Average Marathon Times
Average Marathon Time By Age
Compare estimated recreational marathon times across different age groups for men and women.
Estimated recreational marathon times
These are broad recreational running benchmarks and not official race standards. Actual marathon times vary significantly depending on training, experience, age, fitness, course profile and weather.
| Age Group | Male Average | Female Average |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 4:00-4:30 | 4:20-5:00 |
| 30-39 | 4:05-4:40 | 4:25-5:10 |
| 40-49 | 4:15-5:00 | 4:40-5:30 |
| 50-59 | 4:35-5:30 | 5:00-6:00 |
| 60+ | 5:10-6:30 | 5:40-7:00 |
Popular Marathon Pace Guides
What affects average marathon times?
Marathon performance depends heavily on endurance training, weekly mileage, pacing discipline, long runs and race-day conditions.
Because a marathon is 42.195 kilometres, small pace changes can significantly affect finish time over the full distance.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good average marathon time?
A good recreational marathon time is often considered under 4 hours, while experienced runners may target under 3 hours 30 minutes or under 3 hours.
What is an average beginner marathon time?
Many beginner marathon runners finish between 4 and 6 hours depending on training, age, fitness and race conditions.
Do marathon times change with age?
Yes. Marathon times often change with age due to differences in endurance, recovery, training history and aerobic capacity.