Half Marathon Pace Calculator

A half marathon pace calculator helps runners determine how fast they need to run each mile or kilometer to achieve a specific finish time. It converts a goal time into a per-mile or per-km pace, and can also work in reverse — turning a target pace into a projected finish time. It's an essential planning tool for race day strategy.

Choose whether you want to calculate by goal finish time or target pace, then enter your values and select your preferred unit (miles or kilometers). The calculator instantly shows your required pace per mile, pace per km, halfway split, and key mile checkpoints at miles 3, 6, 9, and 12.

A half marathon is 13.1094 miles or 21.0975 kilometers. To find your pace per mile, divide your total finish time (in seconds) by 13.1094. To find pace per km, divide by 21.0975. The result is your required time per mile or km to hit your goal. Each split is then calculated by multiplying that pace by the distance at each checkpoint.

A good half marathon time varies by age and fitness level. The average recreational runner finishes in roughly 2 hours to 2:30. Competitive club runners often aim for under 1:45, while elite athletes finish well under 1:10. Any finish time you set as a personal goal is a good time — what matters is consistent training and proper pacing.

The splits table shows your cumulative time at each mile checkpoint during the race. The 'Split Time' column shows how long that individual segment takes, while 'Cumulative Time' shows your total elapsed time at that point. Use these to decide when to take gels, when to push the pace, and whether you're on track for your goal.

To finish a half marathon in exactly 2:00:00, you need to run at a pace of approximately 9:09 per mile (5:41 per km). Your halfway split should be around 1:00:00. Maintaining even splits or a slight negative split (running the second half marginally faster) is the most effective strategy for hitting this goal.

Most sports scientists and experienced coaches recommend negative splits — running the second half slightly faster than the first. Starting conservatively preserves glycogen stores and reduces the risk of hitting the wall. Even splits are also effective, but running the first half too fast is the most common pacing mistake in half marathons.

As of 2024, the men's half marathon world record is 56:42, set by Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda in 2021, equating to a pace of approximately 4:19 per mile. The women's world record is 1:02:52, set by Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia in 2021. These serve as the absolute ceiling for half marathon performance.