Standard race distances

Name
Kids of Steel

Swim
Bicycle
Run
100750 m 515 km 15 km

Novice (Australia) 300 m

8 km

2 km

393 (New
Zealand)

300 m

9 km

3 km

400 m
(0.25 mi)
400 m
(0.25 mi)
750 m
(0.47 mi)
1.5 km
(0.93 mi)
3.0 km
(1.86 mi)
1.93 km
(1.2 mi)
4.0 km
(2.49 mi)

10 km
(6.2 mi)
20 km
(12.4 mi)
20 km
(12.4 mi)
40 km
(24.8 mi)
80 km
(49.6 mi)
90 km
(56 mi)
120 km
(74.6 mi)

Super Sprint
Novice (Europe)
Sprint
Olympic
ITU-Long
Distance (O2)
Half
ITU-Long
Distance (O3)

3.86 km
(2.4 mi)

Full

2.5 km
(1.5 mi)
5 km
(3.1 mi)
5 km
(3.1 mi)
10 km
(6.2 mi)
20 km
(12.4 mi)
21.09 km
(13.1 mi)
30 km
(18.6 mi)
42.2 km
180 km
(26.2 mi)
(112 mi)
marathon

Notes
Distances vary with age of athlete. See: Ironkids
Distances vary, but this is a standard Novice distance course in Australia (often
called enticer triathlons).
Distances vary, but this is a standard Novice distance course in New Zealand.
Distances vary, but this is a standard Super Sprint course.
Distances vary somewhat, but this is a standard novice/fitness distance course in
Europe.
For pool-based races a 400 or 500 m swim is common.
Also known as "international distance", "standard course", or "short course"
Double Olympic Distance[20] distance of the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World
Championships 2007 and 2009.
Also known as "middle distance", "70.3" (total miles traveled), or "half-ironman".
So-called triple Olympic Distance,[20] distance of the ITU Long Distance Triathlon
World Championships most years including 2011.
Also known as "long distance" or "Ironman Triathlon". [21]

Ultra Distances
Distances
Swimming
Ironman
3.86 km (2.40 mi)
Double Ultratriathlon
7.6 km (4.7 mi)
Triple Ultratriathlon
11.4 km (7.1 mi)
Quadruple Ultratriathlon 15.2 km (9.4 mi)
Quintuple Ultratriathlon 19 km (12 mi)
Deca Ultratriathlon
38 km (24 mi)
10-Days-Triathlon
every day 7.5 km
or every day 3.86 km
Fifteenfold Triathlon

57 km (36 mi)

Double Deca Triathlon

76 km (48 mi)

Cycling
180 km (110 mi)
360 km (220 mi)
540 km (340 mi)
720 km (450 mi)
900 km (560 mi)
1,800 km (1,100 mi)
every day 200 km
every day 180 km
2,700 km
(1,660 mi)
3,600 km
(2,200 mi)

Running
42.2 km (26.2 mi)
84.4 km (52.4 mi)
126.6 km (78.7 mi)
168.8 km (104.9 mi)
211 km (131 mi)
422 km (262 mi)
every day 50 km
every day 42.2 km
633 km (393 mi)
844 km (524 mi)

Double Triathlon
Time

Athlete

Race / Year

25:38:00 Ken Wiseman (USA)

Huntsville (USA), 1985

22:28:00 Ken Wiseman (USA)

Huntsville (USA), 1986

22:06:03 Wim-Bart Knol (HOL) Lelystad (HOL), 1989 (June)

21:44:00 Ken Wiseman (USA)

Huntsville (USA), 1989 (Sept.)

21:07:19 Martin Feijen (HOL)

Lelystad (HOL), 1992 (June)

20:24:38 Wito de Meulder (BEL) Colmar (FRA), 1992 (July)

20:11:54 Mario Huys (BEL)

Middelkerke (BEL), 1992 (Sept.)

19:54:46 Mario Huys (BEL)

Leuven (BEL), 1993

19:36:00 John Quinn (USA)

Huntsville (USA), 1994

18:55:36 Luis Wildpanner (AUT) Neulengbach (AUT), 2002

Triple Triathlon
Time

Athlete

Race / Year

39:38:40 Ken Wiseman (USA)

Le Fontanil (FRA), 1988

37:38:40 Wolfgang Erhard (AUT)

Le Fontanil (FRA), 1990

35:30:29 Wolfgang Erhard (AUT)

Le Fontanil (FRA), 1992

33:28:16 Wolfgang Erhard (AUT)

Le Fontanil (FRA), 1994

32:55:50 Gerhard Weber (AUT)

Neulengbach (AUT), 1996

31:47:57 Luis Wildpanner (AUT)

Lensahn (GER), 2003

Quadruple Triathlon
Time

Athlete

Race / Year

58:10:54 Martin Feijen (HOL)

