The median marathon finish time is about 4 hours 25 minutes. Men’s median is about 4:14 and women’s about 4:41, according to an analysis of more than 400,000 finishers in 2024. So if you finish in under four and a half hours, you’ve beaten roughly half the field. If you broke four hours, you’re well ahead of the middle.
That’s useful context this weekend, with up to 20,000 people running the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday 11 October, Eliud Kipchoge among them. He won in a course record: see the full Melbourne results. Here’s what counts as a good marathon time, the average by age, and how your Melbourne result stacks up.
| Finish time | Average pace | What it generally means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3 hours | Faster than 4:16/km | Roughly the top 10% of men in their early 30s. About 2:55 is the Boston qualifying standard for men under 35. |
| Under 3:30 | Faster than 4:59/km | A very strong amateur result. Around the top 10% for women in their early 30s; 3:25 is the Boston standard for women under 35. |
| Under 4 hours | Faster than 5:41/km | The classic goal for a well-trained recreational runner, and faster than the median man. |
| 4 to 4:30 | 5:41–6:24/km | Right around the middle of the field. The median marathon finish is about 4:25. |
| 4:30 to 5 hours | 6:24–7:07/km | A normal first-marathon time, and close to the median for women. |
| 5 to 6 hours | 7:07–8:32/km | A steady run or run-walk. Plenty of finishers are here, especially on a first marathon. |
| Over 6 hours | Slower than 8:32/km | Mostly run-walk and walking. Check your race’s cut-off time. |
These are broad standards, not verdicts. A first-timer who runs 4:45 after six months of training may have done something more impressive than an experienced runner cruising to 3:50.
Average marathon time by age
Finish times stay fairly flat from your mid-20s to your early 40s, then slow by roughly 10 to 20 minutes a decade. The figures below are medians from the same 2024 data set.
| Age group | Men (median) | Women (median) |
|---|---|---|
| 25–29 | 4:06:41 | 4:31:43 |
| 35–39 | 4:04:26 | 4:36:10 |
| 55–59 | 4:29:00 | 5:03:00 |
| 75–79 | 6:00+ | 6:45+ |
Medians are better than averages for this, because a small number of very slow finishes drag the average up. Global averages have also crept up over time, from about 4:21 in 2001 to about 4:32 in 2019, as marathons have become less about racing and more about finishing.
What’s a good time at Melbourne?
Melbourne’s average finish is about 4:22, according to Marathon Index‘s estimate from recent results. That’s a little quicker than the US median of about 4:25.
This year’s course should be quicker again. Organisers removed the climb from Birdwood Avenue to Domain Road at about 36 km, cut up to 20% of the elevation and 30% of the turns, and got rid of the false finish on Southbank Boulevard (Marathon Handbook). If you ran in 2025 and you’re comparing times, some of your improvement is probably the course.
For reference, the course records are 2:09:12 (Timothy Ronoh, 2022) and 2:25:19 (Sinead Diver, 2018). Jack Rayner and Caitlin Adams won last year in 2:15:02 and 2:30:26.
Is under 4 hours a good marathon time?
Yes. Sub-4 puts a man ahead of the median for every age group in the 2024 data, and a woman well into the faster half of the field. It means averaging 5:41 per kilometre for 42.2 km, which takes months of consistent training for most people.
Is under 3 hours a good marathon time?
It’s an excellent one. In the 2024 data, the fastest 10% of men aged 30 to 34 ran just under three hours, and the fastest 10% of women in the same age group ran 3:27:46. Sub-3 means 4:16 per kilometre for the whole race.
What time do you need for Boston?
For the 2027 Boston Marathon, the qualifying standard for ages 18 to 34 is 2:55:00 for men and 3:25:00 for women (B.A.A.), with more time allowed in older age groups. Meeting the standard doesn’t guarantee a place: for 2027, applicants needed to be 5 minutes 17 seconds under their standard to get in (Marathons.com).
What about the half marathon?
The Melbourne half starts at 9:45am on Sunday. As a rough guide, the same pace benchmarks apply over half the distance: sub-1:30 means 4:16 per kilometre, sub-2 hours means 5:41, and around 2 hours is close to the middle of most fields.
So, what is a good marathon time?
Any time you finish is a good one: most people never run a marathon at all. If you want a number, under 4:25 beats about half the field, under 4 hours is a strong recreational result, and under 3 hours puts you near the top 10%. The better comparison is with your own last race. Melbourne’s flatter course this year gives you a good chance at a personal best.
Running this weekend? See the rest of our October events calendar, compare with what counts as a good City2Surf time, or see how the front runners went in the GC50 50 km results.
Whatever your time, make sure you ran all of it. Here’s how marathon cheats get caught, from Rosie Ruiz to this year’s Berlin bike ride.
Marathon time FAQ
What is the average marathon time?
About 4:25 (median) in 2024: 4:14 for men and 4:41 for women, from 403,078 US finishers. Global averages have been around 4:30 in recent years.
What is the average marathon time for a man?
About 4:14 (median). Men aged 25 to 39 run a median of just over 4 hours.
What is a good time for a first marathon?
Finishing is the goal for most first-timers. Anything between 4:30 and 5:30 is a normal first marathon; under 4 hours is a very good one. Training for your first? Start with our free 16-week marathon training plan.
What is the average Melbourne Marathon finish time?
About 4:22, according to Marathon Index’s estimate from recent results.
What pace do I need to run a sub-4 marathon?
5:41 per kilometre, held for 42.195 km. Sub-3:30 needs 4:59 per kilometre and sub-3 needs 4:16.
