How Many Miles is a Half Marathon? + Free Training Plan

If you’ve never run a half marathon, you might ask, “How many miles is a half marathon?”

→ A half marathon is 13.1 miles.

I’ve run 16 half marathons, but I had no idea what the distance was before I ran my first. The half marathon has become a very popular race distance in recent years. So, let’s get you all the info you need to succeed!

What’s the Distance of a Half Marathon?

Here, we’ll break down the half marathon distance into two different units of measurement: miles and kilometers.

How Many Miles is a Half Marathon?

The distance of a half marathon is 13.1 miles.

A half marathon is half the distance of a marathon. As you can see, it’s aptly named.

This is a popular long-distance race that many run. About 2 million people run a half marathon race each year.

How Many Kilometers is a Half Marathon?

If you’re not local to the United States like me, you’ll probably wonder how many kilometers (km) are in a half marathon.

A half marathon is approximately 21.1 kilometers.

If you run other, shorter-distance races, such as the 5k or 10k, using the metric measurement of kilometers may be helpful to you during your half marathon training.

What Can I Expect for My Half Marathon Time

If you’ve only just learned the distance of a half marathon in miles or kilometers, you might also need to know what time you should expect to run the half marathon.

Runners are different; some are pretty speedy, while others decide to walk the entire race. Running pace depends on many factors, including your current fitness level.

During your training, you’ll have the best opportunity to identify your half-marathon pace on race day. This is especially true if you’ve not run a half marathon before.

Once you understand your running abilities, you can use a running pace calculator to predict your finish time.

Here, we’ll review the typical finish times for runners completing a half marathon.

What’s the Average Finish Time for a Half Marathon?

Finding an average half-marathon time can take time and effort. There are so many half-marathons each year, and collecting data from smaller races can be difficult.

However, we can base the finish time averages on the bigger races and their data.

How Long Does it Take the Average Person to Run a Half Marathon?

The average person in decent shape to run a half marathon can finish the race in two to three hours.

To achieve this half-marathon finish time, a runner must maintain an average mile pace of 9 minutes and 9 seconds for a 2-hour finish. To earn a 3-hour finish, you must maintain a 13-minute and 44-second-per-mile pace.

Is a Finish Time of 2 Hours a Good Half Marathon Time?

Are you looking for a great first half-marathon finish time? If you can complete a half marathon in two hours or less, you’re hitting a great time.

Two hours or less is a faster half-marathon time than the average runner. If you’re a pretty quick person, you may decide to make this your goal time.

Half Marathon World Record

🥇 The world record for half marathon finish time is 57 minutes and 31 seconds, held by Jacob Kiplimo.

In the women’s division, the current world record is held by Ruth Chepng’etich, with a race time of one hour, four minutes, and two seconds.

How Long Do I Need to Train for a Half Marathon?

You’ll want to allow 12 weeks to train for a half marathon.

This is enough time to increase your distance from one mile to 13.1 miles. However, if you’re not used to running, it’s best to give yourself additional time for training.

Is 10 Miles a Long Enough Run Before Running a Half Marathon?

You’ll need to complete one long weekly run during your half-marathon training.

The concept of a long run is to build up your endurance to run for several consecutive miles. This will help on race day when you’ll need to run the 13.1 miles of the half marathon.

You’ll run between three and approximately 13 miles each week of half marathon training. Not all half-marathon training plans are the same. Some will have your long run max out at 10 miles, while others will have you over-distance train.

If you’re following a training program closely with a 10-mile run as the longest long run, then it’s appropriate to stick to your plan.

Running 10 miles is enough for many runners, and pushing through the final 3.1 miles (or a 5k distance) can be achieved with a strong mentality.

Top Three Half Marathon Training Tips

You’ve decided to run your first half marathon, and now you know the distance you’ll need to run.

How do you successfully train to arrive at the finish line? These top tips for half-marathon training will help you succeed.

1. Be gradual in your training.

You’ve probably heard about a person who ran a marathon without training. Don’t do that.

Although seemingly inspiring, you risk injury and sidelining yourself from the sport altogether for several months. Instead, you can focus on gradually building up your running distance.

Stick to the training plan, and you’ll have a better chance of accomplishing your goal unharmed.

Remember to add in cross-training, too, to help build a strong foundation. Two days of strength training a week can greatly improve your running.

2. Keep it fun.

You should always aim to have a good time while running, even if that seems impossible now.

Choose the most enjoyable half marathon to run. Maybe you want to travel somewhere you’ve never been or run a race on an important date. These kinds of choices can make you look forward to race day.

