Average Half Marathon Time

Written by Noleen Arendse

The average half marathon time across all ages and genders is 1:50:15. Men will typically finish a half marathon in around 2:00 and women, 2:20. However, this does depend on your level fitness, your training and your running experience. 

Use our average half marathon time charts to see how your half marathon time compares to runners of a similar age and ability.

average half marathon time

Table Contents

Average half marathon time by age for women

The average half-marathon time for women across all ages and abilities is 2:00:12. This is considered to be a good half-marathon time.

To run a half marathon in 2:00:00, use this half marathon pace chart

 

Novice – A regular runner for at least 6 months. Might have completed shorter races like 5Ks.

Intermediate – A regular runner for at least 2 years. Has completed longer races such as 10Ks.

Advanced – A regular runner for over 5 years. Has completed many races and events.

Age

Novice

Intermediate

Advanced

Elite

20

2:19:51

2:01:07

1:46:54

1:36:14

25

2:18:48

2:00:12

1:46:06

1:35:30

30

2:18:50

2:00:14

1:46:07

1:35:32

35

2:20:08

2:01:22

1:47:07

1:36:25

40

2:23:24

2:04:11

1:49:37

1:38:40

45

2:28:54

2:08:57

1:53:49

1:42:27

50

2:37:06

2:16:03

2:00:05

1:48:06

55

2:46:55

2:24:33

2:07:36

1:54:51

60

2:58:03

2:34:12

2:16:06

2:2:31

65

3:10:47

2:45:13

2:25:50

2:11:16

70

3:25:28

2:57:56

2:37:04

2:21:23

75

3:42:36

3:12:47

2:50:09

2:33:10

A good half marathon time for women is 2:00:12 (average half marathon time female).

Average half marathon time by age for men

The average half marathon time for men of all ages and abilities is 1:43:33. This is considered a good half marathon time.

Age

Novice

Intermediate

Advanced

Elite

20

2:01:11

1:43:33

1:30:33

1:20:59

25

2:01:11

1:43:33

1:30:33

1:20:59

30

2:01:11

1:43:33

1:30:33

1:20:59

35

2:01:51

1:44:08

1:31:03

1:21:26

40

2:04:59

1:46:48

1:33:24

1:23:32

45

2:10:09

1:51:13

1:37:15

1:26:59

50

2:15:49

1:56:04

1:41:30

1:30:47

55

2:22:01

2:01:21

1:46:07

1:34:55

60

2:28:48

2:07:09

1:51:11

1:39:27

65

2:36:16

2:13:32

1:56:46

1:44:26

70

2:44:31

2:20:35

2:2:56

1:49:57

75

2:55:49

2:30:15

2:11:23

1:57:31

The average time to run a half marathon for men is 1:43:33. This is a good half marathon time.

Average half marathon time by age for girls

The average half marathon time for girls between 10 and 15 years of age is about 2:10 to 2:30. This depends on their age, fitness, physical development and level of training.

Age

Novice

Intermediate

Advanced

10

2:54:11

2:30:51

2:13:09

15

2:31:46

2:11:26

1:56:01

The average half marathon time by age for girls can be between 2:10 to 2:30. This would be a good half marathon time.

Average half marathon time by age for boys

The average half marathon time for boys between the ages of 10 and 15 years is between 1:45 and 2:00 depending on their physical development, level of fitness and training.

Age

Novice

Intermediate

Advanced

10

2:25:01

2:03:56

1:48:22

15

2:05:30

1:47:15

1:33:47

The average time to run a half marathon for boys - ages 10 to 15 years - will be between 1:45 and 2:00. This would be considered a good half marathon time.

How long is a half marathon?

A half marathon covers a distance of 13.1 miles or approximately 21.1 kilometers. It’s exactly half a marathon which is 26.2 miles or 42.2 kilometers.

To run a half marathon distance on a standard athletics track, you would need to run approximately 53 laps. 

If you are planning to run a half marathon, make sure that you eat enough before the race. For meal and snack ideas, read what to eat before running plus what to eat while running

A half marathon is 13.1 miles or 21.1km.

What is the average time to run a half marathon?

The average time to run a half marathon is 1:50:15. This is for runners of all ages, abilities and genders. However, in general, for males is about 2:00:00 and the average half marathon time female is about 2:20:00 depending on their average pace of running.

These numbers can vary significantly among individuals. Exceptionally trained and experienced runners may complete the race in under 1:30, while others might take over 3 hours to finish.

The average time to run a half marathon is 1:50:15.

What is a good half marathon time?

A good half marathon time for men 1:43:33. This is a pace of 7:54 per mile or 4:54 per kilometer and an average speed of 7.6 mph or 12.2 kph.

A good time to run a half marathon for women is around 2:00:12. This is a pace of approximately 9:09 per mile or 5:41 per kilometer and an average speed of 6.6mph or 10.5 kph.