Den Haag (HOL), 1989

57:45:50 Guyla Rapolti (HUN)

Szkesfehrvr (HUN), 1991

53:41:00 Sren Hjbjerre (DEN)

Szkesfehrvr (HUN), 1993

Quintuple Triathlon
Time

Athlete

Race / Year

77:11:00 Martin Feijen (HOL)

Den Haag (HOL), 1991

76:16:39 Martin Feijen (HOL)

Den Haag (HOL), 1994

73:18:16 Emmanuel Conraux (FRA)

Monterrey (MEX), 2005

Deca Triathlon
Time

Athlete

Race / Year

213:41:00

Martin Feijen (HOL)

Monterrey (MEX), 1992

207:33:00

Jaroslav Pavelka (CZR)

Monterrey (MEX), 1994

192:08:26

Fabrice Lucas (FRA)

Monterrey (MEX), 1997

10-Days 5 x Olympic Distance pr. day -Triathlon

Time

Athlete

Race / Year

174 h 50 m 34 s

Marcel Heinig

Monterrey, 2009

Fifteenfold Triathlon
Time

Athlete

Race / Year

312:22:45

Jaroslav Pavelka (CZR)

Monterrey (MEX), 1995

Double Deca Triathlon

Time

Athlete

437:21:40 Vidmantas Urbonas (LIT)

Race / Year
Monterrey (MEX), 1998

Table key:
Listed by the International Association of Athletics Federations as a world best prior to official acceptance [41]
Ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations as a world best (since January 1, 2003) or world record (since January 1, 2004) [41]
Recognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians [10]

Time

Name

Nationality

Date

Event/Place

Source

Notes

Time was officially recorded as 2:55:18 2/5.

[42]
Italian Dorando Pietri finished in 2:54:46.4, but
was disqualified for receiving assistance from race
officials near the finish.[43] Note.[44]

2:55:18.4 Johnny Hayes

United
States

July 24, 1908

London, United Kingdom

IAAF

2:52:45.4 Robert Fowler

United
States

January 1,
1909

Yonkers,[nb 5] United States

IAAF[41]

Note.[44]

2:46:52.8 James Clark

United
States

February 12,
1909

New York City, United States IAAF[41]

Note.[44]

2:46:04.6 Albert Raines

United
States

May 8, 1909

New York City, United States IAAF[41]

Note.[44]

2:42:31.0 Henry Barrett

United
Kingdom

2:40:34.2

Thure
Johansson

2:38:16.2 Harry Green

2:36:06.6 Alexis Ahlgren

2:38:00.8 Umberto Blasi

Hannes
2:32:35.8
Kolehmainen

2:29:01.8

Albert
Michelsen

2:30:57.6 Harry Payne

2:26:14 Son Kitei

Polytechnic
May 26, 1909[nb Marathon, London,United

[41]

IAAF[41]

Note.[44]

IAAF[41]

Note.[44]

May 12, 1913 Polytechnic Marathon

IAAF[41]

Note.[49]

Sweden

May 31, 1913 Polytechnic Marathon

IAAF[41]

Report in The Times claiming world record.[50] Note.[49]

Italy

November 29,
Legnano, Italy
1914

ARRS[10]

Finland

August 22,
1920

Antwerp, Belgium

IAAF, ARRS

United
States

October 12,
1925

Port Chester, United States

IAAF[41]

United
Kingdom

July 5, 1929

London

ARRS[10]

March 21,
1935

Tokyo, Japan

ARRS[10]

Sweden

United
Kingdom

Japan[53]

6]

August 31,
1909

Kingdom

Stockholm, Sweden

[41]

[10]

The course distance was officially reported to be

42,750 meters/26.56 miles,[51] however, the
Association of Road Racing Statisticians estimated
the course to be 40 km.[19]

Note.[52]

Japan

March 31,
1935

Tokyo, Japan

IAAF[41]

According to the Association of Road Racing

Statisticians, Suzuki's 2:27:49 performance occurred
in Tokyo on March 21, 1935, during a race in which
he finished second to Sohn Kee-chung(sometimes
referred to as Kee-Jung Sohn or Son Kitei) who ran a
2:26:14.[54]

2:26:44.0 Yasuo Ikenaka

Japan

April 3, 1935

Tokyo, Japan

IAAF[41]

Note.[55]

2:26:42

Son Kitei

Japan[53]

November 3,
1935

Tokyo, Japan

IAAF[41]

Note.[55]

2:25:39

Suh Yun-bok

Korea

April 19, 1947 Boston Marathon

IAAF[41]

Disputed (short course).[56] Disputed (point-to-point).

