Marathon pace chart

How to use the marathon pace chart?

Whether you’re aiming for a 3 hour marathon or a six hour finish, the easiest way to achieve your target finishing time is to follow our marathon pace chart.

This shows you the marathon running pace you need to be doing each mile or kilometer in to hit your target time.

It couldn’t be easier to use the chart. If you’ve got a target finishing time, then scroll down to find it on the marathon pace chart. You’ll then find the pace you need to run and the times you need to hit at 5km, 10km, 15km, 20km, half marathon distance, 25km, 30km, 35km, 40km and at the finish line to reach your goal – or even dip under it.

What’s included in the marathon pace chart?

We’ve included all the splits you need to hit, whatever your target time. Well, almost - we haven’t included the times for a 2-hour marathon pace.

A common goal is to run 42.2km in 4 hours. If that’s your target, then scroll down the chart to find the 4-hour marathon pace. You’ll see that you need to run 5:41 per kilometer (or 9:09 minute miles). That means you’d pass through the half marathon mark in 1:59:00.

Similarly, many fast runners want to break the 3-hour mark. A 3-hour marathon pace is 4:15 minutes per kilometer, or 6:51 minutes per mile, which means you’d reach halfway at 01:30:00.

Of course, there are many different goal times for the marathon, not just 3 or 4 hours. That’s why we’ve included every target time from 3 hours up to 6 hours, so you can find the perfect pace for you.

Get ready, set… Let’s train!

Whatever your goal time, remember that marathon training is a process – and a huge achievement that deserves to be celebrated! So, get out there and enjoy it. If you need more Run Happy tips along the way, check out the Run Happy Blog for ideas, advice and inspiration from our experts.