Sub-2 Hour Half Marathon Pace
The sub-2-hour half marathon is the classic intermediate goal: proof you've moved beyond "just finishing" into racing. Here's the pace, the splits, and how to hold it for all 21.1 km.
Pace you need to average
5:41 / km · 9:09 / mile
Over 21.0975 km that brings you home in just under 2:00:00. (It's the same pace as a sub-4 marathon — which is why the half is such a good predictor.)
Sub-2 half marathon checkpoint splits
| Checkpoint | Target time |
|---|---|
| 5 km | 28:26 |
| 10 km | 56:53 |
| 15 km | 1:25:19 |
| 10 miles | 1:31:32 |
| Half marathon (21.1 km) | 1:59:59 |
How to pace a sub-2 half
- Bank nothing. 5:41/km feels easy in the first few kilometres — resist going faster. Even splits are the surest route to the time.
- Use 10 km as your gut-check. Through 10 km in 56:53 means you're perfectly placed. If you're well under 55:00, you've gone out too hard.
- Hold form late. The race is decided between 16 and 21 km. Shorten your stride slightly and keep cadence up rather than reaching.
- One gel can help. A single carbohydrate gel around the 45–60 minute mark keeps the last 5 km from getting heavy.
Is sub-2 realistic for you?
If you can currently run 10 km in around 54–55 minutes, or a 5K near 26 minutes, a sub-2 half is a sensible target with a few weeks of consistent training. Aim for a long run of 16–18 km and a weekly tempo session around 5:20–5:30/km, and the goal pace will start to feel controlled.
Build your own splits in the calculator →