How Long Is a Half Marathon? Distance, Times, and Myths

You’ve probably heard someone casually say “I’m running a half” and wondered exactly how far that is — and whether you could do it too. The answer is a precise 13.1094 miles (21.0975 kilometers), a distance that strikes a balance between endurance and speed for over 2 million US finishers each year.

Official distance: 13.1094 miles (21.0975 km) ·
World record (men): 57:31 (Jacob Kiplimo, 2021) ·
World record (women): 1:04:02 (Letesenbet Gidey, 2021) ·
Average time (men): 1:55:00 ·
Average time (women): 2:11:00 ·
US adults who have completed a half: ~2%

Six key numbers tell the story of what a half marathon really is.

How long is a half marathon?

Half marathon distance in miles

• The official half marathon distance is exactly 13.1094 miles (Runner’s World (authoritative running publication)). That’s 13 miles and 192 yards, or roughly the distance from the White House to the Pentagon and back. For a height conversion example, check out 175 cm in Feet: Exact 5’8.9″ Height Conversion & Guide.

Half marathon distance in kilometers

• In metric terms, that’s 21.0975 kilometers — the same distance used by World Athletics for all official half marathon events (World Athletics (global governing body for track and field)).

Half marathon in steps

• The number of steps varies by stride length. For an average walker with a 2.5-foot stride, a half marathon takes about 30,000 steps. A runner with a 3-foot stride clocks roughly 24,000 steps.

The implication: that extra .1094 of a mile beyond 13 miles matters for pacing — it’s about 192 yards of real extra effort, not a rounding error.

Is 2 hours good for a half marathon?

What is a good half marathon time for a woman?

• According to RunRepeat data analyzed by Brooks Running, the average female half marathon time is 2:11:57 (Brooks Running (performance footwear brand)). A sub-2 hour finish places a woman well above average; elite women target 1:10–1:30.

Average half marathon time by age

• Runner’s World reports the overall US average finish time as 2 hours 10 minutes, based on RunRepeat and IAAF data (Runner’s World (running lifestyle magazine)). Times naturally increase with age: runners aged 20–29 average about 1:55 (men) and 2:10 (women), while those over 60 add roughly 20 minutes to those benchmarks.

Can you walk a half marathon?

• Yes. At a brisk walking pace of 3–4 mph, a half marathon takes 4 to 5 hours. Many charity events encourage walkers, and a run-walk strategy is a proven training method (Runkeeper (popular running app)).

What this means: if you’re aiming for 2 hours, you need to average about 9:09 per mile — a pace many beginners can hit after 10–12 weeks of training.

Which is harder, 5K or half marathon?

Here’s a quick comparison of the half marathon with other distances.

Are you fit if you can run a 5K?

• Running a 5K (3.1 miles) is a solid fitness milestone, but it does not automatically prepare you for a half marathon. The half requires significantly greater aerobic endurance and longer training (Runkeeper (fitness coaching platform)).

Training for a half marathon vs 5K

• A typical 5K training plan lasts 6–8 weeks with a peak long run of 30–40 minutes. Half marathon plans run 10–16 weeks with peak long runs of 16–20 km (10–12.4 miles) (Runkeeper (running training resource)). The half also demands more attention to nutrition, hydration, and recovery.

The pattern: switching from 5K to half marathon means tripling your weekly mileage and adding at least one long run each week. It’s a jump, not a step.

For a review of energy bars that runners often use, see Nature Valley Protein Bars Review: Are They Healthy?

Is it true only 1% of people run a half marathon?

What percentage of people have run a half marathon?

• The common claim that “only 1% of the population” runs a half marathon is a myth. In the US, approximately 2% of adults have completed a half marathon, according to industry data (Runner’s World (running community and research)). The 1% figure is an underestimate that often gets repeated without verification.

Why this matters: the 1% myth discourages beginners. The real figure is still small, but millions of ordinary people — not just elite athletes — have finished the distance.

What is the leading cause of death in marathon runners?

Who ran 26 miles and died?

• The legend of Pheidippides, who supposedly ran from Marathon to Athens and dropped dead, is not historically accurate. Most historians agree the story was embellished centuries later (Wikipedia (historical encyclopedia)).

What is the oldest age to run a marathon?

• The world’s oldest marathon finisher is over 100 years old. Fauja Singh completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon at age 100 in 2011, and many runners in their 80s and 90s finish half marathons each year.

What is Gordon Ramsay’s marathon time?

• Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has reportedly run marathons in about 3 hours 30 minutes, though this time is not officially verified by a governing body.

The catch: the Pheidippides myth still scares people, but modern medical data shows that trained runners have lower cardiovascular risk than sedentary peers.

“The average finish time for half marathons completed in the United States is 2 hours and 10 minutes.”

— Runner’s World (citing RunRepeat and IAAF data)

“A half marathon requires a different training approach than a 5K. You need to build up to at least 10 miles in your longest run.”

— Runkeeper (running app training guide)

“For women, a strong non-elite half marathon time is between 1:20 and 1:40. The average is 2:11.”

— Brooks Running (performance insight from RunRepeat analysis)

For a detailed breakdown of the exact distance and race statistics, check out this comprehensive half marathon distance guide.

Frequently asked questions