For my first marathon I wanted something big and beautiful, figuring a scenic course, lots of other runners, and crowd support and atmosphere would help get me around. Paris did not disappoint. I found the event very well organized, picking up my race number at the expo the day before was easy and quick, the aid stations were well stocked and on a scorching day they had fire hoses and sponge stations every 5km to cool down. 

Being a large race there were a lot of people on course and it did get crowded in places and the aid stations were a bit chaotic, the orange peels all over the ground were slippery, so look out for them. The crowd support and music was intermittent, not as much as I had expected but still lots of people out calling your name and encouraging you in places. They also had very few porta potties in the corals, there were more outside but once in the corals only a very limited number, and I'm not someone who usually uses or comments on portapotties.

I would do this race again. The course was nice, mostly flat, and quite scenic and the organisation really set it apart.