Half Marathon Pace Chart: Goal Times and Splits

Use this half marathon pace chart to find the pace per kilometre and per mile you need for any finish time from 1:30 to 3:00, along with your 5K, 10K and 15K split times. For example, a 2-hour half marathon needs about 5:41 per km (9:09 per mile), which takes you through 10K in roughly 56:53.

Below you will find the full chart in 5-minute steps, mile-marker splits for popular goals, a quick lookup that turns a pace into a finish time, and simple advice on choosing a goal and holding an even pace. Every figure assumes an evenly paced race over the official 21.0975 km (about 13.1 miles), rounded to the nearest second.

How do you read a half marathon pace chart?

Find your goal finish time in the left-hand column, then read across. The pace per km and pace per mile columns tell you how fast each kilometre or mile needs to be on average. The 5K, 10K, halfway and 15K columns are checkpoint times: where your clock should be as you pass each marker if you are running evenly.

Every number comes from one simple sum: goal time divided by 21.0975 km. Paces and splits are worked out from the exact pace and then rounded to the nearest second, so multiplying a rounded pace by the distance can land a few seconds away from the finish time. That is normal, and it will not matter on the day.

If you are new to racing, you do not need to hit every kilometre to the second. Treat the splits as a guide that tells you whether you are on track, a little quick or a little slow, then adjust gently rather than surging to catch up.

What pace do you need for each half marathon finish time?

Here is the full chart, from 1:30 to 3:00 in 5-minute steps. The two most popular goals, 2:00 and 2:30, are highlighted. If your goal sits between two rows, pick a pace between the two.

A few things stand out. A sub-2 needs slightly quicker than 5:41 per km or 9:09 per mile, so many runners aiming for it target something like 5:35 to 5:38 per km on their watch to leave a small buffer (more on why below). A 2:30 finish works out at about 7:07 per km, and a 3:00 finish is about 8:32 per km, a pace that plenty of first-timers reach with a mix of running and short walk breaks.

Notice that the halfway split is always exactly half your finish time. That makes it the easiest checkpoint to remember: if you want 2:10, you want to pass halfway in about 1:05.

What are the mile splits for popular half marathon goal times?

Many UK half marathons mark the course in miles, and some show kilometres as well, so check your race information before the day. If your race uses mile markers, these checkpoint times are easier to read at a glance than kilometre splits.

Mile 10 is a useful moment to check in with yourself. If you pass it on schedule and still feel in control, the last 3.1 miles is where you can start to push. If you are behind, do not try to win it all back in one mile. Small, steady gains over the final 5K are far easier to hold.

What finish time will your current pace give you?

Sometimes it helps to work backwards. If you have a pace in mind, say from a recent race or a race-pace session in training, this table shows the finish time that pace gives you if you hold it evenly for the full 21.0975 km.

Working in miles instead? Holding 8:00 per mile gives about 1:44:53, 9:00 per mile gives about 1:57:59, 10:00 per mile about 2:11:06, 11:00 per mile about 2:24:12 and 12:00 per mile about 2:37:19.

This also shows why small changes matter so much over 13.1 miles. Every 10 seconds per km adds or takes off about 3.5 minutes over the race, and every 10 seconds per mile is worth a little over 2 minutes. So a few seconds per km either side of your target really does add up by the finish.

How do you pick a realistic goal time from the chart?

The chart only helps if the goal is right. A goal that is too ambitious tends to fall apart in the second half, while a realistic one lets you finish strong and enjoy it.

Start with a recent result. As a very rough guide, many runners find their half marathon pace ends up somewhere around 10 to 20 seconds per km slower than a recent, all-out 10K pace, depending on how much longer running they have done. If your longest runs are still fairly short, expect to be at the slower end. If you have not raced before, our half marathon time predictor walks through realistic first-time finish times.

