Half marathon

Template:Short description Template:Infobox athletics event A half marathon is a road running event of Template:Convert—half the distance of a marathon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish, or shortcuts.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> If finisher medals are awarded, the medal or ribbon may differ from those for the full marathon. The half marathon is also known as a 21K, 21.1K, or 13.1 miles, although these values are rounded and not formally correct.Template:Example needed

A half marathon world record is officially recognised by World Athletics.<ref name="IAAF men record">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="IAAF women record">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The men's world record time, pending ratification, is 56:42, set by Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda in February 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The women's world record, in a mixed-gender race, is 1:02:52, set by Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia in October 2021 in Valencia, Spain. In a female-only race, the women's world record is 1:05:16, set by Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya in October 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Participation in half marathons has grown steadily since 2003,<ref name="nytimes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> partly because it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a marathon does.<ref name="nytimes" /> In 2008, Running USA reported that the half marathon is the fastest-growing type of race.<ref name="nytimes" />

History

The concept of the half-marathon emerged in the 1960s. The first half marathon was the Route du Vin Half Marathon founded in 1961. Although the race was technically not the official current distance until it was standardized in 1995.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The event grew in popularity leading to the eventual establishment of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in 1992, originally titled the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

All-time top 25

Men

• Correct Template:As of.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Rank	Time	Athlete	Date	Place	Ref
1	56:42	Template:Flagathlete	16 February 2025	Barcelona	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2	57:30	Template:Flagathlete	27 October 2024	Valencia	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
3	57:32	Template:Flagathlete	6 December 2020	Valencia	<ref name="2020.valencia">Template:Cite news</ref>
4	57:41	Template:Flagathlete	22 October 2023	Valencia	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
5	57:50	Template:Flagathlete	22 October 2023	Valencia	<ref name=":0" />
6	57:59	Template:Flagathlete	6 December 2020	Valencia	Template:R
7	58:01	Template:Flagathlete	15 September 2019	Copenhagen	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
8	58:02	Template:Flagathlete	6 March 2022	Rome–Ostia	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
9	58:07	Template:Flagathlete	24 October 2021	Valencia	<ref name="worldathletics.org">Template:Cite news</ref>
10	58:10	Template:Flagathlete	15 September 2024	Copenhagen	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
11	58:11	Template:Flagathlete	6 December 2020	Valencia	Template:R
12	58:17	Template:Flagathlete	27 October 2024	Valencia	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
13	58:23	Template:Flagathlete	21 March 2010	Lisbon
14	58:28	Template:Flagathlete	24 October 2021	Valencia	<ref name="worldathletics.org" />
15	58:30	Template:Flagathlete	19 February 2022	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
16	58:33	Template:Flagathlete	17 March 2007	The Hague
		Template:Flagathlete	28 October 2018	Valencia	<ref name="auto4">Template:Cite news</ref>
18	58:35	Template:Flagathlete	19 February 2022	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
19	58:36	Template:Flagathlete	19 February 2022	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
20	58:39	Template:Flagathlete	27 October 2024	Valencia	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
21	58:40	Template:Flagathlete	17 September 2017	Copenhagen
		Template:Flagathlete	24 October 2021	Valencia	<ref name="worldathletics.org"/>
		Template:Flagathlete	19 February 2022	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
24	58:41	Template:Flagathlete	27 October 2024	Valencia	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
25	58:42	Template:Flagathlete	9 February 2018	Ras al-Khaimah	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Template:Flagathlete	8 April 2018	Berlin	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Template:Flagathlete	8 February 2019	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite news</ref>
		Template:Flagathlete	6 December 2020	Valencia	Template:R

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 58:43:

• Jacob Kiplimo also ran 57:31 (2021), 57:37 (2020), 57:56 (2022) and 58:09 (2024).
• Kibiwott Kandie also ran 57:40 (2023), 58:10 (2022) and 58:38 (2020).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Yomif Kejelcha also ran 57:41 (2023) and 58:32 (2022).
• Sabastian Sawe also ran 58:05 (2024), 58:24 (2024), 58:29 (2023).
• Abraham Kiptum ran 58:18,<ref name="IAAF men record" /> but it was expunged for doping.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi also ran 58:21 (2024).
• Zersenay Tadese also ran 58:30 (2011).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Daniel Mateiko also ran 58:26 (2021) and 58:40 (2022).
• Philemon Kiplimo also ran 58:34 (2021).

Performance annulled due to doping offences:

Time	Athlete	Date	Place	Ref
57:49	Template:Flagathlete	6 December 2020	Valencia	Template:R

