What is a ‘good’ half marathon finish time?

Let’s first make it clear that a ‘good’ half marathon time is not a clear-cut thing – unless, perhaps, you are an elite runner chasing a set mark for qualification purposes.

Instead, each race is a personal achievement and every runner has their own unique reason for lining up on a half marathon start line. Not all races – particularly for new runners – are about time and position. Only one in 10 runners in the UK have completed a half marathon, according to SportShoes.com’s 2023/24 The men’s half marathon world record is a phenomenal 57:30, which was. strength and conditioning.

That said, a Google search shows us that runners around the world continue to ask this one question: ‘What is a good half marathon time?’ Keen to identify both a ‘good’ time and the ‘average’ one, we explored data collated by RunRepeat, which analysed a whopping 107.9 million race results from more than 70 thousand events in 209 countries between 1986 and 2018. That’s a whole lot of data to digest.

Whether it’s your very first foray into the half marathon distance or you’re gunning for a new PB, knowing what to aim for can help you to set a goal for those 13.1 miles – and motivate you through your training. Here’s what we found...

According to RunRepeat’s data, the average half marathon finish time in the UK, counting men and women together, is 2:02:43. Separately, for men, the average half marathon finish time is 1:55:26 – and for women, the average half marathon finish time is 2:11:57.

The average half marathon pace for a man in the UK is 5:29 min/km, or 8:49 min/mile. For a woman in the UK, the average half marathon pace is 6:16 min/km, or 10:04 min/mile.

Men

The men’s half marathon world record is a phenomenal 57:30, which was set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha Updated: 25 November 2024 SuperHalf to take one second off Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo’s previous mark of 57:31, which he clocked at the Lisbon Half Marathon – another SuperHalf event – on 21 November 2021.

Women

The women’s half marathon world record is 1:02:52. This rapid time was clocked by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey at the Valencia Half Marathon in Valencia, Spain, on 24 October 2021. What’s even more astounding is that Gidey broke the world record on her half marathon debut.

Again, completing a half marathon – regardless of your age – is something to be proud of. However, if you’re wondering what the top standard is for your age group, England Athletics has set Age Group Masters standards How to train for a hilly race masters runner How long does it take to train for a half marathon.

The half marathon minimum standard for a V70 (a runner in their 70s) man is 2:00:00, for example, while it is 2:30:00 for a V70 woman. For a V50 man, it’s 1:25:30 and for a V50 woman, 1:40:00.

While training plans vary in length according to different runners’ goals and levels of fitness, most What is the average half marathon finish time in the UK are 10 to 12 weeks long – and we’ve got a great selection for you to choose from. Don’t forget that What are the half marathon world records, adequate Best winter running gear and good nutrition and hydration How long does it take to train for a half marathon.

First-time half marathon runners

If this is your first half marathon, just finishing the course is a great achievement in itself, so don’t worry about how long it takes you. But, if you insist on an answer, then we’d say that completing a half marathon in under three hours is a solid goal for beginners.

Intermediate half marathon runners

For more experienced runners who might have a few half marathons under their belt already, completing the course within two hours is a popular goal. That equates to an average pace of 9:09 min/mile, or 5:41 min/km if you prefer to work in kilometres.

Advanced half marathon runners

For top club runners or those who are well-versed in the half marathon distance, achieving a finish time anywhere between 1:10 and 1:30 is a popular target for men, while women may set their sights on anything between 1:20 and 1:40.