Marathon Pace Calculator

Calculate your target marathon pace and plan your race day strategy. Whether you're aiming for a 3-hour marathon, a Boston qualifier, or simply want to finish strong, our pace calculator helps you determine the exact pace per mile and kilometer you need to maintain.

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Understanding Marathon Pacing

Proper pacing is one of the most critical factors for marathon success. Running too fast early in the race can lead to hitting the wall, while starting too conservatively might leave you with energy you never used. A well-planned pace strategy helps you maintain consistent splits throughout all 26.2 miles and achieve your goal time.

The key to successful marathon pacing is understanding your target finish time and breaking it down into manageable per-mile or per-kilometer splits. This calculator does exactly that—simply enter your goal marathon time, and it will show you the pace you need to maintain throughout the race.

How to Use This Marathon Pace Calculator

Select your unit of measurement: Choose between miles or kilometers based on your preference
Choose your distance: Select Marathon (or any other race distance from 5K to custom distances)
Enter your goal time: Input your target finish time in hours, minutes, and seconds, or select from popular goal times
View your pace: Instantly see the pace per mile or kilometer you need to maintain

Marathon Training and Pacing Strategy

Training at Different Paces

Successful marathon training involves running at various paces:

Easy runs: 60-90 seconds slower than marathon pace
Marathon pace runs: Practice your target race pace during long runs
Tempo runs: 10-30 seconds faster than marathon pace
Interval training: Significantly faster than race pace for speed development

Race Day Pacing Tips

Start 10-15 seconds slower than your target pace for the first 2-3 miles
Settle into your goal pace by mile 5
Focus on maintaining even splits throughout the race
Save energy for a strong finish in the final 10K

Common Marathon Pace Goals

Here are some popular marathon finish times and their corresponding paces:

Finish Time	Pace per Mile	Pace per Kilometer
2:30:00	5:44	3:33
3:00:00	6:52	4:16
3:30:00	8:00	4:58
4:00:00	9:09	5:41
4:30:00	10:18	6:24
5:00:00	11:27	7:07

Frequently Asked Questions

Marathon Pace FAQs

How long is a marathon?

A marathon is 26.2 miles or 42.195 kilometers (often rounded to 42.2 km). This distance has been standardized since the 1908 London Olympics and is the official marathon distance recognized worldwide.

What pace is a 3:00 marathon?

To run a 3-hour marathon, you need to maintain a pace of 6:52 per mile or 4:16 per kilometer. This is a common goal time for experienced marathoners and is often required for Boston Marathon qualification in several age groups.

What pace is a 3:30 marathon?

A 3:30 marathon requires a pace of 8:00 per mile or 4:58 per kilometer. This is a popular goal time for intermediate runners and qualifies many age groups for the Boston Marathon.

What pace is a 4:00 marathon?

To finish a marathon in 4 hours, you need to run at 9:09 per mile or 5:41 per kilometer. This is one of the most common goal times for first-time marathoners and recreational runners.

What pace is a 4:30 marathon?

A 4:30 marathon requires maintaining 10:18 per mile or 6:24 per kilometer. This is an achievable goal for many first-time marathoners who have trained consistently.

What pace is a 5:00 marathon?

To complete a marathon in 5 hours, you need to maintain 11:27 per mile or 7:07 per kilometer. Many marathons have a 6-hour time limit, so a 5-hour finish provides a comfortable buffer.

Half Marathon Pace FAQs

How long is a half marathon?

A half marathon is 13.1 miles or 21.1 kilometers—exactly half the distance of a full marathon.

What pace is a 1:30 half marathon?

To run a 1:30 half marathon, you need to maintain 6:52 per mile or 4:16 per kilometer.

What pace is a 1:45 half marathon?

A 1:45 half marathon requires 8:00 per mile or 4:58 per kilometer pace.

What pace is a 2:00 half marathon?

To finish a half marathon in 2 hours, maintain 9:09 per mile or 5:41 per kilometer.

10K Pace FAQs

How long is a 10K?

A 10K is 6.2 miles or 10 kilometers.

What pace is a 40-minute 10K?

To run a 10K in 40 minutes, you need to maintain 6:26 per mile or 4:00 per kilometer.

What pace is a 50-minute 10K?

A 50-minute 10K requires 8:03 per mile or 5:00 per kilometer pace.

What pace is a 1-hour 10K?

To finish a 10K in 1 hour, maintain 9:39 per mile or 6:00 per kilometer.

5K Pace FAQs

How long is a 5K?

A 5K is 3.1 miles or 5 kilometers.

What pace is a 20-minute 5K?

To run a 5K in 20 minutes, you need to maintain 6:26 per mile or 4:00 per kilometer.

What pace is a 25-minute 5K?

A 25-minute 5K requires 8:03 per mile or 5:00 per kilometer pace.

What pace is a 30-minute 5K?

To finish a 5K in 30 minutes, maintain 9:39 per mile or 6:00 per kilometer.

General Running and Pacing FAQs

What is a good marathon pace for beginners?

For beginner marathoners, a realistic goal is typically between 4:30 and 5:30 (10:18 to 12:35 per mile). The most important thing is to choose a pace you can sustain for the entire 26.2 miles. It's better to start conservatively and finish strong than to start too fast and struggle in the later miles.

How do I maintain my pace during a marathon?

To maintain your pace during a marathon: 1) Use a GPS watch to monitor your pace in real-time, 2) Check your splits at each mile marker, 3) Run with a pacer group if available, 4) Practice your race pace during training runs, 5) Stay mentally focused and avoid getting caught up in the excitement at the start, and 6) Fuel and hydrate consistently to maintain energy levels.

What's the difference between race pace and training pace?

Race pace is the speed you plan to maintain during an actual race to achieve your goal time. Training pace varies depending on the type of workout: easy runs should be 60-90 seconds slower per mile than marathon pace, tempo runs are typically 10-30 seconds faster than marathon pace, and long runs are usually done at easy pace with some marathon-pace segments. Most of your training should be at easy pace to build endurance without risking injury or burnout.