For an intermediate runner, the average time to run 20k is 01:40:03 for men and 01:56:16 for women.
A good 20k time is 01:40:03 for men and 01:56:16 for women. This is the average 20k time across all ages. Compare your 20k time by age and ability below.
For an intermediate runner, the average time to run 20k is 01:40:03 for men and 01:56:16 for women.
| Running Level | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 02:15:40 | 02:35:59 |
| Novice | 01:56:02 | 02:14:13 |
| Intermediate | 01:40:03 | 01:56:16 |
| Advanced | 01:27:26 | 01:41:55 |
| Elite | 01:17:40 | 01:30:44 |
| Best | 53:42 | 59:35 |
Time: Finish time for the full distance (seconds below a minute, otherwise mm:ss or hh:mm:ss).
| Running Level | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 06:47 | 07:48 |
| Novice | 05:48 | 06:43 |
| Intermediate | 05:00 | 05:49 |
| Advanced | 04:22 | 05:06 |
| Elite | 03:53 | 04:32 |
| Best | 02:41 | 02:59 |
min/km: Average pace per kilometre, shown in minutes and seconds (mm:ss).
| Running Level | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 10:55 | 12:33 |
| Novice | 09:20 | 10:48 |
| Intermediate | 08:03 | 09:21 |
| Advanced | 07:02 | 08:12 |
| Elite | 06:15 | 07:18 |
| Best | 04:19 | 04:48 |
min/mile: Average pace per mile, shown in minutes and seconds (mm:ss).
A good 20k time is 01:40:03 for men. This is the average time across all ages. The fastest 20k time is 53:42 for men.
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 03:16:10 | 02:47:46 | 02:24:40 | 02:06:25 | 01:52:18 | 01:12:07 |
| 15 | 02:29:16 | 02:07:40 | 01:50:05 | 01:36:12 | 01:25:27 | 56:18 |
| 20 | 02:15:40 | 01:56:02 | 01:40:03 | 01:27:26 | 01:17:40 | 56:01 |
| 25 | 02:15:40 | 01:56:02 | 01:40:03 | 01:27:26 | 01:17:40 | 56:13 |
| 30 | 02:15:44 | 01:56:05 | 01:40:06 | 01:27:28 | 01:17:42 | 56:55 |
| 35 | 02:17:12 | 01:57:20 | 01:41:11 | 01:28:25 | 01:18:33 | 56:27 |
| 40 | 02:20:50 | 02:00:26 | 01:43:51 | 01:30:45 | 01:20:37 | 59:43 |
| 45 | 02:26:38 | 02:05:25 | 01:48:09 | 01:34:30 | 01:23:57 | 01:02:17 |
| 50 | 02:33:15 | 02:11:04 | 01:53:01 | 01:38:46 | 01:27:44 | 01:05:50 |
| 55 | 02:40:28 | 02:17:14 | 01:58:20 | 01:43:25 | 01:31:52 | 01:07:46 |
| 60 | 02:48:25 | 02:24:02 | 02:04:12 | 01:48:32 | 01:36:25 | 01:10:56 |
| 65 | 02:57:10 | 02:31:31 | 02:10:39 | 01:54:10 | 01:41:25 | 01:13:25 |
| 70 | 03:06:54 | 02:39:51 | 02:17:50 | 02:00:27 | 01:47:00 | 01:26:27 |
| 75 | 03:17:53 | 02:49:14 | 02:25:56 | 02:07:32 | 01:53:17 | 01:30:10 |
| 80 | 03:37:07 | 03:05:41 | 02:40:07 | 02:19:55 | 02:04:18 | 01:33:56 |
| 85 | 04:14:30 | 03:37:39 | 03:07:41 | 02:44:01 | 02:25:42 | 02:07:49 |
| 90 | 05:18:38 | 04:32:30 | 03:54:59 | 03:25:20 | 03:02:25 | - |
Time: Finish time for the full distance (seconds below a minute, otherwise mm:ss or hh:mm:ss).