Achieving the above times is generally considered an accomplishment in the half marathon distance.

A good half marathon time for men is 1:43:33 and for women it's 2:00:12.

What is a good time for your first half marathon?

A good time for your first half marathon can be anywhere from 2:30 – 2:45 for men and 2:45 to 3:00 for women. 

When running your first half marathon, set a goal to complete the distance rather than focusing solely on achieving a specific time goal.

The main goal for new runners is to build endurance, gain experience, and become familiar with the race distance. By focusing on completing the half marathon, you can enjoy the experience, pace yourself appropriately, and learn valuable lessons about pacing and race strategy.

Focus on maintaining a comfortable and sustainable pace throughout the race, listening to your body, and enjoying the journey.

Finishing your first half marathon is a significant accomplishment in itself, no matter the time it takes. Once you have more experience and confidence, you can gradually work towards improving your time in future races.

A good time to finish a half marathon for a beginner can be anywhere from 2:30 to 3:00. A key goal for a beginner is to focus on finishing the race.

What is a good time for intermediate half marathon runners?

A good half marathon time for men who are intermediate runners can be from 1:43 to 2:10. For women, 2:00 to 2:30 is generally a good time. 

Intermediate runners have a solid foundation in distance running. It’s important to note that individual times can still vary based on factors such as training intensity, natural ability, and overall health. 

However, it’s good to set these times as a benchmark to track your progress and to help you achieve your goals. Intermediate runners will be focusing more on pace, metrics and the time to complete the half marathon. 

A good time to run a half marathon for intermediate runners can be from 1:43 to 2:10 for men. For women, 2:00 to 2:30 is generally a good half marathon time.

How long does it take to train for a half marathon?

The length of time you need to train for a half marathon can vary depending on several factors. This includes your current fitness level, running experience, and the training plan you choose to follow. Generally, a typical training program for a half marathon lasts between 8 to 12 weeks.

For runners who already have a base level of fitness and running experience, an 8-week training plan can be sufficient to prepare for a half marathon. This timeframe allows you to gradually increase your mileage by incorporating long runs, tempo runs, speed work, as well as adequate rest and recovery days.

If you are new to running or have a lower fitness level, it may be beneficial to follow a longer training plan of 12 weeks or even more. This will allow you to progress gradually without the risk of injury or burnout.  You’ll also experience several health benefits while training to run a half marathon, including weight loss. For more on this, read Calories burned running a half marathon.

To prepare for your half marathon, keep these key factors in mind to prevent injuries:

  • Gradually increase the mileage
  • Always warm up and cool down properly
  • Get yourself a pair of good running shoes
  • Give yourself enough time to rest and recover
  • Eat a nutritious diet that gives you plenty of fuel and stay hydrated

It can take between 8 - 12 weeks to train for a half marathon depending on your level of fitness and running experience.

How to predict your half marathon finish time?

Predicting your half marathon finish time can be a challenge as it depends on factors such as your current fitness level, training consistency, race conditions, and your running experience.

However, there are a few methods you can use to estimate your potential finish time:

Training runs and time trials: During training, perform a few time trials or longer training runs at a similar intensity and distance as a half marathon. Record your time and effort during these runs, so that you can get an idea of your current fitness level and make an estimate of your potential finish time.

 

Progression from shorter distances: If you’ve previously run shorter distances like 5K or 10Ks, you can use your performance in those races as a basis for estimating your half marathon time. 

Training pace and effort levels: Monitor your training pace and effort levels during your half marathon training. This can also give some indication of your potential finish time. If you consistently train at specific paces (easy, moderate, tempo, etc.) and maintain a certain effort level, you can use that to estimate your race performance.

Follow a pace chart and splits: Use a pace chart or splits for a few training runs to help you pace yourself to complete the distance within your goal time. 

While it can be challenging to predict your time, doing a few training runs, monitoring your pace and effort as well as your times for shorter distances can give you an estimate of your half marathon finish time.

FAQs

The average female half marathon time is about 2:00. This depends on the individuals fitness level and running experience.

If you are an experienced runner, aim to run a half marathon in under 2:00. For novice runners, a time of 2:30 is a good goal.

Aim to run a pace of 6:52 min per mile (4:16 min per km). This will help you complete a half marathon in 1 hour 30. 

It’s not recommended to run a half marathon without training as there’ll be a high risk of injury or other health conditions. It’s best to follow a training program before completing your first half marathon.

To run a half marathon in less than 2 hours, you need to maintain a pace that’s slightly faster than 9:09 min per mile or 5:41 min per km. 

Overall Summary

  • The average half marathon time is 1:50:15 which is a good half marathon time
  • Men will complete a half marathon in about 2:00 or less
  • The average half marathon time for women is about 2:20