Marathon Times to Beat - if you can.

sam w wrote:
1) I looked for people who would be well known to a large percentage of general population. I tried to avoid "C" level celebrities who I thought would be forgotten when their "15 minutes" was up;
2) I excluded athletes who were primarily "runners" (other than world and American record holders). I made a couple of exceptions for interesting times like the fastest marathon leg of the HI Ironman;
3) I was looking for "benchmark times" that people could compare themselves to. That means I included Boston Qualifying times and historical Boston Qualifying times as well as current "corral" qualifying times for large races like Chicago. I thought qualifying for Boston, or getting into a specific corral at Chicago were legit goals people might have;
4) I excluded "gimmick" times, like "fastest person to juggle" while running a marathon. I did include fastest treadmill time and babystroller, and that's where the line was drawn. I wanted the times to be things runners could compare themselves to and since many have run on treadmills or been in a race with a baby stroller pusher I thought that was worthy to include;
5) I looked for times that a casual runner could compare him/herself to, which means I looked for times from the fastest to much slower times. I was looking for a list that from fast to slow a runner could have someone/some benchmark time to have as a goal to beat;
6) Accuracy was important. The time had be to verifiable in a race result list and not just posted by someone on an internet page. I excluded names if I could not find them on a results page and if the only proof was the person saying they did it I excluded that as well.
I started putting the list together after I heard lots of people asking friends who had run a marathon, "did you beat Oprah?" and even Sean Combs made a comment about wanting to beat Oprah.
This was my basic thought process and yes I may have too much time on my hands.

A few things:

1) Firstly, great list. Very comprehensive! You'd think that Runner's World would pay someone for this, or at least be interested in having compiled it themselves by now.

2) LetsRun is great for feedback and spreading the word, but this should live somewhere outside of LetsRun - the problem is that nobody's going to remember that "the latest updated list is on page X on a Y page long thread". Do you have a Tumblr page or something you could put this up on? Any kind of constant URL that just gets updated with the content.

3) I agree with your criteria except with the gimmick times. It seems like allowances were made with strollers and treadmills (why not have fastest stroller runner with a 6 month old, 1 year old, etc). Better just to take them all out, or include them all, rather than have this gray area always exist. People will always challenge it and it doesn't make sense.

4) Athlinks. Why no mention of it? Do you use it? If none of this information is on Athlinks, and if you've verified it then you should at least submit it. There should just be one place to verify someone's time rather than scour the internet. Athlinks has been around for a while now, it's a staple. Then link the Athlinks results to each person's time on your list.

