HOKA, a division of Deckers Brands, announced a major six-year partnership with Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris, the largest half marathon in the world, which is held each March in Paris.
The 21.0975 km urban race has taken place in the heart of the French capital every year since 1993. As one of the first races of the year, the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris kick starts events in the French sporting calendar. Last year’s event saw over 48,000 runners take part, with the race attracting more and more participants each year.
The unique race route celebrates the beauty and history of the French capital, with the race starting from the banks of the Seine, on boulevard Saint-Germain, passing historic landmarks including Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Château de Vincennes, Hotel de Ville, rue de Rivoli and place de la Bastille. With thousands of supporters cheering runners throughout the city, the event delivers an unforgettable experience to those who have the chance to take part.
The event is the ideal opportunity to welcome newcomers to the distance to explore the city in a whole new way, with a huge number of participants taking on the half marathon for the first time. This year, 44 percent of the whole peloton discovered the distance for the first time. The number of beginner runners on the half marathon distance is growing each year: in 2023, 41 percent discovered the half marathon distance on the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris. Most importantly, the number of women discovering the half marathon distance is increasing each year. They were 51 percent in 2024 and 48 percent in 2023.
The race also attracts those who are looking to set new records and achieve incredible performances on the fast course through the center of Paris.
HOKA aims to provide participants and local Parisians with an outstanding race experience over the weekend, with unforgettable experiences on the expo village and along the course, keeping runners and supporters entertained throughout. HOKA will support participants in their preparation for the event, whether they are training for their first half-marathon or chasing their PB through regular training sessions in the lead up to the event and through the brands footwear assortment of innovative running and racing styles designed for every level.
All participants will also receive an exclusive co-branded t-shirt from the event.
“We are proud to announce HOKA’s major partner sponsorship of the Semi de Paris, one of the most iconic events in the European running calendar” said Guido Geilenkirchen, VP and GM, HOKA EMEA. “This partnership reflects our commitment to empowering athletes of all abilities to fly and we look forward to welcoming runners to the start line in March as they take on this incredible challenge in one of the most inspiring cities in the world”.
“We are proud to welcome HOKA as a major partner of the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris,” said Amaury Sport Organisation CEO, Yann Le Moenner. “Our ongoing commitment has always been to promote sports in everyone’s daily life, a vision we share with HOKA. Founded in France in 2009 and now present on a global scale, this dynamic and innovative brand offers high-performance products for runners. We are excited to write the next chapter of the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris together, with increased visibility and international resonance, while continuing to innovate to support runners in achieving their goals.”
The Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris takes place on Mar. 9, 2025. An exclusive HOKA x Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris co-branded collection will be available to purchase from the HOKA expo.