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 09:49 | 08:23 | 07:14 | 06:19 | 05:37 | 03:36 |
| 15 | 07:28 | 06:23 | 05:30 | 04:49 | 04:16 | 02:49 |
| 20 | 06:47 | 05:48 | 05:00 | 04:22 | 03:53 | 02:48 |
| 25 | 06:47 | 05:48 | 05:00 | 04:22 | 03:53 | 02:49 |
| 30 | 06:47 | 05:48 | 05:00 | 04:22 | 03:53 | 02:51 |
| 35 | 06:52 | 05:52 | 05:04 | 04:25 | 03:56 | 02:49 |
| 40 | 07:02 | 06:01 | 05:12 | 04:32 | 04:02 | 02:59 |
| 45 | 07:20 | 06:16 | 05:24 | 04:44 | 04:12 | 03:07 |
| 50 | 07:40 | 06:33 | 05:39 | 04:56 | 04:23 | 03:18 |
| 55 | 08:01 | 06:52 | 05:55 | 05:10 | 04:36 | 03:23 |
| 60 | 08:25 | 07:12 | 06:13 | 05:26 | 04:49 | 03:33 |
| 65 | 08:51 | 07:35 | 06:32 | 05:43 | 05:04 | 03:40 |
| 70 | 09:21 | 08:00 | 06:54 | 06:01 | 05:21 | 04:19 |
| 75 | 09:54 | 08:28 | 07:18 | 06:23 | 05:40 | 04:31 |
| 80 | 10:51 | 09:17 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 06:13 | 04:42 |
| 85 | 12:43 | 10:53 | 09:23 | 08:12 | 07:17 | 06:23 |
| 90 | 15:56 | 13:37 | 11:45 | 10:16 | 09:07 | - |
min/km: Average pace per kilometre, shown in minutes and seconds (mm:ss).
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 15:47 | 13:30 | 11:38 | 10:10 | 09:02 | 05:48 |
| 15 | 12:01 | 10:16 | 08:51 | 07:44 | 06:53 | 04:32 |
| 20 | 10:55 | 09:20 | 08:03 | 07:02 | 06:15 | 04:30 |
| 25 | 10:55 | 09:20 | 08:03 | 07:02 | 06:15 | 04:31 |
| 30 | 10:55 | 09:20 | 08:03 | 07:02 | 06:15 | 04:35 |
| 35 | 11:02 | 09:26 | 08:08 | 07:07 | 06:19 | 04:33 |
| 40 | 11:20 | 09:41 | 08:21 | 07:18 | 06:29 | 04:48 |
| 45 | 11:48 | 10:05 | 08:42 | 07:36 | 06:45 | 05:01 |
| 50 | 12:20 | 10:33 | 09:06 | 07:57 | 07:04 | 05:18 |
| 55 | 12:55 | 11:03 | 09:31 | 08:19 | 07:24 | 05:27 |
| 60 | 13:33 | 11:35 | 10:00 | 08:44 | 07:45 | 05:42 |
| 65 | 14:15 | 12:12 | 10:31 | 09:11 | 08:10 | 05:54 |
| 70 | 15:02 | 12:52 | 11:05 | 09:42 | 08:37 | 06:57 |
| 75 | 15:55 | 13:37 | 11:45 | 10:16 | 09:07 | 07:15 |
| 80 | 17:28 | 14:56 | 12:53 | 11:16 | 10:00 | 07:34 |
| 85 | 20:29 | 17:31 | 15:06 | 13:12 | 11:43 | 10:17 |
| 90 | 25:38 | 21:56 | 18:55 | 16:31 | 14:41 | - |
min/mile: Average pace per mile, shown in minutes and seconds (mm:ss).
A good 20k time is 01:56:16 for women. This is the average time across all ages. The fastest 20k time is 59:35 for women.
