Breaking 3:45 at the Marine Corps Marathon
Even splits would be 5:20/km (8:35/mi). But Marine Corps 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
0–13 km
The real hills come early, through Rosslyn and Spout Run
5:25/km (8:44/mi)
13–32 km
Flat monuments-and-waterfront miles
5:16/km (8:28/mi)
32–42.2 km
Bridge, Crystal City, then the Iwo Jima hill at the death
5:21/km (8:36/mi)
Split table
| Checkpoint | Split | Elapsed | Pace at this point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km | 27:07 | 27:07 | 5:25/km |
| 10 km | 27:07 | 54:14 | 5:25/km |
| 15 km | 26:48 | 1:21:02 | 5:16/km |
| 20 km | 26:19 | 1:47:21 | 5:16/km |
| Half | 5:47 | 1:53:08 | 5:16/km |
| 25 km | 20:33 | 2:13:40 | 5:16/km |
| 30 km | 26:19 | 2:40:00 | 5:16/km |
| 35 km | 26:34 | 3:06:33 | 5:21/km |
| 40 km | 26:43 | 3:33:16 | 5:21/km |
| Finish | 11:44 | 3:45:00 | 5:21/km |
Print this table or write the elapsed times on your arm — GPS pace is least reliable exactly when you need it most.