Pace Chart

Running Pace Chart & Pace Band

Enter your goal time to get the pace per mile and per kilometer, the elapsed time at every mile or kilometer, and a pace band you can print, cut out and wear on race day. Works for the marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K, with even pace or a negative split.

9:09per mile
5:41per km
2:00:00at halfway
Running Pace Chart & Pace Band – printable pace band preview

The PDF has several bands to cut out plus a full splits table. Print at 100% / Actual size.

Marathon splits for 4:00:00

MileSplit paceElapsed time
19:099:09
29:0918:18
39:0927:28
49:0936:37
59:0945:46
69:0954:55
79:091:04:05
89:091:13:14
99:091:22:23
109:091:31:32
119:091:40:41
129:091:49:51
139:091:59:00
13.1 (half)2:00:00
149:092:08:09
159:092:17:18
169:092:26:28
179:092:35:37
189:092:44:46
199:092:53:55
209:093:03:05
219:093:12:14
229:093:21:23
239:093:30:32
249:093:39:41
259:093:48:51
269:093:58:00
26.2 (finish)9:094:00:00

The pace band PDF has several identical bands on one page with cutting lines, plus a full splits table on page two. Everything is calculated in your browser.

Marathon pace chart

Even pace. Tap a row to load that finish time into the calculator and print a pace band.

Finish timePace /milePace /km5K10KHalf20 mi
2:30:005:433:3317:4635:331:15:001:54:25
2:35:005:553:4018:2236:441:17:301:58:14
2:40:006:063:4818:5837:551:20:002:02:03
2:45:006:183:5519:3339:061:22:302:05:52
2:50:006:294:0220:0940:171:25:002:09:41
2:55:006:404:0920:4441:281:27:302:13:30
3:00:006:524:1621:2042:401:30:002:17:18
3:05:007:034:2321:5543:511:32:302:21:07
3:10:007:154:3022:3145:021:35:002:24:56
3:15:007:264:3723:0646:131:37:302:28:45
3:20:007:384:4423:4247:241:40:002:32:34
3:25:007:494:5224:1848:351:42:302:36:23
3:30:008:014:5924:5349:461:45:002:40:11
3:35:008:125:0625:2950:571:47:302:44:00
3:40:008:235:1326:0452:081:50:002:47:49
3:45:008:355:2026:4053:191:52:302:51:38
3:50:008:465:2727:1554:311:55:002:55:27
3:55:008:585:3427:5155:421:57:302:59:16
4:00:009:095:4128:2656:532:00:003:03:05
4:05:009:215:4829:0258:042:02:303:06:53
4:10:009:325:5529:3759:152:05:003:10:42
4:15:009:446:0330:131:00:262:07:303:14:31
4:20:009:556:1030:491:01:372:10:003:18:20
4:25:0010:066:1731:241:02:482:12:303:22:09
4:30:0010:186:2432:001:03:592:15:003:25:58
4:35:0010:296:3132:351:05:102:17:303:29:46
4:40:0010:416:3833:111:06:222:20:003:33:35
4:45:0010:526:4533:461:07:332:22:303:37:24
4:50:0011:046:5234:221:08:442:25:003:41:13
4:55:0011:156:5934:571:09:552:27:303:45:02
5:00:0011:277:0735:331:11:062:30:003:48:51
5:05:0011:387:1436:091:12:172:32:303:52:39
5:10:0011:497:2136:441:13:282:35:003:56:28
5:15:0012:017:2837:201:14:392:37:304:00:17
5:20:0012:127:3537:551:15:502:40:004:04:06
5:25:0012:247:4238:311:17:012:42:304:07:55
5:30:0012:357:4939:061:18:122:45:004:11:44
5:35:0012:477:5639:421:19:242:47:304:15:33
5:40:0012:588:0340:171:20:352:50:004:19:21
5:45:0013:108:1140:531:21:462:52:304:23:10
5:50:0013:218:1841:281:22:572:55:004:26:59
5:55:0013:328:2542:041:24:082:57:304:30:48
6:00:0013:448:3242:401:25:193:00:004:34:37
6:05:0013:558:3943:151:26:303:02:304:38:26
6:10:0014:078:4643:511:27:413:05:004:42:14
6:15:0014:188:5344:261:28:523:07:304:46:03
6:20:0014:309:0045:021:30:033:10:004:49:52
6:25:0014:419:0745:371:31:153:12:304:53:41
6:30:0014:529:1546:131:32:263:15:004:57:30

How to use a pace band

Print the PDF at 100%, cut out one band and wrap it around your wrist with the times facing you. A strip of clear packing tape over the top keeps it readable in rain and sweat.

At each mile marker on the course, glance at your watch’s elapsed time and compare it with the band. Use the course markers rather than your GPS distance: race courses are measured along the shortest possible line, so most watches read a little long by the finish.

Even pace or negative split?

An even pace spreads the effort over the whole race and is the simplest plan. A negative split — running the second half slightly faster than the first — holds back early, when adrenaline and a crowded start make it easy to go out too fast.

The negative split options here make the second half 1% or 2% faster than the first. On a 4-hour marathon, 2% means about 2:01:12 for the first half and 1:58:48 for the second. A positive split (a faster first half) is included for comparison, but going out fast usually costs more time later than it banks.

More pace charts and tools

Frequently asked questions

How do I read a pace chart?

Find your goal finish time in the first column. The row gives the average pace per mile and per kilometer and the time you should see on your watch at each checkpoint, such as 5K, 10K and halfway.

What is a pace band?

A strip of paper worn on the wrist that lists the elapsed time you should have at each mile or kilometer marker for your goal. It lets you check your pace at a glance without doing math mid-race.

Should I use miles or kilometers?

Use whatever the course is marked in. US races are usually marked in miles; most races elsewhere in kilometers. Some big races mark both — pick the one you will actually see.