How do I calculate marathon splits?

Choose a marathon course or distance, enter your goal finish time, select kilometers or miles, and generate a split-by-split pacing plan.

Should marathon pace change on hills?

A hill-adjusted plan usually slows the target pace on climbs and allows faster splits on descents so the effort stays more even across the course.

What is an elevation-adjusted pace plan?

An elevation-adjusted pace plan uses the course profile to distribute effort by split instead of assuming the same pace for every kilometer or mile. The goal is to slow slightly on climbs, recover time on descents, and still hit your target finish time.

Sub-5:00 marathon pace

A sub-5:00 marathon means holding 7:07 per kilometre (11:27 per mile) for all 42.195 km. Build a split plan for your race below — grade-adjusted when the course has elevation data.

Finish time: 5:00:00
Halfway: 2:30:00
Per km: 7:07
Per mile: 11:27

Set a goal time to build your splits

Splits shaped by the course's climbs and descents
Even, negative, or positive split strategies
Send the plan straight to your watch

The goal

Running a sub-5:00 marathon

A sub-5-hour marathon is 7:07 per kilometre (11:27 per mile). For many first-time marathoners this is the goal, and the pace is slow enough that pacing discipline — not fitness — is usually the deciding factor.

The plan that works: start slower than goal pace for the first 5 km, settle into 7:00–7:05 per km, fuel every 30–40 minutes, and keep walk breaks short and scheduled rather than reactive.

The splits above assume even effort. To shape the plan around a course, pick your race on the calculator, or read the pacing strategy guide.

FAQ

Common questions

What pace is a 5-hour marathon?

A 5:00 marathon is an average of 7:07 per kilometre or 11:27 per mile, with an even-split halfway time of about 2:30:00.

How do I avoid hitting the wall in a 5-hour marathon?

Start conservatively, fuel early and regularly, and keep the first 10 km slower than goal pace. Most 5-hour attempts fall apart from going out too fast, not from lack of endurance.

More goals

Other pace targets

Sub-3:00 marathon4:16/km · 6:52/mi3:00 Sub-3:30 marathon4:59/km · 8:01/mi3:30 Sub-4:00 marathon5:41/km · 9:09/mi4:00 Sub-4:30 marathon6:24/km · 10:18/mi4:30