2:27:49.0

Fusashige
Suzuki

[57]

Note.[58]

2:20:42.2 Jim Peters

United
Kingdom

June 14, 1952 Polytechnic Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

MarathonGuide.com states the course was slightly

long.[59] Report in The Times claiming world record.[60]

2:18:40.4 Jim Peters

United
Kingdom

June 13, 1953 Polytechnic Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

Report in The Times claiming world record.[60]

2:18:34.8 Jim Peters

United
Kingdom

October 4,
1953

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:17:39.4 Jim Peters

United
Kingdom

June 26, 1954 Polytechnic Marathon

IAAF[41]

August 12,
1956

Pieksmki, Finland

ARRS[10]

August 24,
1958

Stockholm, Sweden

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:18:04.8 Paavo Kotila

2:15:17.0 Sergei Popov

Finland

Soviet
Union

Turku Marathon

2:15:16.2 Abebe Bikila

Ethiopia

September 10,
Rome, Italy
1960

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:15:15.8 Toru Terasawa

Japan

February 17,
1963

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:14:28

United
Leonard Edelen
States

Beppu-ita Marathon

June 15, 1963 Polytechnic Marathon

IAAF

United
Kingdom

July 6, 1963

ARRS[10]

United
Kingdom

June 13, 1964 Polytechnic Marathon

IAAF[41]

Ethiopia

October 21,
1964

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

Japan

June 12, 1965 Polytechnic Marathon

IAAF[41]

2:09:36.4 Derek Clayton

Australia

December 3,
1967

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:08:33.6 Derek Clayton

Australia

May 30, 1969 Antwerp, Belgium

IAAF[41]

United
Kingdom

July 23, 1970

Edinburgh, Scotland

ARRS[10]

United
Kingdom

January 31,
1974

Christchurch, New Zealand

ARRS[10]

February 5,
1978

Beppu-ita Marathon

ARRS[10]

Netherland April 26, 1980 Amsterdam Marathon

ARRS[10]

2:14:43 Brian Kilby

2:13:55

Basil Heatley

2:12:12.2 Abebe Bikila

2:12:00

Morio
Shigematsu

2:09:28.8 Ron Hill

2:09:12 Ian Thompson

2:09:05.6 Shigeru So

2:09:01 Gerard Nijboer

Japan

Port Talbot, Wales

Tokyo, Japan

Fukuoka Marathon

[41]

Point-to-point course.[citation needed] Report in The

Times claiming world record.[61]

The ARRS notes Popov's extended time as

2:15:17.6[10]

Point-to-point course.[citation needed] Report in The

Times claiming world record and stating that the
course may have been long.[62]

Point-to-point course.[citation needed] Report in The

Times claiming world record.[63]

Point-to-point course.[citation needed] Report in The

Times claiming world record.[64]

Disputed (short course).[65]

2:08:18

Robert De
Castella

2:08:05

Steve Jones

2:07:12

Carlos Lopes

Portugal

April 20, 1985 Rotterdam Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:06:50

Belayneh
Dinsamo

Ethiopia

April 17, 1988 Rotterdam Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:06:05

Ronaldo da
Costa

Brazil

September 20,
Berlin Marathon
1998

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:05:42

Khalid
Khannouchi

Morocco

October 24,
1999

Chicago Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:05:38

Khalid
Khannouchi

April 14, 2002 London Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

First "World's Best" recognized by the International

Association of Athletics Federations.[66] The ARRS
notes Khannouchi's extended time as 2:05:37.8[10]

2:04:55

Paul Tergat

Kenya

September 28,
Berlin Marathon
2003

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

First world record for the men's marathon ratified by

the International Association of Athletics
Federations.[67]

2:04:26

Haile
Gebrselassie

Ethiopia

September 30,
Berlin Marathon
2007

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:03:59

Haile
Gebrselassie

Ethiopia

September 28,
Berlin Marathon
2008

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:03:38

Patrick Makau

Kenya

September 25,
Berlin Marathon
2011

IAAF,[68] IAAF[69]

2:03:23

Wilson Kipsang

Kenya

September 29,
Berlin Marathon
2013

IAAF[70] IAAF[71]

September

IAAF[72] IAAF[73]

2:02:57

Dennis
Kimetto

Australia

United
Kingdom

United
States

Kenya

December 6,
1981

Fukuoka Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

October 21,
1984

Chicago Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

28, 2014

Berlin Marathon

The ARRS notes Gebrselassie's extended time as

2:03:58.2[10]

Table key:
Listed by the International Association of Athletics Federations as a world best prior to official acceptance [41]
Ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations as a world best (since January 1, 2003) or world record (since January 1, 2004) [41]
Recognized by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians [10]

Time

Name

Nationality

Marie-Louise
Ledru

France

3:40:22

Violet Piercy

3:37:07

Merry Lepper

3:27:45

Dale Greig

5:40:xx

Date

Event/Place

Source

Notes

September 29, Tour de Paris

1918
Marathon

ARRS[10]

United
Kingdom

October 3,
1926

IAAF[41]

