Twin Cities Marathon 4:45 pace chart
A 4:45:00 finish at the Twin Cities Marathon averages 10:52 per mile (6:45 per kilometre) — right around the median finish time at most large marathons. Run at even effort rather than even pace, the easiest mile comes in around 10:04/mi and the hardest around 11:49/mi — about 104 seconds between the two extremes. Holding an identical number on every mile of a course with this profile means running the climbs too hard and the descents too easy. Held at even effort, halfway comes up at 2:21:56 — a 1:08 positive split, which is what the terrain costs you rather than a pacing error. The hardest mile on the course sits near kilometre 2; at this goal time it should take 11:39/mi, and giving it that time is the difference between finishing Minneapolis on plan and unravelling in the last hour.
Mile-by-mile targets for 4:45:00
Grade-adjusted splits computed from the Twin Cities Marathon elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model, scaled so the full course adds up to 4:45:00. Uphill sections get more time, downhills less, at one constant effort throughout.
| Mile | Target /mi | Target /km | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10:52 | 6:45 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 10:52 |
| 2 | 11:39 | 7:14 | +66 ft (+20 m) | 22:31 |
| 3 | 10:13 | 6:21 | -58 ft (-18 m) | 32:44 |
| 4 | 10:50 | 6:44 | +1 ft (0 m) | 43:35 |
| 5 | 10:49 | 6:43 | 0 ft (0 m) | 54:24 |
| 6 | 10:48 | 6:43 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 1:05:12 |
| 7 | 10:48 | 6:42 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 1:15:59 |
| 8 | 10:53 | 6:46 | +5 ft (+1 m) | 1:26:52 |
| 9 | 10:46 | 6:42 | -13 ft (-4 m) | 1:37:38 |
| 10 | 10:37 | 6:36 | -20 ft (-6 m) | 1:48:16 |
| 11 | 10:56 | 6:47 | +9 ft (+3 m) | 1:59:11 |
| 12 | 10:42 | 6:39 | -12 ft (-4 m) | 2:09:53 |
| 13 | 10:50 | 6:44 | +1 ft (0 m) | 2:20:43 |
| 14 | 11:07 | 6:55 | +25 ft (+8 m) | 2:31:51 |
| 15 | 10:31 | 6:32 | -29 ft (-9 m) | 2:42:22 |
| 16 | 10:47 | 6:42 | -5 ft (-2 m) | 2:53:09 |
| 17 | 10:40 | 6:38 | -15 ft (-4 m) | 3:03:49 |
| 18 | 11:06 | 6:54 | +24 ft (+7 m) | 3:14:55 |
| 19 | 10:04 | 6:16 | -97 ft (-29 m) | 3:24:59 |
| 20 | 11:49 | 7:20 | +68 ft (+21 m) | 3:36:48 |
| 21 | 11:10 | 6:56 | +28 ft (+8 m) | 3:47:58 |
| 22 | 11:42 | 7:16 | +74 ft (+23 m) | 3:59:39 |
| 23 | 11:24 | 7:05 | +49 ft (+15 m) | 4:11:03 |
| 24 | 10:32 | 6:33 | -28 ft (-8 m) | 4:21:35 |
| 25 | 10:56 | 6:48 | +9 ft (+3 m) | 4:32:32 |
| 26 | 10:04 | 6:15 | -74 ft (-23 m) | 4:42:36 |
| 26.2 | 10:59 | 6:50 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 4:45:00 |
Frequently asked questions
What pace is a 4:45 marathon?
A 4:45:00 marathon is 10:52 per mile or 6:45 per kilometre held for the full 26.2 miles (42.195 km). On the Twin Cities Marathon specifically, the elevation profile means even effort produces uneven splits — the table on this page gives the target for every mile.
What should my halfway split be for a 4:45 at the Twin Cities Marathon?
2:21:56. That is the grade-adjusted halfway target for this course, not simply half of 4:45:00 — it accounts for where the climbing sits. Reaching the half meaningfully faster than this on this course usually means you have spent the effort you need for the closing miles.
Should I run even splits at the Twin Cities Marathon?
Even effort at a 4:45 goal produces splits between 10:04 and 11:49 per mile — about 104 seconds between the easiest and hardest one. Grade-adjusted pacing gives back time on the descents and spends it on the climbs, which is what running an even physiological effort actually looks like on a course with this profile.
How are these Twin Cities Marathon splits calculated?
Each mile is weighted by its gradient using the Minetti et al. (2002) cost-of-running polynomial, which measures the metabolic cost of running at grades from −45% to +45%. The total is then scaled so the whole course adds up to 4:45:00. Uphill sections get more time and downhill sections less, at a constant effort throughout.
Is 4:45 a realistic marathon goal?
4:45 is right around the median finish time at most large marathons. Whether it is realistic for you depends on your recent race results and weekly volume rather than on the number itself — the race-time predictor on this site will convert a recent 5K, 10K or half-marathon result into a marathon estimate using the Riegel power-law model.