For an average runner, a good marathon time can be anywhere between 4 to 5 hours covering the standard distance of 42 kilometers (26 miles). According to data gathered across marathons worldwide, average marathon time for runners between 30 to 50 years old is 4 hours and 30 seconds. Runners older than 60 tend to cross the finish line slower at 5:40.
But if we’re running our first marathon, the goal is to finish, and any time is a good time.
Elite runners run the distance averaging 2:00 to 2:10 for men and 2:15 to 2:20 for women. They run an average of more than 3 minutes per kilometer or less than 5 minutes per mile.
About 60,000 runners hit the flat and fast course during the 2026 London Marathon last April 26. With very lean physiques, two African runners made marathon history when they broke the 2-hour barrier. Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe won the race in 1:59:30. He was closely followed by debuting Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha with a time of 1:59:41. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, the half marathon record holder, came in third with 2:00:28. All three podium finishers ran under 2:01.
Breaking the women’s record, Tigist Assefa, also of Ethiopia, won the women’s race in 2:15:41. She’s the first woman to defend a London Marathon title since 2020 and for three consecutive years, a women’s-only world record was set in London.
Sawe, who has now won all four major marathons that he had raced, became the first person to do a sub-2 in a legally sanctioned race. He erased the previous world record of 2:00:35 made by Kelvin Kiptum during the 2023 Chicago Marathon. He is the first to defend a London men’s title since Eliud Kipchoge did in 2018 and 2019.
It must be the shoes, and a day after the race, it reportedly sold out. Depending on the size, the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 weighs 97 grams. It is marketed as the lightest running shoe to date approved for competition.
Crossing the finish line, Sawe did a gesture of thanks, surrender and trust, manifesting that his strength comes from somewhere and someone more supreme - the hand to the forehead, chest and shoulders. We all had made this gesture in times of uncertainties, difficulties, fear and gratitude.
A world record-holder, giving a brief and quite moment of gratitude to God with the sign of the Cross.