The half marathon is a long-distance road running event. It is popular among runners due to its challenging distance, and yet it is not as demanding as a marathon.

 It requires dedicated work and a structured training plan to complete it at the goal time, without injuries.

In this article, you will find out how many kilometers is half marathon. You will also get answers to the most frequently asked questions.

A half marathon is equivalent to 21.097 kilometers. The half marathon is half the distance of a full marathon, which is 42.195 kilometers.

Miles and kilometers serve as common units of length or distance, employed across various regions worldwide.

While countries like the United States and a few others predominantly utilize miles, most nations have embraced kilometers as the standard measure for gauging distances.

How long does it take to train for a half marathon?

Generally, most training plans for a half marathon range from 12 to 16 weeks.

The time it takes to train for a half marathon (21.097 kilometers) race can vary depending on your fitness level, running experience, and your goals.

Tip

Patience is important in running, and with the continuity of training, results will come. Listen to your body and set realistic and achievable goals to avoid injuries and overtraining.

It’s always a good idea to consult with a running coach before starting a new training program, especially if you’re new to running or have any underlying health concerns.

How long does it take to go from couch to half marathon?

If you’re starting from a very sedentary lifestyle, you might need a few months to build a base level of fitness before beginning a half marathon training program.

Focus on walking regularly and gradually incorporating short periods of jogging or running.

Read more: Can You Become a Runner? (Top 19 Tips to Become a Runner)

Remember, the goal is not just to complete the half marathon but also to do so comfortably and without risking injury.

Additionally, factors like cross-training, proper nutrition, adequate rest, and injury prevention strategies can contribute to a smoother and more successful transition from a sedentary lifestyle to running a half marathon.

How to train for a half marathon?

Training for a half marathon run involves a combination of different types of training.

It is necessary to train 3 to 4 times a week, pay attention to adequate recovery, and do strength training.

With consistency and continuity of training, the results will not be missed.

It’s important to focus on gradual progression, consistency, and enjoying the process of becoming more active and fit.

It’s recommended to follow a structured training plan to avoid overexertion and reduce the risk of injury.

One workout a week should be a very easy run with strides at the end.

This way you will add speed to your workout, and you will be more prepared for the next more intense workout.

Then the second and third workouts of the week should be fartlek training, intervals, or tempo runs.

If you train 3 times a week, then one day a week you should do one of these 3 types of training.

Tip

Fartlek training is great for both beginners and advanced runners because of its adaptability. One of the main benefits of fartlek training is that you run on feeling, without thinking about pace. This way you will break the monotony in your workout and add speed without too much stress.

The fourth workout of the week should be a long run.

A long run will improve your endurance and resistance to fatigue.

Take at least one day off between workouts.

Example of training schedule – 3 training sessions per week

MON: rest
TUE: easy run + strength training
WED: rest
THU: fartlek training + strength training
FRI: rest
SAT: rest
SUN: long run

Example of training schedule – 4 training sessions per week

MON: rest
TUE: easy run + strength training
WED: fartlek training + strength training
THU: rest
FRI: tempo run + strength training
SAT: rest
SUN: long run

It is also important to do strength training at least 2 times a week.

Aside from preventing injuries, strength training will also help you build muscles that are required for you to maintain proper running form, making you a more efficient runner.

Tip

Listen to your body, progress at a pace that feels manageable, and consider consulting a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise program, especially if you have any underlying health concerns.

What is the average time to walk half marathon?

The average time to walk a half marathon is between 3 hours 30 minutes and 4 hours, which means that the average walking speed is between 3.28 and 3.75 miles per hour.

The average walking pace is between 9:57 and 11:22 minutes per kilometer.

Numerous factors, such as age, gender, fitness level, and terrain, will affect the final time.

The information is based on research conducted by Schimpl et al.

Depending on the walking pace, the table shows how long it takes to walk half marathon.

Read more: How Long Does It Take to Walk a Half Marathon?

How long does it take to run a half marathon?

Beginners need approximately 2 hours 27 minutes (average running pace 6:58 minutes per kilometer) to run half marathon, while more experienced runners need 1 hour 30 minutes (average running pace 4:16 minutes per kilometer).

The table shows how long it takes to run a half marathon depending on the running pace.

Use my running pace calculator with which you can calculate the time needed to run a half marathon at a certain pace. You can also calculate what pace you will run if you run a half marathon in a certain time.

Read more: Average Half Marathon Time by Age, Sex, and Ability Level

What is a good half marathon time?

A good half marathon time for beginners/recreational runners is under 2 hours 7 minutes (average running pace 6:01 minutes per kilometer).

This is a common goal for many beginners, and achieving this time indicates a solid level of fitness and dedication.

A good half marathon time for intermediate runners is 1 hour 35 minutes (average running pace 4:30 minutes per kilometer).

This range is often considered a good goal for intermediate runners who have been consistently training and improving their pace.

