Breaking 3:00 at the Boston Marathon
Even splits would be 4:16/km (6:52/mi). But Boston Marathon isn't flat-even — the plan below redistributes the same finish time across the course the way experienced runners actually race it.
How to pace this course
0–8 km
Steep early descent — resist the free speed
4:12/km (6:45/mi)
8–26 km
Rolling, gradual net downhill
4:15/km (6:50/mi)
26–34 km
The Newton hills, ending at Heartbreak Hill
4:27/km (7:10/mi)
34–42.2 km
Downhill into Boston — if the quads survived
4:12/km (6:45/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 21:00 | 21:00 | 4:12/km |
| 10 km | 21:05 | 42:05 | 4:15/km |
| 15 km | 21:13 | 1:03:17 | 4:15/km |
| 20 km | 21:13 | 1:24:30 | 4:15/km |
| Half | 4:39 | 1:29:09 | 4:15/km |
| 25 km | 16:33 | 1:45:42 | 4:15/km |
| 30 km | 22:04 | 2:07:46 | 4:27/km |
| 35 km | 22:01 | 2:29:47 | 4:12/km |
| 40 km | 21:00 | 2:50:47 | 4:12/km |
| Finish | 9:13 | 3:00:00 | 4:12/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.