“Sub-2” is the most popular half marathon goal there is. It means holding one steady pace for 21.1 km (13.1 miles) for two hours. Here is that pace in km and miles, your splits, how 2:00 compares with real race results, and what it predicts for other distances. Every time on this page is calculated from the distance and the clock, so the numbers always add up.
2-hour half marathon pace in every unit
| Measure | 2:00:00 for a half marathon equals |
|---|---|
| Pace per km | 5:41 |
| Pace per mile | 9:09 |
| Speed in km/h | 10.5 km/h |
| Speed in mph | 6.6 mph |
| One 400 m track lap | 2:17 |
| Halfway (10.55 km / 6.55 mi) | 1:00:00 |
The simple rule: 5:41 per kilometre, or 9:09 per mile. That is only a little slower than a 9-minute mile (see is a 9-minute mile good). To actually go under 2:00, aim a second or two faster per km to leave room for water stops and crowded starts.
Your splits for a 2-hour half marathon
US races usually mark miles; UK and Australian races usually mark kilometres. Both are here:
| Marker | In km | In miles | Clock time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 5.00 km | 3.11 mi | 28:26 |
| 5 miles | 8.05 km | 5.00 mi | 45:46 |
| 10 km | 10.00 km | 6.21 mi | 56:53 |
| 10 miles | 16.09 km | 10.00 mi | 1:31:32 |
| 15 km | 15.00 km | 9.32 mi | 1:25:19 |
| 20 km | 20.00 km | 12.43 mi | 1:53:45 |
| Finish (13.1 mi) | 21.10 km | 13.11 mi | 2:00:00 |
How a 2-hour half marathon compares with real runners
| Group | Half marathon time | Per km | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top 10% of women | 1:57:01 | 5:33 | 8:56 |
| Top 20% of all finishers | 1:56:12 | 5:30 | 8:52 |
| Median man (top 50%) | 1:59:48 | 5:41 | 9:08 |
| Average man (State of Running pace) | 1:59:33 | 5:40 | 9:07 |
| Median of all finishers | 2:14:59 | 6:24 | 10:18 |
| Average woman (State of Running pace) | 2:14:19 | 6:22 | 10:15 |
| Median woman | 2:24:03 | 6:50 | 10:59 |
| You, at 2 hours | 2:00:00 | 5:41 | 9:09 |
Sources: RunRepeat percentile tables (35 million results from more than 28,000 races over 20 years; page updated March 2024) and RunRepeat, The State of Running (average half marathon pace 5:40 per km for men and 6:22 per km for women), both opened November 2026. Average finish times and the “faster than” shares are worked out by Run&Grow from those numbers.
So a 2-hour half puts you in roughly the top quarter of the whole field. For women it is a top-15% kind of result. For men it sits right in the middle: the median man finishes in 1:59:48, just 12 seconds faster. Want the breakdown by age? See average half marathon time by age.
Every training run counts
Run&Grow is a free iPhone run tracker. Every run grows a plant in your garden. Skip a week? Your garden waits.
Free on iPhone · Also on Android
Goal times near 2 hours
Chasing sub-2, or already past it? Here is the pace each half marathon time needs, and the 10K and 5K that usually go with it:
| Half time | Per km | Per mile | Matching 10K | Matching 5K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:45:00 | 4:59 | 8:01 | 47:35 | 22:50 |
| 1:50:00 | 5:13 | 8:23 | 49:51 | 23:55 |
| 1:55:00 | 5:27 | 8:46 | 52:07 | 25:00 |
| 1:59:00 | 5:38 | 9:05 | 53:56 | 25:52 |
| 2:00:00 | 5:41 | 9:09 | 54:23 | 26:05 |
| 2:05:00 | 5:55 | 9:32 | 56:39 | 27:10 |
| 2:10:00 | 6:10 | 9:55 | 58:55 | 28:16 |
| 2:15:00 | 6:24 | 10:18 | 1:01:11 | 29:21 |
| 2:30:00 | 7:07 | 11:27 | 1:07:59 | 32:36 |
Every 5 minutes off your half marathon is about 14 seconds per km, or 23 seconds per mile. The matching 10K and 5K columns use the Riegel formula. Got a parkrun time? If it is around 26:05 or faster, you already have sub-2 speed.
What a 2-hour half marathon predicts for other races
| Distance | At the same pace | Predicted (Riegel) |
|---|---|---|
| 5K (3.1 mi) | 28:26 | 26:05 |
| 10K (6.2 mi) | 56:53 | 54:23 |
| 10 miles | 1:31:32 | 1:30:04 |
| Marathon (26.2 mi) | 4:00:00 | 4:10:12 |
The Riegel formula (time × (distance ratio)1.06) takes time off for shorter races and adds time for longer ones. It assumes you trained for each distance, and the marathon number is a best case. Try your own times in the race time predictor, and see average marathon time for the next step up.
How to run a sub-2-hour half marathon
The short version is below. For a week-by-week plan, see our sub-2-hour half marathon training plan.
- Run four times a week. Most runs easy, at a pace where you can talk.
- Build your long run to 18–20 km. Slow and steady. This is what gets you through the last 5 km.
- Add one goal-pace session. For example, 3 × 3 km at about 5:41 per km with 3 minutes easy between, building to 2 × 6 km.
- Check your 10K. A 10K around 54:23 says you are ready (see is a 1-hour 10K good).
- Start steady. Use the split table. Passing 10 km in about 56:53 is ideal; a fast first 5 km usually costs more later.
The real secret is months of steady running. That is where Run&Grow helps: every GPS run grows a plant in your garden, so a slow recovery jog counts just as much as a tempo run. It reads runs from Apple Health, so runs saved from your Apple Watch or another app count too. No public feed and no pace shaming. Doing some of your training on a treadmill this winter? See is Zwift Run free.
Nearby times and tools
1-hour 10K · 9-minute mile · 10-minute mile · 25-minute 5K · Average half marathon time · Average marathon time · Pace calculator · Race split calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a 2 hour half marathon good?
- Yes. A 2-hour half marathon is 5:41 per km (9:09 per mile). In RunRepeat’s data from 35 million race results it is faster than about 74% of all half marathon finishers, about 87% of women and about half of men.
- What pace is a sub 2 hour half marathon?
- You need to average faster than 5:41 per km or 9:09 per mile for 21.1 km (13.1 miles). That is 10.5 km/h or 6.6 mph on a treadmill. You pass 10 km in about 56:53.
- What 10K time do I need for a sub 2 hour half marathon?
- Using the Riegel formula, a 2-hour half marathon matches a 10K of about 54:23 and a 5K of about 26:05. If your 10K is a little faster than that, sub-2 is realistic once you have trained for the distance.
- What marathon time does a 2 hour half marathon predict?
- About 4:10:12, using the Riegel formula. Many runners find the real gap is bigger, because the second half of a marathon is much harder. Treat it as a best case if you train well for 26.2 miles.
- Is a 2 hour half marathon good for a beginner?
- Yes, it is a strong first-half goal. Many first-timers finish between 2:15 and 2:45, and finishing at all is a real achievement. If you can already run 10K in about 55 minutes, a 2-hour half is within reach with a few months of steady training.
Keep running, keep growing
Run&Grow turns every run into a plant, so you can watch your consistency grow on the way to sub-2. Free on iPhone, and it reads your runs from Apple Health.
Free on iPhone · Also on Android