Marathon Pace Chart: Mile & KM Splits for Every Goal Time

Looking to snag a new PR or just trying to figure out what pace converts to what finishing time? We/ve got a complete marathon pace chart in miles and KM pacing.  Translate your pace to your goal time or your goal time to the average pace you need to run.

Marathon Pace Chart: Mile and Kilometer Splits

Use this marathon pace chart to find the average pace per mile or kilometer you’ll need to hit your goal marathon finish time. We’ve also included key race splits so you can quickly check whether you’re on pace from the start through 26.2 miles. (more detailed charts below)

The following charts includes your split times for 5K, 10k, Half and full races. You can also use this to guide your goal pace based on how you’ve done in past races.

Whether you’re trying to find a 6 hour marathon pace or a 3:51 marathon pace we’ve got it all and more.

One of the toughest pieces of marathon training is dialing in our finish time goal. For new runners this is often going to be in line with your long run easy pace, while experienced runners are going to hone in on a time over the course of their 12-16 week training plan.

How to Use a Marathon Pace Chart?

The first column is your pace, the following columns are the total clock time you’ll have at each checkpoint (known as splits) to reach your goal finish time.

Option 1: Goal Finish Time

You can start by figuring out your desired target time for an upcoming race and then work backward to the target pace. Just remember you are NOT running that pace for all runs. Instead, it’s what you’ll be using in goal pace workouts and can guide your faster speed work sessions as well.

Option 2: Current Pace Translates To What Finish

Or you can take a look at your current long-run pace and use that to see how long a marathon will take you to run.

If you don’t have a target finishing time, you can use your finishing times from prior races (such as a 10k) to approximate a target marathon finishing time. However, it’s important to note that distance training will most probably be needed to keep the same pace over a longer distance.

Remember these marathon pace charts are not taking in to account any specific type of course (hilly, lots of turns, hot, snowy). It’s truly assuming you’ll find that average pace from mile 1 to mile 26.2.

Marathon Pace Chart By Goal Finish Time

The following paces are providing an average mile time. Find your goal finishing time, to see the goal pace.

Example: If you want to finish a marathon under 6 hours you’ll see that a 13:40 pace is the goal. Or if you find that you are doing long runs at an easy 8:20 per mile pace, you’ll likely be aiming closer to 7:20 for race pace.

Marathon Pace Chart by Kilometer Splits

For our friends outside of the US, let’s talk about your kilometer pace to predict your marathon finish time.

The following chart uses avg KM time to find your marathon finish time.

No matter what your marathon finishing time goal is, these charts should help you find your pace. They have stopped at just under 7 hours because that is the cut off for the majority of races now.

However, if you know that it will take you longer to walk a marathon don’t let it discourage you!

There are some with longer cut offs and plenty of ways to keep building on your endurance to meet these cutoffs. As a running coach, I’ve helped many runners get through that fear of not finishing with a good training plan!

I love the marathon pace table because it makes it so easy to see how a little shift in pace can have a big impact on your marathon finish times. I mean 10 seconds could mean the difference between running a sub four hour marathon and running just over it!

Marathon Pace by Goal Finish Time

Not sure what marathon pace you need to hit your goal? Here are some of the most common marathon finish times with the average pace per mile and kilometer needed to get there.

Remember, these numbers assume perfectly even pacing for all 26.2 miles. Your actual mile splits may vary based on hills, weather, aid stations, and your race day pacing strategy.

What Pace Is a 3 Hour Marathon?

To run a 3 hour marathon, you’ll need to average about 6:52 per mile or 4:16 per kilometer.

Your halfway split would be approximately 1:30:00 if you’re running even splits. For most runners chasing a sub 3 marathon, the goal isn’t to bank time early. Starting controlled and settling into goal pace can help you save that harder effort for the final miles.

What Pace Is a 3:30 Marathon?

To run a 3:30 marathon, you’ll need to average about 8:01 per mile or 4:59 per kilometer.

An even split would put you through the halfway point at approximately 1:45:00. Don’t worry if individual miles are a few seconds faster or slower, especially on a rolling course. Focus on maintaining the right effort rather than forcing every mile to land at exactly 8:01.

What Pace Is a 4 Hour Marathon?

To run a 4 hour marathon, you’ll need to average about 9:09 per mile or 5:41 per kilometer.

Your halfway split would be 2:00:00 with even pacing. A sub 4 marathon is a common goal, but that doesn’t mean you should start running 9:09 pace the moment you cross the start line. Giving yourself a few miles to settle in can help prevent starting too fast when race day adrenaline is high.

What Pace Is a 4:30 Marathon?

To run a 4:30 marathon, you’ll need to average about 10:18 per mile or 6:24 per kilometer.

That puts your halfway split at approximately 2:15:00. If you’re using a run walk strategy, your running intervals may be faster than 10:18 pace since your overall average also needs to account for walking breaks.

What Pace Is a 5 Hour Marathon?

To run a 5 hour marathon, you’ll need to average about 11:27 per mile or 7:07 per kilometer.

Your halfway split would be approximately 2:30:00. Remember that your average pace includes time spent walking through aid stations, taking bathroom breaks, or slowing down to fuel, so it’s helpful to practice your race day routine during long runs.

What Pace Is a 5:30 Marathon?

To run a 5:30 marathon, you’ll need to average about 12:35 per mile or 7:49 per kilometer.

An even split would have you reaching halfway at approximately 2:45:00. At this pace, fueling and hydration become especially important because you’ll be on the course for more than five hours. Your marathon pace plan should include not just how fast you’ll run, but also when you’ll fuel and take fluids.

What Pace Is a 6 Hour Marathon?

To run a 6 hour marathon, you’ll need to average about 13:44 per mile or 8:32 per kilometer.

Your halfway split would be approximately 3:00:00. Many runners at this pace successfully use planned run walk intervals, which can help manage fatigue and keep your effort more consistent throughout the race.

No matter which goal time you’re chasing, remember that a marathon pace chart gives you the math, not necessarily the perfect race strategy. Use these numbers as a guide alongside your training, the course profile, race day weather, and how your body is feeling.

How to Pick a Realistic Marathon Goal Pace

A marathon pace chart can tell you exactly what pace you need to run for a certain finish time. What it can’t tell you is whether that goal is realistic for your current fitness.

Your marathon goal should be based on more than the time you’d like to run. As a coach, I want runners to look at their recent race results, long runs, marathon pace workouts, training consistency, and the course they’re planning to race.

A recent half marathon can also give you a useful starting point, highly preferred over a 10K time. Two runners with the same half marathon time can have very different marathon results based on weekly mileage, fueling, recovery and race day.

I also recommend looking at race day conditions before locking yourself into one exact pace. Heat, humidity, hills, wind, or altitude can all make your planned marathon pace harder to maintain.

If you’re still trying to decide what finish time to target, use our guide to choosing a realistic race goal before selecting your pace from the chart above.

Best Marathon Pacing  Strategy

Learning how to do proper pacing is one of the most important things to do your best on race day. A steady even pace from start to finish is the best way to achieve a Personal Best (PB) or finish the race feeling strong for most races. This is one of the top reasons why a marathon pace chart can be of great help!

Checkout some of our marathon guides to help you put it all together:

• Marathon Pacing Strategy
• Marathon Fueling Strategy
• How long to train for a marathon
• What to Eat Before a Marathon
• What to Wear for a Marathon (for all temps)

What Pace