Half marathons are a great distance for those who are new to longer runs and want to push themselves a little harder. They’re also a brilliant option for longer-distance runners who have tried a 10k and want to build up to marathons and ultramarathons (or perhaps an Ironman) as part of their training.
As part of SportsShoes’ annual running report, 3,000 people from around the UK were surveyed to find out more about their relationship to running. The results found that the interest in half marathons continues to rise, with 11% of those surveyed having completed or are training for a half marathon.
A half marathon is a long distance. Very long indeed. Completing it in any time is an impressive feat. If you do it quickly, your body will have been under more stress, but if you do it at a slower pace, you’re running for a much longer time and are on your feet for longer. Either way, it’s an impressive feat.
But if you’re starting out with training for a half marathon and aren’t quite sure what to aim for or where the yardsticks are (clue: it’s different for everyone), here are some suggestions and guidance to get you started.
How far is a half marathon?
A half marathon distance is 13.1 miles, or 21.1 kilometres – half of the full marathon distance of 26.2 miles, or 42.195 kilometres.
The distance (and concept of a marathon) comes from a story from Ancient Greece, and the first marathon was completed as one of the first Olympic events in 1896 in Athens, Greece.
The concept of a half marathon emerged in the latter half of the 20th century, with the first race hosted in 1961: the Route de Vin Half Marathon in the wine-making region of Luxembourg.
Should you aim for a specific time in a half marathon?
It turns out, not everyone cares about their speed and consistency. 1 in 5 runners don’t time their runs at all, according to the SportsShoes running report.
But if you’re interested in working towards a “good” time, sussing out your splits, or even just getting an idea of some averages, we’re here to help.
Remember though – some half marathons are harder than others, with huge elevation and challenging terrain. These will be a great challenge, but perhaps won't provide the best opportunity for a PB. Find out more about the UK's toughest half marathons here.
What’s a “good” half marathon time?
We dug into some data from RunRepeat’s impressive The State of Running report from 2019, the biggest study of race results in history.
What’s the average half marathon finish time?
According to RunRepeat’s data, the average half marathon finish time in the UK across genders is 2 hours 2 minutes and 43 seconds. For men in the UK, the average half marathon finish time is 1:55:26 – and for women, the average half marathon finish time is 2:11:57.
What’s the average running pace for a half marathon?
The average half marathon pace for men in the UK is 5:29 min/km, or 8:49 min/mile. For women, the average half marathon pace is 6:16 min/km, or 10:04 min/mile.
What are the records for the half marathon?
The current men’s half marathon world record is a leg-aching 56 minutes and 42 seconds, set by Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda in February 2025. The women’s world record is not far behind, at 1 hour 2 minutes and 52 seconds, set by Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia in October 2021.
So, let's be honest, none of us are trying for a world record here.
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- Inside Britain’s most remote ultramarathon – the race accessible only by boat or foot
Top image credit: Getty Images
