Race distances

How Many Miles in a Marathon Race?

By Darrin DeTorres· Published Nov 10, 2026 · Facts checked Nov 10, 2026

How many miles is a marathon race?

A marathon race is 26.2 miles, or exactly 42.195 kilometers, which is 26 miles 385 yards. ¹Every marathon course is measured to at least that distance, whether it is a big-city race or a small local event. ⁴ A marathon is exactly twice a half marathon, which is 13.1 miles (21.0975 km).²

The miles figure is 26.2188 to four decimal places, using the international mile of exactly 1,609.344 meters and the yard of exactly 0.9144 meters. ³ On a standard 400-meter track it would take 105½ laps.

Miles are calculated from kilometers with the exact factor of 1.609344 km per mile. ³ For every distance in miles and kilometers, with median finish times and entry fees, seerace distances in miles.

How long does it take to run a marathon?

The median marathon finish time is 4:26:33, from RunRepeat’s analysis of 35 million race results worldwide; the median for women is 4:42:09 and for men 4:14:29. ⁷ At a steady 10-minute-mile pace a marathon takes 4:22:11, and at 12 minutes per mile it takes 5:14:38.

The last row matters if you plan to walk part of the race. A 16-minute mile finishes a marathon in 6:59:30, which is why so many marathons close the course at 7 hours. The Eugene Marathon, the San Antonio Marathon andRock ’n’ Roll San Diego all allow 7 hours, and theWalt Disney World Marathon requires a 16-minute-mile pace. Check the time limit on any race before you enter.

Why is a marathon 26.2 miles?

The race is named for the legend of a Greek messenger who ran from Marathon to Athens, and the first Olympic marathon in 1896 was about 40 kilometers. ¹ At the 1908 London Olympics the course ran from Windsor Castle to the stadium, and that race set the distance of 26 miles 385 yards. ⁶ The governing body now called World Athletics fixed the marathon at 42.195 kilometers in 1921. ¹

Is every marathon exactly 26.2 miles?

No course is shorter than 26.2 miles if it is measured to the rules. World Athletics says a road course must not be shorter than the official distance, and recommends measuring each kilometer as 1,001 meters, a 0.1% buffer against coming up short. ⁴ For major international races the measurement uncertainty may not exceed 0.1%, or 42 meters over a marathon. ⁴

In the United States, USATF certifies road courses, and only a certified course counts for records and national rankings. ⁵ Your GPS watch will usually read a little over 26.2, because a course is measured along the shortest line a runner could take, and few runners hold that line through every turn.

When are marathons held? What Bib Scouts’ listings show

Bib Scouts lists 457 upcoming marathons in 47 states as of Nov 10, 2026, and 139 of them are trail races. The busiest month ahead is April 2027, with 82 marathons; the quietest is July 2027, with 17. Among the 448 marathons with an open entry fee today, the median is $95, and the middle half cost between $80 and $115.

The states with the most upcoming marathons on the site are Florida (53), Texas (42), California (29), North Carolina (21) and Washington (20). Counts include every listed race with a 26.2-mile event, including relays, and fees are each race’s lowest open marathon fee before processing fees.

Find a marathon

• City marathon guides: marathons in Eugene, Oregon, marathons in Cleveland, Ohio and the San Antonio Marathon
• Race guides: Marine Corps Marathon, Walt Disney World Marathon and Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego
• Spring half marathons, if you want to build up with a 13.1 first
• Races near you, filtered by distance
• Race distances in miles for the 5K, 10K and everything in between