A good half marathon time for advanced runners is sub 1 hour 24 minutes (average running pace 3:59 minutes per kilometer).

Breaking that barrier is a noteworthy accomplishment and is often considered a competitive time for the half marathon distance.

A good half marathon running time varies from person to person. Someone will find 1 hour 45 minutes a good half marathon time, while some other runner might be dissatisfied with that result.

Many factors affect the half marathon time, including:

• Sex – On average, men run faster than women due to genetic predispositions.
• Age – Most professional half marathon runners run their personal records between the ages of 30 and 35.
• Ability level – Form and health also affect your running time.
• Experience – With years of training, you gain experience that also affects your running time.
• Weather – a half marathon is a relatively long race. So, to have suitable conditions, it is important that there’s no precipitation and that it’s not too cold or too hot.
• Terrain – Flat terrain is ideal for a good half marathon result since it allows you to maintain a steady pace and not lose additional energy running uphill and downhill.

A good half marathon running time is the result with which you are satisfied.

Tip

Do not compare yourself to others, everyone is different.
Track your own results and overcome your boundaries.
Enjoy running and progress gradually to train without injuries because that is most important.

How many calories do you burn on a half marathon?

Running a half marathon will burn you an average of 1310 calories.

The exact number of calories spent while running a half marathon depends on the weight and fitness of the runners, their pace, the terrain they run on, and the weather conditions.

The heavier you are, the more calories you will burn because you must carry more weight and work harder to run the same distance at the same pace.

Example

According to the calories burned running calculator, a runner who weighs 180 lbs will spend approximately 1835 calories by running a half marathon at a pace of 6:13 minutes per kilometer, while a 130 lbs runner will spend approximately 1325 calories.

Read more: How Heavy Is Too Heavy to Run? (17 Tips for Heavy Runners)

How to estimate your half marathon finish time?

If you want to know what time you can expect during a half marathon run, use my race time predictor.

This predictor can predict the result of a targeted race and calculate its average pace based on previous run or race results.

Read more: Race Time Predictor

Race time predictor assumes that the runner has done the appropriate training for the distance they want to run.

Tip

A perfect race has minimal pace changes, which is why this race predictor also calculates the average pace.
This way you will avoid running too quickly in the earlier stages of a race and exhausting yourself early.

Remember that the predicted result is just an estimate since factors like weather and running terrain can affect the result of a race.

It might happen that the race takes part on terrain with plenty of slopes, or that there’s strong wind and rainfall that will negatively affect your results, and which the predictor simply won’t be able to anticipate.

How to run a half marathon race?

If you are running your first half marathon race or if you want to run your personal best, you need to predetermine your running pace so that you can run “smarter”, with respect to your current fitness level.

That way, you will avoid running too fast in the earlier stages of the race and prevent the appearance of fatigue early in the race.

Tip

The perfect race is run with minimal pace changes. To know the pace at which you should run and what your split times are, use the half marathon pace chart.

That way, you will avoid running too fast in the earlier stages of the race and prevent the appearance of fatigue early in the race.

It is better to start slower than too fast.

This research speaks in favor of this. World records of 5,000 meters to the marathon, in the women’s and men’s categories, were set by running a negative split, which means running the first part of the race slower than the second.

It is a thin line between your new personal best and a bad race, so be careful!

It is important to control the pace and not let the adrenaline overwhelm you or the other runners influence you.

Controlling your running pace is a skill that requires time to master. Be patient and listen to your body.

You can determine your running pace and calculate your split times for the race with a half marathon pace chart.

You can download for FREE half marathon pace chart here.

How hard is it to run a half marathon without training?

If you are active and in good shape, running a half marathon without training is possible, but I do not recommend it at all.

If you have not done any sports so far, and you spend most of your time sitting, then it is not recommended.

I always advise a smart and consistent approach to training regardless of someone’s current level of fitness.

What is the number of steps you should take in a half marathon?

You should take approximately 27500 steps to walk a half marathon and 19650 steps to run a half marathon.

To calculate an accurate figure, you need to consider several different factors, such as gender, height, weight, stride length, and pace of walking or running.

For example, a shorter person will have to take many more steps to cover the same distance, unlike a taller person.

You can use a calculator to determine exactly how many steps, you have taken in a half marathon of walking or running.

The study calculated the average number of steps that need to be taken per mile while walking or running.

The table shows an overview of the steps required to cross a half marathon at a given speed.

The table shows an overview of how many steps you will take in a half marathon while moving at a certain speed.

Read more: How Many Steps Are in a Half Marathon? (Detailed Answer)

Bonus – FREE half marathon training plans for all ability level

If you don’t know how to structure your training, you can download free half marathon training plans below.

Half Marathon Training Plan for Beginners

Half Marathon Training Plan for Intermediate Runners

Half Marathon Training Plan for Advanced Runners