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 03:28:39 | 02:59:32 | 02:35:31 | 02:16:20 | 02:01:23 | 01:24:32 |
| 15 | 02:54:49 | 02:30:25 | 02:10:18 | 01:54:14 | 01:41:42 | 01:04:15 |
| 20 | 02:38:20 | 02:16:14 | 01:58:01 | 01:43:27 | 01:32:06 | 01:01:25 |
| 25 | 02:36:05 | 02:14:18 | 01:56:20 | 01:41:59 | 01:30:48 | 01:03:47 |
| 30 | 02:37:05 | 02:15:10 | 01:57:05 | 01:42:39 | 01:31:23 | 01:03:21 |
| 35 | 02:39:15 | 02:17:02 | 01:58:42 | 01:44:03 | 01:32:38 | 01:03:23 |
| 40 | 02:42:38 | 02:19:56 | 02:01:13 | 01:46:16 | 01:34:37 | 01:05:52 |
| 45 | 02:47:57 | 02:24:30 | 02:05:11 | 01:49:44 | 01:37:42 | 01:07:21 |
| 50 | 02:54:41 | 02:30:18 | 02:10:12 | 01:54:08 | 01:41:37 | 01:17:12 |
| 55 | 03:02:34 | 02:37:05 | 02:16:05 | 01:59:18 | 01:46:12 | 01:18:44 |
| 60 | 03:12:13 | 02:45:24 | 02:23:16 | 02:05:36 | 01:51:49 | 01:19:12 |
| 65 | 03:25:33 | 02:56:51 | 02:33:12 | 02:14:18 | 01:59:34 | 01:21:17 |
| 70 | 03:43:04 | 03:11:56 | 02:46:16 | 02:25:45 | 02:09:46 | 01:34:36 |
| 75 | 04:06:42 | 03:32:16 | 03:03:53 | 02:41:12 | 02:23:31 | 01:37:46 |
| 80 | 04:39:33 | 04:00:32 | 03:28:22 | 03:02:40 | 02:42:37 | 02:26:34 |
| 85 | 05:27:38 | 04:41:54 | 04:04:12 | 03:34:05 | 03:10:36 | - |
| 90 | 07:07:43 | 06:08:01 | 05:18:48 | 04:39:28 | 04:08:49 | - |
Time: Finish time for the full distance (seconds below a minute, otherwise mm:ss or hh:mm:ss).
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10:26 | 08:59 | 07:47 | 06:49 | 06:04 | 04:14 |
| 15 | 08:44 | 07:31 | 06:31 | 05:43 | 05:05 | 03:13 |
| 20 | 07:55 | 06:49 | 05:54 | 05:10 | 04:36 | 03:04 |
| 25 | 07:48 | 06:43 | 05:49 | 05:06 | 04:32 | 03:11 |
| 30 | 07:51 | 06:45 | 05:51 | 05:08 | 04:34 | 03:10 |
| 35 | 07:58 | 06:51 | 05:56 | 05:12 | 04:38 | 03:10 |
| 40 | 08:08 | 07:00 | 06:04 | 05:19 | 04:44 | 03:18 |
| 45 | 08:24 | 07:14 | 06:16 | 05:29 | 04:53 | 03:22 |
| 50 | 08:44 | 07:31 | 06:31 | 05:42 | 05:05 | 03:52 |
| 55 | 09:08 | 07:51 | 06:48 | 05:58 | 05:19 | 03:56 |
| 60 | 09:37 | 08:16 | 07:10 | 06:17 | 05:35 | 03:58 |
| 65 | 10:17 | 08:51 | 07:40 | 06:43 | 05:59 | 04:04 |
| 70 | 11:09 | 09:36 | 08:19 | 07:17 | 06:29 | 04:44 |
| 75 | 12:20 | 10:37 | 09:12 | 08:04 | 07:11 | 04:53 |
| 80 | 13:59 | 12:02 | 10:25 | 09:08 | 08:08 | 07:20 |
| 85 | 16:23 | 14:06 | 12:13 | 10:42 | 09:32 | - |
| 90 | 21:23 | 18:24 | 15:56 | 13:58 | 12:26 | - |
min/km: Average pace per kilometre, shown in minutes and seconds (mm:ss).