The ARRS indicates that Piercy's 3:40:22 was

set on August 2, 1926, during a time trial on a
course that was only 35.4 km.[10]

United
States

December 16, Culver City, United

1963[nb 8]
States

IAAF[41]

Disputed (short course).[77]

May 23, 1964 Ryde

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

United

London [nb 7]

Kingdom

3:19:33

Mildred
Sampson

New
Zealand

July 21, 1964[nb Auckland, New

9]
Zealand

IAAF[41]

Disputed by ARRS as a time trial.[nb 9][80]

3:15:23

Maureen
Wilton

May 6, 1967

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

The ARRS notes Wilton's extended time as

3:14:22.8[10]

3:07:27.2

Anni PedeErdkamp

West
Germany

September 16, Waldniel, West

1967
Germany

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

The ARRS notes Pede-Erdkamp's extended

time as 3:07:26.2[10]

3:02:53

Caroline
Walker

United
States

February 28,
1970

Seaside, OR

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

3:01:42

Elizabeth
Bonner

United
States

May 9, 1971

Philadelphia, United
States

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:55:22

Elizabeth
Bonner

United
States

September 19, New York City

1971
Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:49:40

Cheryl Bridges

United
States

December 5,
1971

Culver City, United

States

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:46:36

Michiko
Gorman

United
States

December 2,
1973

Culver City, United

States

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:46:24

Chantal
Langlac

October 27,
1974

Neuf-Brisach, France

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:43:54.5

Jacqueline
Hansen

United
States

December 1,
1974

Culver City, United

States

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

The ARRS notes Hansen's extended time as

2:43:54.6[10]

2:42:24

Liane Winter

West
Germany

April 21, 1975 Boston Marathon

IAAF[41]

Disputed (point-to-point).[57]

2:40:15.8

Christa
Vahlensieck

West
Germany

May 3, 1975

Dlmen

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:38:19

Jacqueline
Hansen

United
States

October 12,
1975

Eugene, United States IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:35:15.4

Chantal
Langlac

France

May 1, 1977

Oiartzun, Spain

2:34:47.5

Christa
Vahlensieck

2:32:29.8

Grete Waitz

2:27:32.6

Grete Waitz

Canada

France

Toronto, Canada

The ARRS notes Gorman's extended time as

2:46:37[10]

IAAF[41]

September 10,
Berlin Marathon
1977

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

Norway

October 22,
1978

New York City

Marathon

IAAF[41]

Disputed (short course).[38][83]

Norway

October 21,
1979

New York City

Marathon

IAAF[41]

Disputed (short course).[38][84]

Auckland, New
Zealand

ARRS[10]

West
Germany

2:31:23 Joan Benoit

United
States

February 3,
1980

2:30:57.1 Patti Catalano

United
States

September 6,
Montreal, Canada
1980

ARRS[10]

2:25:41.3

Grete Waitz

Norway

October 26,
1980

New York City

Marathon

IAAF[41]

Disputed (short course).[38][85]

2:30:27 Joyce Smith

United
Kingdom

November 16,
Tokyo, Japan
1980

ARRS[10]

2:29:57 Joyce Smith

United
Kingdom

March 29,
1981

London Marathon

ARRS[10]

West
Germany

January 16,
1982

Miami, United States

ARRS[10]

United
States

September 12,
Eugene, United States ARRS[10]
1982

2:29:01.6 Charlotte Teske

2:26:12 Joan Benoit

2:25:28.7

Grete Waitz

2:22:43

Joan Benoit

Norway

United
States

April 17, 1983 London Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

April 18, 1983 Boston Marathon

IAAF[41]

Disputed (point-to-point).[57]

Ingrid
Kristiansen

Norway

May 13, 1984 London Marathon

ARRS[10]

2:21:06

Ingrid
Kristiansen

Norway

April 21, 1985 London Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:20:47

Tegla Loroupe

Kenya

April 19, 1998 Rotterdam Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:20:43

Tegla Loroupe

Kenya

September 26,
Berlin Marathon
1999

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:19:46

Naoko
Takahashi

Japan

September 30,
Berlin Marathon
2001

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:18:47

Catherine
Ndereba

Kenya

October 7,
2001

Chicago Marathon

IAAF,[41] ARRS[10]

2:17:18

United
Paula Radcliffe
Kingdom

October 13,
2002

Chicago Marathon

IAAF,

2:15:25

United
Paula Radcliffe
Kingdom

April 13, 2003 London Marathon

IAAF,

2:24:26

[41]

[41]

ARRS

[10]

First "World's Best" recognized by

the International Association of Athletics
Federations.[66]The ARRS notes Radcliffe's
extended time as 2:17:17.7[10]

ARRS

[10]

First world record for the women's marathon

ratified by the International Association of
Athletics Federations.[86] The ARRS notes
Radcliffe's extended time as 2:15:24.6[10]