When one first starts running or walking, just
finishing a certain distance is an accomplishment. At some point, however, most runners will
eventually want to finish the same distance in a given time … and then beat
that time. This paper looks at four
races (5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon) to determine what an average
running pace is. The data for this came from four races in Atlanta, GA
5K - 3.1 miles - 9/22/2016 - KP Corporate Run/Walk
5K - 3.1 miles - 9/22/2016 - KP Corporate Run/Walk
http://www.kpcorporaterunwalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-Overall-Finish-List.pdf
10K - 6.2 miles - 7/4/2015 - AJC Peachtree Road Race
10K - 6.2 miles - 7/4/2015 - AJC Peachtree Road Race
Half-Marathon - 13.1 miles - 3/20/2016 - Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon
https://results.chronotrack.com/event/results/event/event-12972
Marathon - 26.2 miles - 3/19/2017 - Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon
Marathon - 26.2 miles - 3/19/2017 - Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon
https://results.chronotrack.com/event/results/event/event-20420
For this study, the participant count includes all
participants whereas runner count only includes those who finished with a 15 minute/mile pace or better. It is acknowledge that a 5K in South Florida will have a different pace than a Marathon up Pike's Peak. In Atlanta, GA, the terrain is moderate with some rolling hills and all four races where in the same general area. With this terrain, it would be hard classify anything slower than 15:00 as a "run".
Every runner has aspirations of beating their own
time or achieving a Personal Record (PR).
Some runners additionally have a competitive
spirit and want to be “above average”.
Average Pace For Each Distance
3.1
|
6.2
|
13.1
|
26.2
|
AVG
|
|
AVG
|
0:10:58
|
0:10:47
|
0:10:17
|
0:11:02
|
0:10:46
|
Note: The average of the averages is 10:46.
Being above average does not mean that a runner
was in the fastest 50% .
Consider these 10 finish times for a 1 mile race
Place
|
Pace
|
1
|
5:00
|
2
|
5:30
|
3
|
6:00
|
4
|
6:30
|
5
|
7:00
|
6
|
7:30
|
7
|
10:00
|
8
|
11:00
|
9
|
14:00
|
10
|
15:00
|
AVG
|
8:45
|
Average 50% Pace For Each Distance
Note: The average 50% pace is 10:39
3.1
|
6.2
|
13.1
|
26.2
|
AVG
|
|
AVG 50%
|
0:10:55
|
0:10:41
|
0:10:03
|
0:10:57
|
0:10:39
|
As a runner advances from one distance to the
next, one might expect the pace to slow. This was not always the case. Using the same races, there were 482 runners that ran that ran a 5K and
then later ran a 10K. There were 190 runners
that ran a half marathon followed the next year by a marathon. There were only a very few that ran a 10K
followed by a half marathon, so their results are not shown here.
In most cases the pace difference between two
races was 3:00 or less.