Women

• Correct Template:As of.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Rank	Time	Athlete	Date	Place	Ref
1	1:02:52 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	24 October 2021	Valencia	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2	1:03:04 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	27 October 2024	Valencia	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
3	1:03:21 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	27 October 2024	Valencia	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
4	1:03:32 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	27 October 2024	Valencia	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
5	1:03:51 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	24 October 2021	Valencia	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
6	1:04:02 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	4 April 2021	Istanbul	<ref name="Chepngetich smashes world half mara">Template:Cite news</ref>
7	1:04:13 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	16 February 2025	Barcelona	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
8	1:04:14 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	19 February 2022	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	1:04:14 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	27 October 2024	Valencia	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
10	1:04:22 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	19 February 2022	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
11	1:04:31 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	21 February 2020	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
12	1:04:36 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	19 February 2022	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
13	1:04:37	Template:Flagathlete	19 February 2023	Barcelona	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	1:04:37 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	14 January 2024	Houston	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
15	1:04:40 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	11 February 2024	Barcelona	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
16	1:04:46	Template:Flagathlete	22 October 2023	Valencia	<ref name=":0" />
17	1:04:49	Template:Flagathlete	21 February 2020	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
18	1:04:52	Template:Flagathlete	9 February 2018	Ras al-Khaimah	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
19	1:04:53	Template:Flagathlete	22 October 2023	Valencia	<ref name=":0" />
20	1:04:55	Template:Flagathlete	9 February 2018	Ras al-Khaimah	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
21	1:05:01 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	28 August 2022	Larne	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
22	1:05:03 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	16 January 2022	Houston	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
23	1:05:04	Template:Flagathlete	7 April 2018	Prague	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
24	1:05:06	Template:Flagathlete	10 February 2017	Ras al-Khaimah	<ref name=":1" />
25	1:05:07	Template:Nowrap	9 February 2018	Ras al-Khaimah	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:05:07:

• Yalemzerf Yehualaw also ran 1:03:44 Template:AthAbbr Template:AthAbbr (2021, not legal),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 1:04:22 Template:AthAbbr (2022),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> 1:04:40 Template:AthAbbr (2021), 1:04:46 (2020).

• Brigid Kosgei also ran 1:04:28 Template:AthAbbr Template:AthAbbr (2019).
• Joyciline Jepkosgei also ran 1:04:29 Template:AthAbbr (2024), 1:04:46 (2023), 1:04:51 (2017),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> 1:04:52 (2017).

• Hellen Obiri also ran 1:04:48 (2022), 1:04:51 Template:AthAbbr (2021).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Sheila Chepkirui also ran 1:04:53 Template:AthAbbr (2021).
• Ruth Chepngetich also ran 1:05:06 (2020).

Season's bests

File:20070909 Chicago Half Marathon.JPG

The Chicago Half Marathon is a Chicago Marathon tune-up on Lake Shore Drive in the South Side of Chicago.

File:Bristol Half Marathon.jpg

Runners taking part in the Bristol Half Marathon

This table lists the best half marathon performances per year since 1970, as recorded by the ARRS.<ref name=ARRSRankingsHalf>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Year	Mark	Men	Place	Mark	Women	Place
1970	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Belfast
1971	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Freckleton	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Phoenix
1972	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Coamo	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	San Diego
1973	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Maracaibo
1974	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Wieze	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ay
1975	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Grevenmacher
1976	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Coamo	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Nazaré
1977	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Beppu	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Milan
1978	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Welwyn Garden City	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	San Diego
1979	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Las Vegas	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Manchester
1980	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	New Orleans	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	The Hague
1981	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Manchester	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	San Diego
1982	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Philadelphia	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Gothenburg
1983	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Dayton	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Philadelphia
1984	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Milan	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Philadelphia
1985	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Philadelphia	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Philadelphia
1986	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Drammen
1987	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Barnsley	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Sandnes
1988	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields
1989	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Durban	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	New Bedford
1990	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields
1991	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Milan	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	East London
1992	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Dundee
1993	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	MilanTemplate:Efn	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	St Petersburg
1994	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Kyoto
1995	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Lisbon	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Kyoto
1996	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ivry-sur-Seine	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Paris
1997	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Košice	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Kyoto
1998	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Milan	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Kyoto
1999	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Milan	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Tokyo
2000	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Tokyo	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields
2001	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Berlin	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Bristol
2002	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Lisbon	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields
2003	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields
2004	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields
2005	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	South Shields
2006	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Tempe	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Berlin
2007	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	The Hague	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Udine
2008	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete	Lisbon New Delhi	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Marugame
2009	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ras al-Khaimah	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Birmingham
2010	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Lisbon	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ras al-Khaimah
2011	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Lisbon	Template:Tts<ref name="Keitany 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Flagathlete	Ras al-Khaimah
2012	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Prague	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ras al-Khaimah
2013	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ras al-Khaimah	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ras al-Khaimah
2014	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Valencia	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Barcelona
2015	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Valencia	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Barcelona
2016	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ostia	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Prague
2017	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Copenhagen	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Valencia
2018	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Valencia	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ras al-Khaimah
2019	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Copenhagen	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Manama
2020	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Valencia	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ras al-Khaimah
2021	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Lisbon	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Valencia
2022	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ras al-Khaimah	Template:Tts	Template:Flagathlete	Ras al-Khaimah

The largest half marathon ever held was Broloppet (the Bridge race) between Copenhagen in Denmark and Malmö in Sweden with 79,719 finishers, held in connection with the Øresund Bridge inauguration in 2000.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• List of half marathon races
• World Athletics Half Marathon Championships
• Mini marathon
• Quarter marathon
• Half marathon world record progression
• One hour run

Further reading

• Template:Cite journal

External links

• IAAF list of half-marathon records in XML