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 16:47 | 14:27 | 12:31 | 10:58 | 09:46 | 06:48 |
| 15 | 14:04 | 12:06 | 10:29 | 09:11 | 08:11 | 05:10 |
| 20 | 12:44 | 10:58 | 09:30 | 08:19 | 07:25 | 04:57 |
| 25 | 12:34 | 10:48 | 09:22 | 08:12 | 07:18 | 05:08 |
| 30 | 12:38 | 10:53 | 09:25 | 08:16 | 07:21 | 05:06 |
| 35 | 12:49 | 11:02 | 09:33 | 08:22 | 07:27 | 05:06 |
| 40 | 13:05 | 11:16 | 09:45 | 08:33 | 07:37 | 05:18 |
| 45 | 13:31 | 11:38 | 10:04 | 08:50 | 07:52 | 05:25 |
| 50 | 14:03 | 12:06 | 10:29 | 09:11 | 08:11 | 06:13 |
| 55 | 14:41 | 12:38 | 10:57 | 09:36 | 08:33 | 06:20 |
| 60 | 15:28 | 13:19 | 11:32 | 10:06 | 09:00 | 06:22 |
| 65 | 16:32 | 14:14 | 12:20 | 10:48 | 09:37 | 06:32 |
| 70 | 17:57 | 15:27 | 13:23 | 11:44 | 10:26 | 07:37 |
| 75 | 19:51 | 17:05 | 14:48 | 12:58 | 11:33 | 07:52 |
| 80 | 22:30 | 19:21 | 16:46 | 14:42 | 13:05 | 11:48 |
| 85 | 26:22 | 22:41 | 19:39 | 17:14 | 15:20 | - |
| 90 | 34:25 | 29:37 | 25:39 | 22:29 | 20:01 | - |
min/mile: Average pace per mile, shown in minutes and seconds (mm:ss).
| Beginner | Faster than 5% of runners. |
|---|---|
| Novice | Faster than 20% of runners. |
| Intermediate | Faster than 50% of runners. |
| Advanced | Faster than 80% of runners. |
| Elite | Faster than 95% of runners. |
Strength Level introduced these exact Beginner-to-Elite percentile boundaries in 2015. See how the standards evolved.
Our 20k run time standards are based on results submitted by Running Level users. We will continue to update them as more community data becomes available. See our standards timeline.
| Community results | 8,619 |
|---|---|
| Community users | 5,717 |
| Data start | |
| Data cutoff | |
| Model generated |
Qualifying results are retained after checks for implausible data, duplicates, and unusual or automated submission patterns. Learn more about qualifying results.
The old average finish time for 20k was 01:44:09 across all ages and genders, 01:37:49 for men (now 2.2% slower) and 01:53:34 for women (now 2.3% slower).
| Level | Previous | Current | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 02:17:00 | 02:15:40 | -1.0% |
| Novice | 01:54:29 | 01:56:02 | +1.3% |
| Intermediate | 01:37:49 | 01:40:03 | +2.3% |
| Advanced | 01:25:32 | 01:27:26 | +2.2% |
| Elite | 01:16:30 | 01:17:40 | +1.5% |
| Level | Previous | Current | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 02:34:06 | 02:35:59 | +1.2% |
| Novice | 02:11:10 | 02:14:13 | +2.3% |
| Intermediate | 01:53:34 | 01:56:16 | +2.4% |
| Advanced | 01:40:13 | 01:41:55 | +1.7% |
| Elite | 01:30:12 | 01:30:44 | +0.6% |
We created these previous standards on and last updated them (see archive.org).
