Breaking 4:00 at the Honolulu Marathon
Even splits would be 5:41/km (9:09/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
5:38/km (9:04/mi)
10–14 km
Diamond Head climb at sunrise
5:50/km (9:23/mi)
14–37 km
Exposed highway as the heat builds
5:39/km (9:06/mi)
37–42.2 km
Diamond Head again, from the other side
5:50/km (9:23/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 28:09 | 28:09 | 5:38/km |
| 10 km | 28:09 | 56:18 | 5:38/km |
| 15 km | 28:58 | 1:25:16 | 5:39/km |
| 20 km | 28:17 | 1:53:33 | 5:39/km |
| Half | 6:13 | 1:59:45 | 5:39/km |
| 25 km | 22:05 | 2:21:50 | 5:39/km |
| 30 km | 28:17 | 2:50:07 | 5:39/km |
| 35 km | 28:17 | 3:18:25 | 5:39/km |
| 40 km | 28:48 | 3:47:13 | 5:50/km |
| Finish | 12:47 | 4:00:00 | 5:50/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.