Metric Marathon

What is a metric marathon?

A metric marathon is 26.2 kilometres, about 16.3 miles. It takes the marathon’s famous number and swaps miles for kilometres, so you get the 26.2 bragging rights over a distance most runners can train for alongside everyday life.

How does it differ from a marathon?

A full marathon is 26.2 miles (42.2km), so the metric version is around 16km (10 miles) shorter: roughly 62% of the distance. That changes everything about race day. Most runners finish a metric marathon in two to three and a half hours rather than four to six, training peaks at long runs of around 14 to 16 miles instead of 20, and recovery takes days rather than weeks. It is also about 5km further than a half marathon, which makes it the natural next step after your first half and a brilliant stepping stone, or tune-up race, on the way to a full marathon.

RunThrough metric marathons are chip-timed, with water on course, friendly marshals and a medal at the finish. Want a different long-run challenge? Try our 20 mile races.