Half Marathon Pace Chart – Target Splits & Speeds

A 2-hour half marathon requires a pace of 5:41 per kilometer (9:09 per mile). This is one of the most common half marathon goals and is achievable for most runners with consistent training. You would need to run each 5K split in approximately 28:25.

A 1:30 (90-minute) half marathon requires a pace of 4:16 per kilometer (6:52 per mile). This is a competitive goal that puts you in the top 15-20% of half marathon finishers. Each 5K split needs to be around 21:20.

A good half marathon time for a beginner is typically between 2:00 and 2:30. The average half marathon finish time is around 2:05. For your first half marathon, focus on maintaining a comfortable, conversational pace and finishing strong rather than chasing a specific time.

Most half marathon training plans are 10-12 weeks long. If you can already run 5K comfortably, you can prepare for a half marathon in about 10 weeks. If you are starting from scratch, allow 16-20 weeks to build up your base fitness first. Aim to run at least 3-4 times per week during training.

Yes, many runners use a run-walk strategy during half marathons. A popular method is to run for 4-5 minutes and walk for 1 minute. This can help you finish with less fatigue and often produces faster finish times than trying to run the entire distance. Most half marathons have generous cutoff times of 3-4 hours.

You can estimate your half marathon time by multiplying your 10K time by 2.22. For example, a 50-minute 10K suggests a half marathon time of about 1:51. Another method is to add 10-12 minutes to double your 10K time. These are estimates — use our pace chart above to plan your exact splits.