Marathon Pace Chart: Splits for 3:00 to 5:30 Finish Times
Marathon pace chart with per-km and per-mile splits for finish times from 3:00 to 5:30. Find the exact pace you need and 5K, 10K, halfway, and 30K checkpoints to hit your goal.
· 6 min read · Training
A **marathon pace chart** answers the one question that decides most marathons: *if I want to finish in X, what pace do I hold every kilometre — and what should the clock read at halfway?*
The table below uses the standard **42.195 km (26.219 miles)** distance. Splits assume even pacing on a flat course. On hills or in heat, run to even effort rather than even pace, and bank nothing early — the marathon punishes an aggressive first half more than any other distance.
Marathon pace chart (km and miles)
| Finish time | Pace per km | Pace per mile | | --- | --- | --- | | 3:00 | 4:16/km | 6:52/mi | | 3:15 | 4:37/km | 7:26/mi | | 3:30 | 4:59/km | 8:01/mi | | 3:45 | 5:20/km | 8:35/mi | | 4:00 | 5:41/km | 9:09/mi | | 4:15 | 6:03/km | 9:44/mi | | 4:30 | 6:24/km | 10:18/mi | | 4:45 | 6:45/km | 10:52/mi | | 5:00 | 7:07/km | 11:27/mi | | 5:30 | 7:49/km | 12:35/mi |
Checkpoint splits for common goal times
**4:00 goal (5:41/km)**
| Distance | Split time | | --- | --- | | 10 km | 56:53 | | Halfway (21.1 km) | 2:00:00 | | 30 km | 2:50:40 | | Finish (42.195 km) | 4:00:00 |
**4:30 goal (6:24/km)**
| Distance | Split time | | --- | --- | | 10 km | 1:04:00 | | Halfway (21.1 km) | 2:15:00 | | 30 km | 3:12:00 | | Finish (42.195 km) | 4:30:00 |
**3:30 goal (4:59/km)**
| Distance | Split time | | --- | --- | | 10 km | 49:47 | | Halfway (21.1 km) | 1:45:00 | | 30 km | 2:29:20 | | Finish (42.195 km) | 3:30:00 |
The single most reliable predictor of a good marathon is an even or slightly negative split. Aim to reach halfway on time or a few seconds slow, never fast.
How to pick a realistic marathon goal
Base your goal on recent fitness, not hope. A useful rule of thumb: your marathon time is roughly your recent half marathon time multiplied by **2.1 to 2.2** for a well-trained runner, and closer to 2.3 if your endurance base is thin.
The [race predictor](/tools/race-predictor) converts a recent half marathon or 10K into a marathon estimate. Compare that number against [average marathon time by age](/blog/average-marathon-time) and [good marathon time benchmarks](/blog/good-marathon-time) before committing.
For custom targets, the [marathon pace calculator](/tools/marathon-pace-calculator) handles any finish time, and the [race splits calculator](/tools/splits) builds a full checkpoint table for your exact goal.
Build the fitness behind the pace
A [marathon training plan](/plans/marathon) layers a weekly long run, one quality session, and steady easy mileage over 16 to 20 weeks. Most runners fade in the final 10 km not because they lack speed, but because they ran the first 30 km a few seconds per km too fast. Practising goal pace in training — and trusting it on race day — is what protects the finish.
For race-week pacing on other distances, see the [half marathon pace chart](/blog/half-marathon-pace-chart) and [10K pace chart](/blog/10k-pace-chart).
**Find races:** Browse [marathon races](/races/marathon) worldwide or filter [races this month](/races?datePreset=this-month) near you.