Breaking 4:30 at the Boston Marathon
Even splits would be 6:24/km (10:18/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
6:18/km (10:08/mi)
8–26 km
Rolling, gradual net downhill
6:22/km (10:14/mi)
26–34 km
The Newton hills, ending at Heartbreak Hill
6:41/km (10:45/mi)
34–42.2 km
Downhill into Boston — if the quads survived
6:18/km (10:08/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 31:30 | 31:30 | 6:18/km |
| 10 km | 31:37 | 1:03:07 | 6:22/km |
| 15 km | 31:49 | 1:34:56 | 6:22/km |
| 20 km | 31:49 | 2:06:45 | 6:22/km |
| Half | 6:59 | 2:13:44 | 6:22/km |
| 25 km | 24:50 | 2:38:33 | 6:22/km |
| 30 km | 33:06 | 3:11:39 | 6:41/km |
| 35 km | 33:02 | 3:44:41 | 6:18/km |
| 40 km | 31:30 | 4:16:10 | 6:18/km |
| Finish | 13:50 | 4:30:00 | 6:18/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.