Average Marathon Time by Age & Gender
The average marathon finish time is about 4 hours 35 minutes across all runners — roughly a 10:29 per mile pace, or 5.7 mph. Men average around 4:21 and women around 4:48. These figures come from aggregated results across hundreds of thousands of finishers and have stayed relatively stable over the past decade. See how your own time ranks with the pace & percentile calculator.
Average Marathon Time by Age Group & Gender
| Age Group | Men | Men Pace | Women | Women Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All ages | 4:21 | 9:57/mi | 4:48 | 10:59/mi |
| 18-24 | 4:24 | 10:04/mi | 4:52 | 11:08/mi |
| 25-29 | 4:15 | 9:44/mi | 4:42 | 10:45/mi |
| 30-34 | 4:14 | 9:41/mi | 4:40 | 10:41/mi |
| 35-39 | 4:18 | 9:50/mi | 4:44 | 10:50/mi |
| 40-44 | 4:23 | 10:02/mi | 4:50 | 11:04/mi |
| 45-49 | 4:31 | 10:20/mi | 4:58 | 11:22/mi |
| 50-54 | 4:40 | 10:41/mi | 5:09 | 11:47/mi |
| 55-59 | 4:50 | 11:04/mi | 5:22 | 12:17/mi |
| 60-64 | 5:04 | 11:36/mi | 5:38 | 12:53/mi |
| 65+ | 5:26 | 12:26/mi | 5:58 | 13:39/mi |
Aggregated from RunRepeat and MarathonGuide analyses of global marathon results. Pace columns are computed from each average finish time over 26.2 miles.
Average Marathon Speed
The average marathon runner moves at about 5.7 mph (9.2 km/h) over the full 26.2 miles. For reference, a 5:00 marathon is about 5.2 mph, a 4:00 marathon about 6.6 mph, a 3:30 about 7.5 mph, and a 3:00 marathon about 8.7 mph. Elite men average over 13 mph for the full distance.
What Percentile Is My Marathon Time?
Marathon percentiles tell you what share of finishers you would beat with a given time. A 50th-percentile finish means you are faster than half the field. A sub-3:00 marathon typically places you in the top 5% of all finishers, sub-3:30 around the top 15%, and sub-4:00 around the top 30%. The pace calculator estimates your exact percentile from your finish time and distance.
Marathon Time FAQ
What is the average marathon time?
The average marathon finish time is about 4 hours 35 minutes across all runners. Men average around 4:21 and women around 4:48, based on aggregated data from hundreds of thousands of race results. That works out to roughly a 10:29 per mile overall pace.
What is the average marathon time by age and gender?
Marathon times are fastest for runners aged 25-34 (men ~4:14, women ~4:40) and gradually slow with age. By 60-64, men average about 5:04 and women about 5:38. Across every age group, men finish roughly 25-30 minutes faster than women on average.
What is the average marathon time for women?
The average marathon time for women is approximately 4 hours 48 minutes, or about an 11:00 per mile pace. Women aged 25-34 are the fastest group, averaging around 4:40.
What is the average marathon pace per mile?
The average marathon pace is about 10:29 per mile (6:31 per km) for the overall 4:35 finish. Men average around 9:58 per mile and women around 10:59 per mile, including the natural slowdown over the second half.
What is the average marathon speed in mph?
The average marathon runner covers 26.2 miles at about 5.7 mph (9.2 km/h). Faster recreational runners finishing near 4:00 average about 6.6 mph, while a 3:00 marathon is about 8.7 mph.
What is the average age of a marathon runner?
The average age of a marathon finisher is around 39-40 years old. Marathoning skews slightly older than shorter road races, with the 35-44 age band the most represented in most big-city fields.
What is a good marathon time?
For a first marathon, finishing is the goal. Among recreational runners, sub-4:00 is widely considered strong (roughly the top 30% of finishers). Competitive amateurs target sub-3:30, and a Boston Marathon qualifier (about 3:00-3:35 depending on age and gender) is a common benchmark for serious runners.