Breaking 3:05 at the Boston Marathon
Even splits would be 4:23/km (7:03/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
4:19/km (6:57/mi)
8–26 km
Rolling, gradual net downhill
4:22/km (7:01/mi)
26–34 km
The Newton hills, ending at Heartbreak Hill
4:35/km (7:22/mi)
34–42.2 km
Downhill into Boston — if the quads survived
4:19/km (6:57/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 21:35 | 21:35 | 4:19/km |
| 10 km | 21:40 | 43:15 | 4:22/km |
| 15 km | 21:48 | 1:05:03 | 4:22/km |
| 20 km | 21:48 | 1:26:51 | 4:22/km |
| Half | 4:47 | 1:31:38 | 4:22/km |
| 25 km | 17:01 | 1:48:38 | 4:22/km |
| 30 km | 22:40 | 2:11:19 | 4:35/km |
| 35 km | 22:38 | 2:33:57 | 4:19/km |
| 40 km | 21:35 | 2:55:32 | 4:19/km |
| Finish | 9:28 | 3:05:00 | 4:19/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.