1:59:40
- Fastest Time Ever Run, Eliud Kipchoge, INEOS 1:59 Challenge 2019
2:00:35
- World Record, Kelvin Kiptum, Chicago 2023
2:05:38
- American Record, Khalid Khannouchi, London 2002
2:09:56
– Woman’s World Record, Ruth Chepngetich, Chicago 2024
2:18:29
- American Women’s Record Emily Sisson, Chicago 2022
2:19:00
- 2020 US Olympic Men’s Trials Qualifier Standard
2:21:40
- Treadmill Record, Eric Blake 2006
2:29:59
- Top 0.1% of Marathoners 2011
2:31:56
- Rosie Ruiz (Cheater), Boston Marathon 1980
2:32:09
- Baby Stroller Pushing Record, Zack Freudenberg, Route 66 Marathon 2009
2:36:15 – Gustav Iden, Fastest
ever marathon split at Ironman Hawaii 2022
2:45:00
- 2020 US Olympic Trials Qualifier Women’s Standard
2:46:03
- Alan Turing (Mathematician), AAA Marathon Championship 1947
2:46:43
- Lance Armstrong (7x Tour de France Winner), New York City Marathon 2007
2:50:53
- David Petraeus (General/Director CIA), Omaha Marathon 1982
2:50:xx
- Boston Qualifying 1980 (Men Under 40) Toughest Ever Standard
2:5x:xx
- Paul Ryan (Speaker of House/VP Candidate), Marathon Time Claim
2:50:38
- Mirinda Carfre Female Winner Ironman Hawaii 2013 (Marathon split)
2:51:18
- Frederik Van Lierde Male Winner Ironman Hawaii 2013 (Marathon split)
2:55:00 –
Boston Qualifying 2026 M18-34
2:55:22
- Dean Karnazes (Ultra Runner), New York City Marathon 2007
2:59:59
- Top 1.9% of Marathoners 2011
3:00:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 M35-39
3:00:xx
- Boston Qualifying 1976 Men’s Open (Under 40)
3:03:47 - Rod Blagojevich (Former Illinois Governor), Marine Corps Marathon
1989
3:05:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 M40-44
3:05:00 –
Boston Qualifying 1976 All Women
3:10:26
- Nina Kuscsik (1st Official Women’s Winner), Boston 1972
3:10:59
- Boston Qualifying 2010 M18-34
3:11:xx
- Clarence Thomas (Supreme Court Justice), Marine Corps Marathon 1979
3:15:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 M45-49
3:15:18
- Ed Viesturs (Alpinist), New York City Marathon 2006
3:16:xx
- Harry Reid (Sen. Majority Leader), Boston 1972
3:20:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 M50-54
3:20:06
- Natalie Morales (Reporter), New York City Marathon 2006
3:20:28
- Dan Jansen (Olympic Speed Skater), National Marathon 2008
3:23:54
- Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA Singer), Stockholm Marathon
3:24:07 –
Harry Styles (Singer). Toyo 2025
3:24:29
- William Baldwin (Actor), New York City Marathon 1992
3:25:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 F18-34
3:25:14
- Apolo Anton Ohno (Olympic Speed Skater), New York City Marathon 2011
3:28:45 - Erich Segal (Actor), Boston
1975
3:29:59
- Top 10.4% of Marathoners 2011
3:30:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 M55-59
3:30:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 F35-39
3:30:xx
- Boston Qualifying 1976 Men 40+
3:30:18
- John Edwards (Senator), Marine Corps Marathon 1983
3:30:37
- Gordon Ramsay (Chef), London Marathon 2004
3:31:00
- Michael Dukakis (Governor MA), Boston Marathon 1951
3:32:17
- 1980 Median Finishing Time (Males)
3:35:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 F40-44
3:35:00
- Joan Van Ark (Actress), Santa Ana/Orange Marathon 1979
3:43:24
- Charles Gibson (Anchorman), Marine Corps Marathon 1983
3:44:52
- George W. Bush (President), Houston Marathon 1993
3:45:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 F45-49
3:48:48
- Pat Tillman (NFL Player), Avenue of the Giants Marathon 2000
3:50:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 M60-64
3:50:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 F50-54
3:50:22
- Ryan Reynolds (Actor), New York City Marathon 2008
3:50:25
- Average Finishing Time Boston 2010
3:50:45
- Roger Craig (NFL Player), RnR Arizona 2005
3:51:21
– Natalie Dormer (Actress), London 2016
3:52:00
- Kim Alexis (Supermodel), New York City Marathon 1992
3:54:00
- 1995 Median Finishing Time (Males)
3:54:01 –
Ashton Kutcher (Actor) NYC 2022
3:54:40
- Justin Leonard (Golfer), White Rock Marathon 2001
3:56:12 - Will Ferrell (Actor), Boston 2003
3:57:06 - Joey McIntyre (Singer “New Kids on the Block”),
Boston Marathon 2013
3:57:39 - Alan Page (NFL Player/MN Supreme Ct. Justice),
Grandma’s Marathon 1979
3:58:43 - Eliot Spitzer (Governor NY/TV Commentator), New
York City Marathon 1983
