What’s a good half-marathon time?

Truthfully, there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ time for a half marathon because everyone is different and has different targets and goals for themselves.

What’s more, as well as having different goals, many courses are faster and flatter than others, which naturally will produce faster times. Let’s not forget the impact of a good pair of running shoes, either. And other environmental factors can play a role, too, such as the weather. That being said, below, we’re going to take a look at some data to see how you stack up against the average runner.

How long is a half-marathon?

A half-marathon is 21.1km or 13.1 miles. It’s exactly half the distance of a full marathon (42.2km/26.2miles). The half m-arathon is a good goal for runners who have already completed a 5km or 10km (6 miles) race and are looking for a new challenge.

It’s also the distance that triathletes will have to run if they’re taking part in a middle-distance triathlon such as an Ironman 70.3 race. The run will typically follow 1.2mi/1.9km of swimming and 56mi/90km of cycling.

How do you train for a half-marathon?

First of all, committing to a half marathon will help you stay motivated while training. Having a goal-based outcome of completing a race or going for a certain time will help you stay on track for race day. You can stay focused on progress and results as you work towards your goal.

I would encourage joining a club or using an app (such as Runna, where I’m one of the coaches) with a tailored training plan for you with aerobic, threshold and VO2 sessions, as well as personalised coaching feedback to help you reach your goals. You would usually sign up to an 8–16-week plan to train for a half-marathon. Depending on your fitness, you may take a little longer to train for a half marathon as part of a triathlon. See 220’s Ironman 70.3 training plans for more.

What are the world records for the half-marathon?

World Athletics currently recognises 57:20 as the fastest half-marathon time for men. This was set by Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo at the Lisbon Half Marathon on 8 March 2026. It works out as an incredible 4mins 22secs per mile fo…