Train with a friend and find interesting running routes to keep things exciting. Listen to music or podcasts to help you keep running, even if you want to stop.

Enjoy podcasts and music while staying safe.
The Noxgear 39g speaker is lightweight and lets you hear the surrounding environment. ➡️ Purchase

3. Print your training plan and check it off each day.

You’ll benefit from this big-time tip if you have difficulty staying consistent with your training schedule.

By having your training plan printed and in a place where you can check it off each day after you complete your workout, you’re more likely to stay motivated.

Remember that training plans are guides. Some days, you may need to alter the objective and listen to your body’s needs.

Alternatively, you can save it to your phone, where you can check it off daily. You can save the following training plan to your phone for quick daily access.

Half Marathon Training Plan

If you haven’t run a half marathon before, knowing where to start is the first milestone of your running journey.

Find the best half-marathon training plan for you and stick to it. Consistency is key!

Top Gear Runners Need for a Half Marathon

If you’ve never run a race before, let alone a half marathon, you’ll need to acquire some running gear to get started,

Although it can be costly upfront, once you have the right clothes and gear, you can cover hundreds of miles before replacing your running gear.

👉🏼 Quality running shoes.

Running shoes are essential to get you safely through training.

Although some runners subscribe to the barefoot running trend, most runners prefer the support of running shoes.

My favorite pair of running shoes is from the Altra running shoe brand. I recommend the Altra Torin, but it’s important to note that these zero-drop style running shoes may take some time for a runner to adjust.

👉🏼 Moisture-wicking socks.

Socks are also essential; the right pair will help avoid blisters and hot spots.

I prefer to run in Injinji toe socks. They seriously limit the occurrence of blisters, and once you’ve become used to the toe sock feeling, you’ll forget you’re even wearing them.

👉🏼 Moisture-wicking shorts and pants.

Comfortable pants or shorts will keep you warm or cool on your runs.

You’ll also likely want to consider purchasing running shorts with pockets to hold your phone or keys on the run.

👉🏼 Moisture-wicking shirts.

Whether you’re running in the heat of summer or the chill of winter, you’ll want to be sure your shirts are moisture-wicking.

Running gear should be moisture-wicking by nature because it helps to pull sweat away from your body. This helps prevent overheating or freezing from your sweat.

👉🏼 Safety gear.

If you’re going to be running regularly, you need to keep yourself safe.

I recommend the Noxgear Tracer2 light-up running vest. Stay safe and be seen by motorists from a mile away.
➡️ Purchase

Safety gear is essential for runners, but many forego it. This is not a good idea. Instead, invest in this gear; you’ll always run with peace of mind.

You should also consider running with an alarm. This may help direct attention toward you should something happen.

The She’s Birdie personal alarm is lightweight and a great tool to use in times of trouble, whether on a training run or running errands.

Whether alerting others in the area of someone attacking you or helping to draw attention to yourself if you’ve ended up in a ditch with a broken ankle, this alarm is affordable and invaluable.

My First Half Marathon Story

In 2013, one of my mentors asked if I wanted to run the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Half Marathon.

I agreed for the sole purpose of putting a “13.1” magnet on my car.

I trained as best I knew. This meant getting blisters from wearing my everyday socks and sweating profusely in my 100% cotton T-shirts.

The day before the race, I went to the race expo, where I purchased a new pair of shorts and a shirt for race day. This is a giant no-no. But I had no idea at the time.

Trying anything new on race day risks discomfort, so it’s best to stick to what you’ve trained with.

Race day came, and the weather was horrible. We had torrential downpours from the start line to the finish, but I did it.

In hindsight, I wish I had known how to handle running in the rain better. I experienced intense chafing under my bra and between my thighs.

I recommend using an anti-chafe balm to prevent chafing, whether it’s raining or sweltering.

Fortunately, I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face. And a year and a half later, I’d be crossing the finish line of my first marathon to put a 26.2 bumper sticker on my car.

Don’t count yourself out today if you don’t believe you could run a half marathon in the future. Half marathon running is certainly a challenge, but with determination and consistency, you can do it.

FAQ

Final Thoughts: How Many Miles is a Half Marathon?

Knowing how many miles a half marathon is is the first step to becoming a half marathoner.

Whether you’re looking to run the distance for weight loss or to cross the distance off your bucket list, you now have all the answers you need. Becoming a half marathoner is an exciting achievement, and you may be just 12 short weeks away from crossing your first finish line!