3:59:23 - Michael Waltrip (2x Daytona 500 Champ), Las Vegas Marathon January
2005
3:59:36 - Sarah Palin (Gov. Alaska, VP candidate), Humpy’s
Classic Marathon 2005
3:59:45 - Brett Kavanaugh (Supreme Court Justice), Boston
2010
3:59:59 - Top 30.1% of Marathoners 2011
4:00:00 - Original Boston Qualifying/Training Requirement,
1970
4:00:00 - Houston Marathon Guaranteed Entry Requirement 2025
4:01:25
- Paul Ryan (Speaker of House/VP Candidate), Grandma’s Marathon 1990
4:01:37
- Bobby Flay (Chef), New York Marathon 2010
4:03:39
- 1980 Median Finishing Time (Females)
4:05:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 M65-69
4:05:06
- Kevin Hart (Comedian), New York City Marathon 2017
4:06:05
- Shannon Miller (Olympic Gymnast), New York City Marathon 2006
4:08:30
- Meredith Baxter (Actress), New York City Marathon 1982
4:09:04
- Jeff Fisher (NFL Coach), Country Music Marathon 2004
4:12:xx
- Kerri Strug (Olympic Gymnast), Houston Marathon 1998
4:14:xx
- Average Marathon split at Ironman Kona 2012
4:14:27 - Mark Messier (Hockey
Player, 6 Stanley Cups), New York City Marathon 2011
4:14:54 - Sean Combs (Entertainer), New York City Marathon 2003
4:15:00
- 1995 Median Finishing Time (Females)
4:18:34
- Kyle Petty (NASCAR Driver), Las Vegas Marathon January 2005
4:20:00
(est.) - Katherine Switzer (1st Woman to Run Boston with a Bib),
Boston 1967
4:20:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 M70-74
4:20:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 F60-64
4:20:01
- 2002 Median Finishing Time (Males)
4:23:30
- Mario Lopez (Actor), New York City Marathon 2011
4:25:30
- Ethan Hawke (Actor), New York Marathon 2015
4:26:21
- Lynn Swann (NFL Player), New York City Marathon 1993
4:26:43
- 2011 Average finishing time (Males)
4:27:00
- Willem Alexander (King of the Netherlands), New York City Marathon 1992
4:27:00
- New York Marathon Automatic Entry 2018 NYM F60-64
4:28:45
- Alanis Morissette (Singer), New York City Marathon 2009
4:29:15 - Oprah Winfrey (Talk Show Host), Marine Corps Marathon 1994
4:29:59 - Top 51.5% of Marathoners 2011
4:34:18
- Lisa Ling (Talk Show Host), Boston Marathon 2002
4:35:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 M75-79
4:35:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 F65-69
4:37.11
- 2011 Average finishing time for all runners
4:37:18
- Shi LaBeouf (Actor), LA Marathon 2010
4:37:29
- Mike Huckabee (Governor AR), Marine Corp Marathon 2005
4:38:15
- Tiki Barber (NFL Player/Talk Show Host), New York City Marathon 2017
4:41:39
- Drew Carey (Entertainer), Marine Corp Marathon 2011
4:44:14
- Stacy Shaw (last official finisher after explosions), Boston Marathon 2013
4:50:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 M80+
4:50:00 - Boston
Qualifying 2026 F70-74
4:52:09
- 2011 Average finishing time (females)
4:54:36 - Bill
Frist (Senate Majority Leader), Marine Corp Marathon 1997
4:56:46
- 2002 Median Finishing Time (Females)
4:58:25 - Al Gore (VP), Marine Corps Marathon 1997
4:59:59 - Top 70.7% of Marathoners 2011
5:00:00 - Comrades Marathon Qualifying Time 2025
5:05:00 - Boston
Qualifying 2026 F75-79
5:09:08
- Ted Koppel (News Anchor), Marine Corp Marathon 1983
5:13:28
- Jared Fogle (Subway Guy), New York City Marathon 2010
5:14:37
- Valeria Bertinelli (Actress), Boston Marathon 2010
5:20:00
- Boston Qualifying 2026 F80+
5:28:39
- Tom Vilsack (Governor IA), Little Rock Marathon 2005
5:29:58
- Katie Holmes (Actress), New York Marathon 2007
5:29:59 - Top 83% of Marathoners 2011
5:41:41
- Ali Landry (Miss USA 1996), Boston Marathon 2002
5:42:03
- Pamela Anderson (Actress), New York City Marathon 2013
5:50:49
- Freddie Prinze, Jr. (Actor), Los Angeles Marathon 2006
5:50:51
- Alicia Keys (Singer), New York Marathon 2015
5:59:00
- Meredith Vieira (TV Personality), New York City Marathon 2010
5:59:59 - Top 91% of Marathoners 2011
6:04:43
- David Lee Roth (Singer), New York City Marathon 1987
6:09:00
- Robin Quivers (Radio Personality), New York City Marathon 2010
6:29:59 - Top 95.2% of Marathoners 2011
6:59:59 - Top 97.5% of Marathoners 2011
7:09:44 - Al Roker (Weatherman), New York City Marathon 2010
7:29:59 - Top 98.6% of Marathoners 2011
7:59:59 - Top 99.2% of Marathoners 2011
8:29:59 - Top 99.5% of Marathoners 2011
8:59:59 - Top 99.7% of Marathoners 2011

Marathon Times to Beat - if you can.

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