Breaking 4:00 at the Boston Marathon
Even splits would be 5:41/km (9:09/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
5:36/km (9:01/mi)
8–26 km
Rolling, gradual net downhill
5:39/km (9:06/mi)
26–34 km
The Newton hills, ending at Heartbreak Hill
5:56/km (9:34/mi)
34–42.2 km
Downhill into Boston — if the quads survived
5:36/km (9:01/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 28:00 | 28:00 | 5:36/km |
| 10 km | 28:07 | 56:06 | 5:39/km |
| 15 km | 28:17 | 1:24:23 | 5:39/km |
| 20 km | 28:17 | 1:52:40 | 5:39/km |
| Half | 6:12 | 1:58:52 | 5:39/km |
| 25 km | 22:04 | 2:20:56 | 5:39/km |
| 30 km | 29:25 | 2:50:21 | 5:56/km |
| 35 km | 29:22 | 3:19:43 | 5:36/km |
| 40 km | 28:00 | 3:47:43 | 5:36/km |
| Finish | 12:17 | 4:00:00 | 5:36/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.