3:45 Marathon Pace

8:35 per mile · 5:20 per km

Finish 3:45:00 at an even pace: halfway in 1:52:30, 20 miles in 2:51:38.

To finish under 3:45:00, hold 8:34 per mile or faster (3:44:36). For a margin, 8:30 per mile finishes in 3:42:52.

Mile splits for a 3:45:00 marathon

Clock time at each mile marker. Even pace is 8:35 every mile; the 2% negative split runs 8:40 per mile to halfway (1:53:38) and 8:30 per mile after.

3:45:00 marathon: elapsed time at each mile
MileEven pace2% negative split
18:358:40
217:1017:20
325:4526:00
434:2034:40
542:5443:20
651:2952:01
71:00:041:00:41
81:08:391:09:21
91:17:141:18:01
101:25:491:26:41
111:34:241:35:21
121:42:591:44:01
131:51:341:52:41
142:00:092:01:12
152:08:432:09:42
162:17:182:18:12
172:25:532:26:41
182:34:282:35:11
192:43:032:43:41
202:51:382:52:10
213:00:133:00:40
223:08:483:09:10
233:17:233:17:39
243:25:583:26:09
253:34:323:34:39
263:43:073:43:08
26.23:45:003:45:00

Kilometer splits

Every 5K, halfway and the finish. Even pace is 5:20 per km; the negative split runs 5:23 then 5:17 per km.

3:45:00 marathon: elapsed time every 5K
MarkerEven pace2% negative split
5K26:4026:56
10K53:1953:52
15K1:19:591:20:48
20K1:46:391:47:43
Half1:52:301:53:38
25K2:13:192:14:14
30K2:39:582:40:38
35K3:06:383:07:01
40K3:33:183:33:25
Finish (42.2)3:45:003:45:00

Other goals: 3:00:00 · 3:30:00 · 4:00:00 · 4:30:00 · 5:00:00

Use this next

A 3:45 marathon is 8:35 per mile, or 5:20 per kilometer, for 26.2 miles: 10K in 53:19, halfway in 1:52:30 and 20 miles in 2:51:38. It sits halfway between a 3:30 marathon and a 4 hour marathon in pace as well as time, about 34 seconds per mile from each.

The exact pace is 8:34.9 per mile, so the rounded 8:35 misses: held all the way, it finishes in 3:45:03. 8:34 per mile finishes in 3:44:36, and 8:30 per mile in 3:42:52. Per kilometer, 5:20 finishes in 3:45:02 and 5:19 per km breaks it in 3:44:20.

On a treadmill the goal lines up with a round setting. 7.0 mph is 8:34 per mile, just inside the pace that breaks 3:45; held for 26.2 miles it would finish in 3:44:44. 6.9 mph is 8:42 per mile, too slow. The treadmill pace chart has every other speed.

The 2% negative-split column runs 8:40 per mile to halfway, which it passes in 1:53:38, then 8:30 per mile. The first-half miles are only 5 seconds slower than goal pace, so the plan mostly asks you not to bank time early: its 10K check is 53:52 rather than 53:19.

By Riegel's formula a 3:45:00 marathon is level with a 1:47:55 half marathon and a 48:55 10K. If a recent race is well slower than that, the goal is a stretch; if it is well faster, a quicker goal may suit you better.

Frequently asked questions

How many minutes per km is a 3:45 marathon?

5:20 per kilometer, rounded. Held exactly it finishes in 3:45:02, so run 5:19 per km or faster to break 3:45 (3:44:20).

What treadmill speed matches 3:45 marathon pace?

7.0 mph. That is 8:34 per mile, a fraction faster than the exact goal pace of 8:34.9; 6.9 mph (8:42 per mile) is too slow.

Where should I be at halfway in a 3:45 marathon?

1:52:30 on an even pace, or 1:53:38 on a 2% negative split, which then runs the second half in 1:51:22.

What half marathon time do I need for a 3:45 marathon?

About 1:47:55, by Riegel's formula, which assumes you have trained for the marathon distance.