The average marathon time is the figure every first-time marathoner wants before race day, and it is more stable than the shorter distances because finishing 26.2 miles already selects for training. This page reads the average marathon and half marathon time by age and sex, and what a good finish is against your own group.
What the marathon average is
Average marathon time across finishers sits somewhere around four and a half hours, with men's and women's averages a little either side and a wide spread. A good marathon time is faster, under four hours for many, and what is a good marathon time depends on age: the same finish that is average for a younger runner is a good one for an older one, which is why age-grading exists.
The half marathon average
Average half marathon time is roughly two hours across finishers, which is why the sub-2 half is such a meaningful goal: it sits right at the boundary of the average. Good half marathon time is a step quicker, and average pace for half marathon read off the chart shows exactly what the average finish demands per mile over 13.1 miles.
Reading the average fairly
Because finishing a marathon already requires months of training, the average marathon time by age is a fairer benchmark than the shorter distances, where casual entrants pull the figure around. Average marathon time for men and for women are read from their own columns, and the honest use is context for your own goal, not a bar to clear to feel like a real runner.
Questions people ask about average marathon time
What is the average marathon time?
Across finishers it sits around four and a half hours, with a wide spread; a good marathon time is faster, under four hours for many runners, and is fairest read against your age band.
What is the average half marathon time?
Roughly two hours across finishers, which is why the sub-2 half is such a meaningful goal, sitting right at the boundary of the average.
Does the average marathon time change with age?
Yes; it rises as speed declines, so a finish that is average for a younger runner is a good one for an older one, which is what age-grading corrects for.