Breaking 3:30 at the Honolulu Marathon
Even splits would be 4:59/km (8:01/mi). But Honolulu 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
0–10 km
Cool, dark, downtown — the fastest it will feel all day
4:56/km (7:56/mi)
10–14 km
Diamond Head climb at sunrise
5:06/km (8:12/mi)
14–37 km
Exposed highway as the heat builds
4:57/km (7:58/mi)
37–42.2 km
Diamond Head again, from the other side
5:06/km (8:12/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 24:38 | 24:38 | 4:56/km |
| 10 km | 24:38 | 49:15 | 4:56/km |
| 15 km | 25:21 | 1:14:36 | 4:57/km |
| 20 km | 24:45 | 1:39:21 | 4:57/km |
| Half | 5:26 | 1:44:47 | 4:57/km |
| 25 km | 19:19 | 2:04:06 | 4:57/km |
| 30 km | 24:45 | 2:28:52 | 4:57/km |
| 35 km | 24:45 | 2:53:37 | 4:57/km |
| 40 km | 25:12 | 3:18:48 | 5:06/km |
| Finish | 11:12 | 3:30:00 | 5:06/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.