Distance
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Enter your time
Goal time
Enter your details to see the result.
Next step
Turn your numbers into a plan
A free personalized plan from 5K to marathon, matched to your level and your week.
How it works
How do you calculate your half marathon pace?
The calculator divides your goal time by the half marathon distance and gives the average pace in your chosen distance unit. The split table shows when you should pass each checkpoint if you run evenly — handy for checking you are on course during the race.
Good to know
Running even pays off
Most half marathon PRs are run with an even or slightly negative split: the second half as fast or a touch faster than the first. Starting too fast is the classic mistake — the split table keeps you honest.
Tips
From goal time to training
A goal time is only realistic if your training backs it up. Check with the VDOT calculator whether your goal fits your current level, and use our personal plan to train toward it.
Frequently asked questions
Select half marathon as the distance and enter your goal time. The calculator divides that time by the distance and shows the required average pace, speed, and splits. Choose kilometers or miles in the menu or footer; the calculator follows that unit setting.
A negative split means running the second half faster than the first. An even split allocates time in proportion to distance; a positive split means the second half takes longer. The three strategies let you compare checkpoint times for the same total goal time. A suitable race plan also depends on the course and your preparation.
No. The calculator distributes your chosen total time over the distance without adjusting for elevation, wind, or stops. Your strategy determines how the calculated pace changes along the way; even pace does not necessarily mean even effort on a hilly course. Time spent stopped still counts toward your actual finish time.
The calculator shows the pace your goal requires, but cannot tell whether you can sustain it. The VDOT calculator can compare a recent race performance with an estimated half marathon time. Treat that as a guide: your preparation for this distance, the course, and conditions still matter.
A 1:30 finish needs about 4:16 min / km, 1:45 about 4:59 min / km, and 2:00 about 5:41 min / km. These paces are rounded to whole seconds. To finish under a time limit, enter a goal below that limit and use the resulting splits; a rounded pace alone does not guarantee a sub-target finish.A 1:30 finish needs about 6:52 min / mi, 1:45 about 8:01 min / mi, and 2:00 about 9:09 min / mi. These paces are rounded to whole seconds. To finish under a time limit, enter a goal below that limit and use the resulting splits; a rounded pace alone does not guarantee a sub-target finish.
A half marathon is 21.0975 km. The calculator uses the full distance for the selected race, even when a distance label is rounded for display. Switching between kilometers and miles changes the unit, not the race distance or your goal time.A half marathon is 13.1 mi. The calculator uses the full distance for the selected race, even when a distance label is rounded for display. Switching between kilometers and miles changes the unit, not the race distance or your goal time.Read more about the distance, finish times, and paces
Each row shows a checkpoint, the pace for that part of the race, and the cumulative time: the total time elapsed since the start. The final row includes the remaining distance after the last whole kilometer or mile. Full segments take equal time with even pacing; their paces change with negative or positive splits.
The calculator keeps your current average pace and recalculates the finish time and splits for the new distance. For example, changing a 2:00 half marathon to a full marathon gives about 4:00 at the same pace. This is an arithmetic comparison, not a prediction that you can sustain that pace for twice as long.
Keep exploring
Other tools
Create a running routeGenerate or draw your own running route and share it.
Create a training planBuild a free personal running plan tailored to your goal.
Marathon pace calculatorWhat pace do you need for your marathon goal time?
Pace calculatorConvert between pace, time, distance, and speed.
Split calculatorBuild a split table for your goal time, with even or negative splits.
Go deeper
Keep reading
Turn your numbers into a plan
A number is a start. Let us build it into a complete, personal running plan — free, tailored to your level and goal.