Marathon Pace Calculator
Get the even-pace splits you need to hit a marathon or half-marathon goal time.
About the Marathon Pace Calculator
Enter your goal time and choose the race. The calculator gives the pace per km and per mile, your halfway time, and a table of the elapsed time you should see at every 5 km or every mile.
Even pacing, or running the second half only slightly faster (a negative split), is the most efficient way to race long distances. Use these splits on your watch or a pace band, and allow a little extra for crowded starts and water stations.
The formula
Pace = goal time ÷ race distance
- Marathon
- 42.195 km (26.2 miles)
- Half marathon
- 21.0975 km (13.1 miles)
Worked example
A sub-4-hour marathon (goal 3:59:59)
- 3:59:59 ÷ 42.195 km = 5:41 per km (9:09 per mile)
- Splits: 10 km at 0:56:52, 20 km at 1:53:45, 30 km at 2:50:37, 40 km at 3:47:30
- Halfway at 2:00:00
Things to keep in mind
- Even splits only. For a planned negative split use the Running Split Calculator.
- Hilly courses and hot days need a slower plan.
Questions people ask
Should I bank time early?
No. Going out too fast usually costs more time later than it gains.
What about the race being long on my GPS?
Courses are measured on the shortest line; most runners cover 0.5–1% more, so aim a few seconds per km quicker.
What pace is a 3:30 marathon?
4:59 per km, or 8:01 per mile. Enter any goal time to see its splits.