Okay, let’s break it down. For men, the average time usually lands around 4 hours 30 minutes. For women, it’s closer to 5 hours 10 minutes. Does that mean women are slower? Nope—it just reflects different demographics and training styles.
Think of it like this: the men’s group often includes more experienced runners, while women tend to jump in with less training but bigger hearts. The gap is shrinking every year, too. Progress is a beautiful, messy thing.
Runners Statistics from the 2017 London Marathon | Marathon infographic
The Age Factor: You’re Not Too Old (or Young)
Here’s a fun twist: the fastest average times come from runners aged 40–49. Yes, really. Those “midlife crisis” runners? They’ve got experience, patience, and maybe a coach who yells, “Pacing, not racing!”
Meanwhile, 20-somethings often run a bit slower because they go out too fast. Cue the dramatic faceplant at mile 22. It’s like comparing a tortoise that’s read the race manual to a hare that skipped the part about hydration.
