We look at the history of the 13.1 mile distance.
The half-marathon world record has been broken many times over the past decade as long-distance running continues to enter a new era of speed.
Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda currently holds the world record for the men’s half marathon, running an amazing time of 56:42 in Barcelona on March 8, 2026, while the women’s world record is 1:02:52, which has stood since October 24.
Major distance running events and half-marathon world record attempts continue to generate increasing interest among sports bettors, with many fans comparing operators through this. List of UK betting sites at major athletics events such as the London Marathon, the Great North Run and the World Athletics Championships.
But while elite times continue to accelerate, many casual runners still ask the same questions before signing up for their first race. how many miles is a half marathon, how long is a half marathon in km, and what actually counts as a good half marathon time?
How many miles is a half marathon?
The half marathon is 13.1 miles.
More specifically, the official distance of a half marathon is 13.1094 miles, although it is almost always reduced to 13.1 miles in race and training plans.
The event is exactly half of a full marathon, covering 26.2 miles.
How long is the half marathon in KM?
For runners using metric distances, the length of a half marathon is 21.0975 kilometers.
The distance is officially recognized by World Athletics and used in major global races, including events such as the Great North Run, the Berlin Half Marathon and the Lisbon Half Marathon.
How the half marathon world record evolved
The half marathon world record has fallen dramatically over the past 20 years.
Improved training methods, advanced shoe technology and a faster race pace have helped athletes repeatedly lower both the men’s and women’s records.
Kenya had dominated the men’s half marathon world record scene for years through runners such as Samuel Wanjiru, Patrick Makau and Geoffrey Kamworor before Jacob Kiplimo’s historic run.
On the women’s side, Letesenbet Gidey’s world record performance in Valencia completely redefined expectations of what is possible over the distance.
The half marathon is now seen as one of the most competitive road running events, perfectly positioned between the explosive pace of shorter distance races and the endurance demands of a marathon.
Why has the half marathon become so popular?
Part of the appeal of the half marathon is its accessibility.
For many runners, 13.1 miles seems like a big accomplishment without requiring the same extreme training associated with full marathons.
Half marathons also appeal to elite athletes because they allow runners to combine speed and endurance in a way few other distances can match.
Events such as the Great North Run regularly attract tens of thousands of runners each year, while elite half-marathon competitions continue to produce some of the fastest times ever recorded in athletics.
As world record times continue to improve, the half marathon remains one of the fastest growing global distance running events.