Then sense-check it in training. If you can run several kilometres at your goal pace inside a long run and it feels controlled rather than desperate, the goal is probably in the right place. If goal pace feels like a real struggle after 3 or 4 km, choose a slightly slower row.

For a first half marathon, it is fine to have two goals: a target time, and simply finishing feeling good. A relaxed first race gives you an honest benchmark to chase next time.

Why is even pacing the best way to use this chart?

Every row in the chart assumes even pacing, meaning roughly the same speed from start to finish. Most coaches recommend even splits, or a slightly faster second half (a negative split), because it spreads your effort and energy across the whole race.

The classic mistake is banking time. Say you are aiming for 2:00 and run the first 5K at 5:26 per km instead of 5:41 because you feel fresh. You are about 75 seconds up at 5K, but going out that hard often costs far more than 75 seconds later on, when your legs tire and the pace drifts. Here is a simple way to stay disciplined:

• Start to 5K: run at goal pace or a few seconds slower. Crowds and adrenaline make it feel easy, so check your pace often.
• 5K to 15K: settle into goal pace and use the chart's checkpoints to stay on track.
• 15K to the finish: if you feel good, start to squeeze the pace a little. This is where an even first half pays off.

For more on hills, wind, negative splits and when to take gels, read our full guide on how to pace a half marathon.

Why does your watch say you ran further than 13.1 miles?

Official courses are measured along the shortest route a runner could legally take, cutting every corner as tightly as possible. Measurers also add a tiny safety margin, roughly 21 metres on a half marathon, so the course is never short. In a real race you weave around other runners, take corners wide and drift across the road, and GPS has small errors of its own, so most watches end up reading a little over 13.1 miles.

That gap matters for pacing. At 2-hour pace, every extra 0.1 mile on your watch is worth close to a minute. If your watch says you are bang on 9:09 per mile but you actually cover 13.25 miles, you will finish over 2 hours. Two easy fixes:

• Compare your elapsed time with the chart's splits at the official 5K, 10K and 15K markers (or the mile markers), rather than trusting your watch's distance.
• If you prefer to run off your watch's pace, aim a few seconds per km quicker than the chart pace to cover the extra distance.

How do you make a simple pace band for race day?

A pace band is just your key splits written down where you can see them. Making your own takes a couple of minutes:

• Pick your row from the chart above.
• Write the 5K, 10K, halfway and 15K split times (or your mile 3, 5, 8, 10 and 13 times) on a strip of paper or masking tape.
• Wrap it round your wrist or stick it to your watch strap.
• At each marker, compare your time with the band. The race clock usually starts when the race begins, so if you crossed the start line a few minutes later, use your watch's elapsed time instead.

How do you practise your goal pace before race day?

Knowing your pace on paper is one thing. Feeling it is another. The best way to learn goal pace is to practise it in small doses, then build up:

• Start with short blocks inside a normal run, such as 3 x 2 km at goal pace with easy running in between.
• Over the weeks, build to longer blocks, such as 2 x 5 km at goal pace, or the last 5 to 8 km of a long run at goal pace.
• Keep most of your other runs genuinely easy, so you arrive at these sessions fresh.
• Many runners also add one or two short strength sessions a week, which can help the legs feel more robust in the later miles.

This is where Edge fits in. Edge Pro gives you a fully personalised plan for your race, with your running, strength, HIIT and mobility in one week rather than spread across separate apps. Your plan is ready within 24 hours, and you can message a real coach anytime to talk through your target pace. Edge is free to download, and Edge Pro is from £19.99 a month with a 7-day free trial (you will need a card to start it).

What if you are training for a full marathon next?

The same maths works for 26.2 miles, but pacing a marathon is a different challenge, with fuelling and the final 10K playing a much bigger part. If a marathon is on your list, our marathon pace chart has goal times and splits for the full distance.

This article is general guidance, not medical advice. If you are new to exercise, returning from injury, or managing a health condition, speak to your GP before starting, and see a physio for any niggle that does not settle.