| Record | Age Category | Name | Time | Date | Age | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 10-14 | Mitch Kingery | 01:12:07 | 17 Jan 1971 | 14 | TB |
| Best | 15-19 | Samuel Wanjiru | 56:18 | 11 Sep 2005 | 18 | W1 |
| Best | 20-24 | Zersenay Tadese | 56:01 | 8 Oct 2006 | 24 | TB |
| Best | 25-29 | Bitan Karoki Muchiri | 56:13 | 26 Mar 2016 | 25 | TB |
| Best | 30-34 | Mohamed Farah | 56:55 | 26 Mar 2016 | 33 | TB |
| Best | 35-39 | Gilbert Masai | 56:27 | 18 Sep 2016 | 35 | TB |
| Best | 40-44 | Meb Keflezighi | 59:43 | 27 Sep 2015 | 40 | TB |
| Best | 45-49 | Michael Hurd | 01:02:17 | 29 Jun 1991 | 45 | TB |
| Best | 50-54 | Norm Green | 01:05:50 | 29 May 1983 | 50 | TB |
| Best | 50-54 | Norman Green | 01:05:50 | 29 May 1983 | 50 | W2 |
| Best | 55-59 | Martín Fiz | 01:07:46 | 24 Mar 2018 | 55 | W2 |
| Best | 60-64 | Joël Rondole | 01:10:56 | 26 Oct 2025 | 61 | W2 |
| Best | 65-69 | Patrick Roussel | 01:13:25 | 12 Oct 2014 | 67 | TB |
| Best | 70-74 | Ron Legg | 01:26:27 | 24 Sep 2016 | 71 | TB |
| Best | 75-79 | Ed Benham | 01:30:10 | 29 May 1983 | 75 | W2 |
| Best | 80-84 | Ed Benham | 01:33:56 | 8 Apr 1989 | 81 | TB |
| Best | 85-89 | Paul Spangler | 02:07:49 | 25 Mar 1984 | 85 | TB |
| Best | - | Jacob Kiplimo | 53:42 | 16 Feb 2025 | - | W3 |
| Record | Age Category | Name | Time | Date | Age | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 10-14 | Laura Cattivera | 01:24:32 | 20 Dec 1981 | 13 | TB |
| Best | 15-19 | Meseret Belete | 01:04:15 | 16 Sep 2018 | 19 | W1 |
| Best | 20-24 | Joyciline Jepkosgei | 01:01:25 | 1 Apr 2017 | 23 | TB |
| Best | 25-29 | Rita Cheptoo Sitienei | 01:03:47 | 8 Oct 2006 | 25 | TB |
| Best | 30-34 | Lornah Kiplagat | 01:03:21 | 8 Oct 2006 | 32 | TB |
| Best | 35-39 | Constantina Dita | 01:03:23 | 8 Oct 2006 | 36 | TB |
| Best | 40-44 | Deena Kastor | 01:05:52 | 21 Sep 2014 | 41 | TB |
| Best | 45-49 | Colleen De Reuck | 01:07:21 | 7 Sep 2009 | 45 | TB |
| Best | 50-54 | Colleen De Reuck | 01:17:12 | 13 Feb 2016 | 51 | TB |
| Best | 55-59 | Rae Baymiller | 01:18:44 | 7 Sep 1998 | 55 | TB |
| Best | 60-64 | Jenny Hitchings | 01:19:12 | 8 Oct 2023 | 60 | TB |
| Best | 65-69 | Rosa Mota | 01:21:17 | 22 Oct 2023 | 65 | W2 |
| Best | 70-74 | Jeannie Rice | 01:34:36 | 7 Oct 2018 | 70 | TB |
| Best | 75-79 | Jeannie Rice | 01:37:46 | 8 Oct 2023 | 75 | TB |
| Best | 80-84 | Ruth Rothfarb | 02:26:34 | 6 Mar 1982 | 80 | TB |
| Best | - | Letesenbet Gidey | 59:35 | 24 Oct 2021 | - | W3 |
The Running Level Calculator can show your exact level of running performance at any age.