturday evening – please contact us for details.)

(^* – Subject to change)

Additional information