Even pacing is the most efficient way to run a marathon. Knowing your target pace per kilometre or mile, and the time you should pass each marker, keeps you from going out too fast.
How to use the Marathon Pace Calculator
- Race
- Custom distance
- I know my
- Finish time, hours
- minutes
- seconds
- Pace, minutes
- seconds
- Pace unit
- Speed
Results update as you type, every field has its own unit menu, and everything is calculated in your browser.
How it works
Choose the race distance and whether you know the finish time, the pace or the speed.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Race | Choose one: 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m … |
| Custom distance | Units: km, mi, m, yd |
| I know my | Choose one: Finish time, Pace, Speed |
| Finish time, hours | A number |
| minutes | A number |
| seconds | A number |
| Pace, minutes | A number |
| seconds | A number |
| Pace unit | Choose one: per km, per mile |
| Speed | Units: km/h, mph, m/s |
What each result means
- Finish time = [Seconds per metre]×[d]
- Pace per km = [Seconds per metre]×1000÷60
- Pace per mile = [Seconds per metre]×1609.344÷60
- Speed = 1÷[Seconds per metre]
- Split at 5 km = [Seconds per metre]×5000
- Split at 10 km = [Seconds per metre]×10000
- Split at halfway = [Seconds per metre]×[d]÷2
- Split at 30 km = [Seconds per metre]×30000
- Split at 40 km = [Seconds per metre]×40000
Formula
Pace = time ÷ distance · Speed = distance ÷ time · Split at distance x = pace × x
Worked example
Inputs: Race: Marathon; I know my: Finish time; Finish time – hours: 3; minutes: 59; seconds: 0.
Results: Finish time = 3:59:00; Pace per km = 5:40; Pace per mile = 9:07; Speed = 10.59 km/h; Split at 5 km = 28:19; Split at 10 km = 56:39; Split at halfway = 1:59:30; Split at 30 km = 2:49:56; Split at 40 km = 3:46:34.
Key terms
- Split
- Elapsed time at a point in the race.
Frequently asked questions
What pace is a 4-hour marathon?
About 5:41 per km or 9:09 per mile.
What pace is a sub-3 marathon?
4:16 per km or 6:52 per mile.
Should I run even splits?
Even or slightly negative splits are usually fastest.
How long is a marathon?
42.195 km (26.2 miles).
Sources
Guides on this topic
- Running Pace Guide: Calculate, Convert and Predict Your Race Times: One 25-minute 5K, followed through every pace calculation runners use: per-mile and per-km conversion, splits, race prediction, training zones and treadmill speeds.