Marathon Pace Chart: Splits for Every Finish Time

Here is the full marathon pace chart. Find your goal finish time, then read across for your pace per kilometer, your pace per mile, and your even-split halfway target.

Finish	/km	/mi	Halfway
2:45	3:55	6:18	1:22:30
3:00	4:16	6:52	1:30:00
3:15	4:37	7:26	1:37:30
3:30	4:59	8:01	1:45:00
3:45	5:20	8:35	1:52:30
4:00	5:41	9:09	2:00:00
4:30	6:24	10:18	2:15:00
5:00	7:07	11:27	2:30:00

Marathon pace chart (the table)

The chart above is built on even pacing. That means you run the same pace the whole way. The "Halfway" column is the time you should pass the 21.1 km mark if your pace is steady.

Each row works like this:

• /km is the pace you hold for every kilometer.
• /mi is the same pace in miles.
• Halfway is your check-in time at the halfway point.

For example, a 4:00:00 marathon is 5:41 per kilometer (9:09 per mile), and you should reach halfway at about 2:00:00.

Pick the finish time you have trained for. If you are not sure what that is yet, predict it first — there is a free tool at the end of this guide.

How to use it on race day

Race morning is loud and exciting. That is the danger. Most runners start too fast.

Here is the simple plan:

1. Know your pace. Write your /km or /mi pace on your hand or set it on your watch.
2. Start slow, not fast. Run the first few kilometers at your goal pace or a touch slower. Never faster.
3. Check at halfway. Compare your time to the "Halfway" column. If you are well ahead, ease off.

Do not try to "bank time" by going out fast. It does not work. Runners who start 5 to 10% too fast burn their fuel early and hit the wall between miles 18 and 22 (RunnersConnect, 2024). The seconds you save early cost you minutes late.

Even vs negative split targets

There are two smart ways to pace a marathon.

Even split. You run both halves at the same speed. This is the simplest plan and the one the chart is built on. A systematic review of marathon pacing found that steady, even pacing is linked to the best results for most runners (Sha et al., 2024).

Negative split. You run the second half a little faster than the first. This is the gold standard, but it is harder to do. Research shows runners who finish faster than they start tend to post better times and feel better doing it (Grivas, 2025).

For a negative split, pass halfway 30 to 60 seconds slower than the even-split time in the chart. Then speed up if you feel strong in the last 10 km. Either way, the rule is the same: do not go out fast.

Predict your realistic finish first

A pace chart only helps if you pick the right row. Guess too high and the chart sets you up to blow up.

Enter a recent race and let PIRX project your real marathon finish — free, no signup, no watch. Then use the matching row above to pace your race.

PIRX's proprietary machine-learning prediction engine learns your style instead of using one fixed formula. It shows a supported range for your marathon, so you pick a goal row you can actually hold to the line.

This is what makes PIRX different. Strava tells you what you did. Garmin shows your data. PIRX tells you why it happened and what's next — with validated prediction accuracy of 98% across PIRX users.

New here? Start with the complete guide to predicting your race time. Want the right long-run pace? Read what pace your long run should be. Not sure your goal fits your training? Check is my goal time realistic. When you are ready, predict your finish below.

Sources

• Sha, J., Yi, Q. & Jiang, X. (2024). Pacing strategies in marathons: a systematic review. Heliyon.
• Grivas, G.V. (2025). The physiology and psychology of negative splits: optimal marathon pacing. Frontiers in Physiology.
• RunnersConnect (2024). Marathon pacing: the 10-10-10 method (Starting 5–10% too fast empties fuel early and causes the wall at miles 18–22.)
• The Running Channel (2024). How much time should you bank in a marathon? (The most effective plan is an even split — start at or slightly slower than goal pace.)