The 1924 Olympic Cross Country Course — Colombes, France

Total length of the course was 10,650 meters. What follows will be a breakdown of the race with visual markers, along with a modern day comparison.

The 1924 Olympic Stadium in Columbus, France, with perspective looking at the correct direction of where the 10K Cross-Country was headed. Note the nearby factory and river Seine in the background.

The first 400 meters started on the back practice field and ran onto the warm-up track.

Runners did a lap around the tennis courts and back along the practice field.

The first 1,860 meters was within the practice grounds, before exiting across Pierre de Coubertin Blvd.

Exiting the practice fields and crossing Pierre de Coubertin Boulevard

Athletes followed what is today known as Avenue Audra around the 1924 stadium parking and across Rue Paul Bert. (2,300 meters)

This wall was just beyond the crossing of Rue Paul Bert (2,300 meters)

A short uphill and downhill section following the wall crossing guided runners toward the tennis courts at 2,500 meters. Today there is a gymnasium on site — but the tennis courts are still present.

This turn around the tennis courts sent runners West, parallel with the Seine (2,800 meters)

After 3,000 meters, runners had to navigate an embankment that kept them toward the turnaround point which was at about 4,500 meters.

Crossing the embankment just before 4,000 meters.

This photo is prior to the embankment cross, parallel with what is today route A86 and the river Seine.

The turnaround point at 4,500 meters pushed runners away from the river Seine and toward Rue des Renouillers.

Runners then did one more loop around the gymnasium/tennis courts before heading back to the stadium, bypassing the wall on the way back.

Paavo Nurmi far ahead.

In the 1924 race, Nurmi extended his lead considerably after the 5,000 meter mark. After 9,000 meters, he crossed the road toward Rue Paul Bert.

Then back into the stadium from the East end, identical to where the athletes exited the practice field. They finished with 300 meters around the track.

Today, there are a number of paved roads (including freeway: A86) that have replaced the countryside around the stadium. The original roads are there to follow and create an identical 10.6 kilometer course, despite the new developments.