The Average Running Pace

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

http://www.kpcorporaterunwalk.com/5k-runwalk/results/

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

https://www.atlantatrackclub.org/participant-information-results

https://www.trackshackresults.com/peachtree/results/2015/ptresults.php?Link=10&Type=2&Div=C&Ind=0

Half-Marathon - 13.1 miles - 3/20/2016 - Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon

https://www.atlantatrackclub.org/2016-publix-georgia

https://results.chronotrack.com/event/results/event/event-12972

Marathon - 26.2 miles - 3/19/2017 - Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon

https://www.atlantatrackclub.org/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

The average is 8:45, but to be in the top 50%, the runner needs a time of 7:00 or better.

Average 50% Pace For Each Distance

	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

 Note: The average 50% pace is 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.