Splits for a 2:50 marathon
The race clock at each marker at even pace, the steadiest way to run it.
| Kilometres | Race clock |
|---|---|
| 5 km | 20:09 |
| 10 km | 40:17 |
| 15 km | 1:00:26 |
| 20 km | 1:20:35 |
| Half | 1:25:00 |
| 25 km | 1:40:43 |
| 30 km | 2:00:52 |
| 35 km | 2:21:01 |
| 40 km | 2:41:09 |
| Finish | 2:50:00 |
| Miles | Race clock |
|---|---|
| 1 mi | 6:29 |
| 5 mi | 32:25 |
| 10 mi | 1:04:50 |
| 13.1 mi | 1:25:00 |
| 15 mi | 1:37:16 |
| 20 mi | 2:09:41 |
| 25 mi | 2:42:06 |
| 26.2 mi | 2:50:00 |
Going out a little slower protects the second half. With a 1% negative split, the first half is 4:04 per km and the second 3:59 per km, for the same finish time.
Print a pace band for 2:50:00, with the race clock at every kilometre or mile.
What a 2:50 marathon takes
Riegel’s formula, the one Run 42 uses for every pace in your plan, puts these times on the same level:
- 5K · 17:43
- 10K · 36:57
- Half marathon · 1:21:32
A recent 10K faster than 36:57 says the speed is there; the long runs of a plan build the rest. Slower than that, the race time predictor gives a goal to start from.
In VMA terms, a 2:50 marathon needs 18 to 19.9 km/h: the lower figure for a runner with strong endurance, the higher one for most amateurs. See VMA for the marathon.
Training paces for a 2:50 marathon
These are the paces Run 42 puts in a plan for this goal.
Most of the week is easy running; threshold and VMA come in one or two sessions a week. See training pace zones for what each one does.
How a 2:50 marathon ranks
A 2:50 finish is faster than 99% of finishers: top 2% among men and top 1% among women, from 35 million race results analysed by RunRepeat. See Average marathon time.
Train for 2:50
Run 42 builds a 12 to 24-week plan for this goal to your own race day, with every session at these paces. For a sample, see the Sub-3 marathon plan.
Other goal times
Every goal from 2h30 to 6h00 in the marathon pace chart
Frequently asked
What pace is a 2:50 marathon?
4:02 per km, or 6:29 per mile, held for the whole 42.195 km: 14.9 km/h.
What is the halfway split for a 2:50 marathon?
1:25:00 at even pace. With a 1% negative split, you pass halfway in 1:25:51.
What 10K time do I need for a 2:50 marathon?
About 36:57, by Riegel’s formula. A 5K of about 17:43 or a half marathon of about 1:21:32 point to the same marathon.
Is a 2:50 marathon good?
It is faster than 99% of finishers: top 2% among men and top 1% among women.
