What's a decent finishing time for a half-marathon?

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

Just curious, as I recently did my first half-marathon.

I'd quite like to get more into running and to keep up with it, and also get that I should now try and beat the finishing time that I got in this half-marathon.

I'd just be interested to see what sort of time I should eventually aim for.

Thanks :)

[OccasionalNachos]

There are online calculators that can give you an age-grading - it’s difficult to say otherwise.

At a very generic level, 2 hours or under is above average.

[AuntLydia]

Depends on the half too - flat or hilly?! You don't have to try and beat your time unless you want to. I've been running 3 years now and have never run the same race twice so I don't have to worry about getting a pb.

[DorisDangleberry]

Anything under an hour is good going.

[Ozzde]

I would say under 2 hours generally, well that was the one I aimed for after my first. Then it moved to wanting more and more off. Just a little bit competitive with myself

All depends on lots of things though; the course and gradients of it, weather, any niggles you may have etc

[WishfulThanking]

Under an hour?

[user1471459936]

As previous posters - under 2 hours for most general runners is reasonable.

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

Thanks everyone :)

I did it in 2:34 so it was quite slow. I was so bloody relieved to finish.

Should I now aim for a time like 2:30 or 2:28, maybe, or should I just focus on getting a faster time 2:34?

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

*faster time than 2:34

[sirfredfredgeorge]

I think under an hour is unfair if you're a woman, 66 minutes is a good target for women.

[Altwoo]

2 hours generally puts you in top 50%. 1hr45 is getting speedy. 1hr30 is the very good. You’ll find a big improvement between your first and second half - I took 22 mins off my time!

[whatsthecomingoverthehill]

Have you done any 10ks?

[TriJo]

Train harder and train smarter for your next one. Do a tester race or two along the way as well - maybe aim for a 1 hour 10k if you haven't already done that and you will build speed and endurance.

[MumsOnCrack]

My fort was 2:53:48 and I'd done two months of training. I was so happy! Second was 1:45:03 I was even happier / try and beat yourself???

[Wondermoomin]

Doris and sirfred I think you're mistaken! Under an hour, and 66 minutes which you've suggested respectively are both completely ridiculous times to suggest for a half marathon

[Altwoo]

I’d say that was a solid and typic first half time. I did my first in 2:38, then 2:16, then 2:08, and now regularly 1:55. Add interval and hill training into your training rather than worrying about your target time - I honestly believe the time will melt away and you’ll do much better. Half the knack is knowing how a half marathon feels, what to eat for breakfast, what to wear etc. And nice work! You finished it!

[Ozzde]

I knocked 26 mins off from my first and second, you will notice a big improvement. Tbh my first was just the fact of getting round it was my main aim. Well done btw

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

what yep - I did my first 10k a couple of weeks ago, and did it in 1:06.

Under an hour seems very speedy for a half-marathon!

Considering that Paula Radcliffe set the women's marathon world record with 02:15 (which I think is still unbeaten), I'm really surprised that posters are saying that under an hour is achievable for a half-marathon I thought under an hour for a 10k was pretty good going!!

[BakedBeans47]

Not got a clue but well done OP!

Is under an hour not less than the world record?!

[FuzzyOwl]

I did it in 2:34

Was this your first half marathon? I would be proud of it. Some courses are easier than others - flatter or else you are less likely to get bunched up and unable to overtake. Yes under two hours is probably ideal (you'd be likely to be in the top half then) and 90 mins would be really good (I think) whereas, assuming you are female, anything below that is very fast.

[Wondermoomin]

Paris those posters speaking about an hour for a HM or 66 minutes for a HM are wrong! That's almost world record times 😂

[Ozzde]

I thought they were getting confused with 10k and hm

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

Aw thanks Beans and Fuzzy :)

I had a feeling they might be world record times Wonder 😂 They sounded really quick!

[BringOnTheScience]

I did my first 1/2 in 2h 42... and wasn't last :-)

PP suggesting sub-1h are thinking of 10k I hope!

[Strokethefurrywall]

Sub-2 hour is a good goal, I did my first half in 2.34hr and my longest run had been 7 miles.
Second half marathon was 2 hrs if I recall, but was training for a marathon at the time so beat my official half marathon time a number of times during training.
Train with intervals and hills if you can and also some swimming if you can fit it in - your lung capacity will be amazing.

[Bombardier25966]

I think under an hour is unfair if you're a woman, 66 minutes is a good target for women.

The world record for a woman is 65 minutes!

@Paris, any time is amazing, and considerably faster than those of us sat on the sofa eating ice cream.