Good Half Marathon Times by Age

Quick answer: A good half marathon time depends on your age and sex. Using WMA age-grading standards, a 50-year-old male running 1:48:12 scores 60% — "Local Class." A 70% Regional Class performance at that age requires 1:32:44. These benchmarks are derived from world-record data for each age group.

Men's Half Marathon Times by Age

AgeRecreational
50%		Local Class
60%		Regional
70%		National
80%		World Class
90%
301:55:02
8:46/mi		1:35:52
7:19/mi		1:22:10
6:16/mi		1:11:54
5:29/mi		1:03:54
4:52/mi
351:55:52
8:50/mi		1:36:34
7:22/mi		1:22:46
6:19/mi		1:12:25
5:31/mi		1:04:22
4:55/mi
401:59:22
9:06/mi		1:39:28
7:35/mi		1:25:15
6:30/mi		1:14:36
5:41/mi		1:06:19
5:03/mi
452:04:22
9:29/mi		1:43:39
7:54/mi		1:28:50
6:47/mi		1:17:44
5:56/mi		1:09:06
5:16/mi
502:09:50
9:54/mi		1:48:12
8:15/mi		1:32:44
7:04/mi		1:21:09
6:11/mi		1:12:08
5:30/mi
552:15:48
10:22/mi		1:53:10
8:38/mi		1:37:00
7:24/mi		1:24:52
6:28/mi		1:15:27
5:45/mi
602:22:20
10:51/mi		1:58:37
9:03/mi		1:41:40
7:45/mi		1:28:57
6:47/mi		1:19:04
6:02/mi
652:29:32
11:24/mi		2:04:37
9:30/mi		1:46:49
8:09/mi		1:33:27
7:08/mi		1:23:04
6:20/mi
702:37:30
12:01/mi		2:11:15
10:01/mi		1:52:30
8:35/mi		1:38:26
7:31/mi		1:27:30
6:40/mi
752:48:25
12:51/mi		2:20:21
10:42/mi		2:00:18
9:11/mi		1:45:16
8:02/mi		1:33:34
7:08/mi
803:05:59
14:11/mi		2:34:59
11:49/mi		2:12:51
10:08/mi		1:56:14
8:52/mi		1:43:20
7:53/mi

Women's Half Marathon Times by Age

AgeRecreational
50%		Local Class
60%		Regional
70%		National
80%		World Class
90%
302:06:00
9:37/mi		1:45:00
8:01/mi		1:30:00
6:52/mi		1:18:45
6:00/mi		1:10:00
5:20/mi
352:07:39
9:44/mi		1:46:23
8:07/mi		1:31:11
6:57/mi		1:19:47
6:05/mi		1:10:55
5:25/mi
402:10:58
9:59/mi		1:49:08
8:20/mi		1:33:33
7:08/mi		1:21:51
6:15/mi		1:12:45
5:33/mi
452:16:10
10:23/mi		1:53:28
8:39/mi		1:37:16
7:25/mi		1:25:06
6:30/mi		1:15:39
5:46/mi
502:23:39
10:57/mi		1:59:43
9:08/mi		1:42:36
7:50/mi		1:29:47
6:51/mi		1:19:48
6:05/mi
552:32:41
11:39/mi		2:07:14
9:42/mi		1:49:03
8:19/mi		1:35:25
7:17/mi		1:24:49
6:28/mi
602:42:55
12:26/mi		2:15:46
10:21/mi		1:56:22
8:53/mi		1:41:49
7:46/mi		1:30:30
6:54/mi
652:54:38
13:19/mi		2:25:32
11:06/mi		2:04:44
9:31/mi		1:49:09
8:20/mi		1:37:01
7:24/mi
703:08:08
14:21/mi		2:36:47
11:58/mi		2:14:23
10:15/mi		1:57:35
8:58/mi		1:44:31
7:58/mi
753:23:57
15:33/mi		2:49:58
12:58/mi		2:25:41
11:07/mi		2:07:28
9:43/mi		1:53:18
8:39/mi
803:46:23
17:16/mi		3:08:39
14:23/mi		2:41:42
12:20/mi		2:21:29
10:48/mi		2:05:46
9:36/mi

What the performance levels mean

  • World Class (90%+) — National or world age-group record territory. Very few runners at any age reach this level.
  • National Class (80–89%) — Competitive at national masters championships. Requires serious, structured training over years.
  • Regional Class (70–79%) — Strong age-group placements at regional and larger local races. Consistent training with quality sessions.
  • Local Class (60–69%) — Competitive in local races. Solid fitness from regular running and some structured training.
  • Recreational (below 60%) — Running for fitness and enjoyment. Most runners start here and can improve significantly with consistent training.

Training for a faster Half Marathon

The half marathon demands sustained aerobic power — running at or near your lactate threshold for 75–120 minutes. Training should emphasize threshold runs (tempo efforts at comfortably hard pace) and progression long runs where the final miles approach half marathon effort. Volume is important: most runners who race well at this distance run 30+ miles per week during their training block.

Calculate your exact age-graded score

The table above shows benchmarks at round performance levels. Enter your exact race time below to see your precise WMA age-graded percentage.

Age-Grading: Calculates your performance as a percentage of the World Record standard for your specific age and gender. This creates a unified 'Level Playing Field' across all demographics. An 80% score at age 60 represents the exact same relative competitiveness as an 80% score at age 25, even though the absolute race times differ.

These are population benchmarks

WMA age-grading tells you how your time compares to world-record standards. StrideIQ goes further — it tracks your individual recovery patterns, efficiency trends, and supercompensation curves from your own training data. Population benchmarks are a starting point. Your body's individual response is where real coaching begins.

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Common questions

What is a good half marathon time for beginners?

Finishing your first half marathon is the achievement. A 2:15–2:30 finish is common for first-timers with basic training. WMA age-grading shows a 50% score (recreational) for a 30-year-old male is about 1:55:02 — a reasonable first-timer goal with a structured training plan.

How does age affect half marathon performance?

Half marathon performance declines about 3–5% per decade through your 50s, then accelerates after 60. A 40-year-old male at 70% age-grade runs 1:25:15; a 60-year-old at the same grade runs 1:41:40. The endurance component of the half marathon ages well — many masters runners maintain strong half marathon fitness into their 60s.

Is a sub-2-hour half marathon good for my age?

For a 30-year-old male, sub-2:00 is about 48% age-graded — entry-level recreational. For a 60-year-old male, sub-2:00 scores about 59%. For a 70-year-old male, sub-2:00 is about 66% — solidly Local Class. The older you are, the more impressive the same time becomes.

See times for other distances

Good 5K Times by Age →Good 10K Times by Age →Good Marathon Times by Age →Full Calculator →

Data source: Alan Jones 2025 WMA Road Age-Grading Tables, approved by USATF Masters Long Distance Running Council (January 2025). Times computed from official age-factor tables and open-class world-record standards.