What is a Half Marathon?

The Half Marathon is exactly half the distance of a full marathon: 21.0975 kilometers (13.1 miles). It has become one of the fastest-growing race distances globally.

Why It's the "Perfect" Distance

1. Manageable Training: Unlike a full marathon, you can train for a half marathon on 3-4 runs per week without it taking over your entire life.
2. Recovery: You can recover from a half marathon in a few days, whereas a full marathon takes weeks.
3. The Challenge: It's long enough to require serious endurance and respect, but short enough that most healthy adults can finish it.
4. Gateway Race: It is the classic stepping stone for runners looking to eventually tackle the full 42.2k.

Key Facts

• World Record (Men): 57:30 (Yomif Kejelcha, 2024)
• World Record (Women): 1:02:52 (Letesenbet Gidey, 2021)
• Average Finisher Time: Between 2:00:00 and 2:15:00.

Pacing Strategy

In a half marathon, you can run much closer to your "Threshold" pace than in a full marathon. A common strategy is:

• Miles 1-3: Steady, slightly slower than goal pace.
• Miles 4-10: Lock into goal pace.
• Miles 11-13.1: Give everything left in the tank.

The half marathon is a sprint for marathoners and a long run for 5k runners. It's the ultimate middle ground.