Marathon World Records
It wasn’t until 2004 that world records were officially recognized by the IAAF, and in order for a record to be recognized, marathon courses have to conform to IAAF standards.
With the variance in elevation, course and surface, marathon routes understandably vary – however, fastest times are typically set over relatively flat course close to sea level, and usually during favorable weather conditions.
Most marathon participants don’t run to win, they run to best their personal finish time, and some just want to finish. Some run the entire distance, others develop a run-walk strategy. On average, marathon time in the US was 4 hours 32 minutes 8 seconds for men and 5 hours 6 minutes 8 seconds for women.
The fastest world record time for men over a marathon distance is currently 2 hours 3 minutes and 59 seconds, which was set by Haile Begrselassie (Ethiopia) at the Berlin Marathon in 2008. The women’s world record was set by Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe during the London Marathon in 2005. Her time: 2 hours 17 minutes and 42 seconds.
Here below is a list of the world’s top ten fastest runners, both men and women, and fields are in order of running time, runner, country of origin, and marathon:
TOP TEN MALE MARATHON RUNNERS
2h03:59 Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia Berlin
2h04:27 Duncan Kibet Kenya Rotterdam
2h04:27 James Kwambai Kenya Rotterdam
2h04:55 Paul Tergat Kenya Berlin
2h04:56 Sammy Korir Kenya Berlin
2h05:04 Abel Kirui Kenya Rotterdam
2h05:10 Samuel Wanjiru Kenya London
2h05:15 Martin Lel Kenya London
2h05:20 Tsegaye Kebede Ethiopia London
2h05:27 Jaouad Gharib Morocco London
TOP TEN FEMALE MARATHON RUNNERS
2h15:25 Paula Radcliffe GB London
2h18:47 Catherine Ndereba Kenya Chicago
2h19:12 Mizuki Noguchi Japan Berlin
2h19:19 Irina Mikitenko Germany Berlin
2h19:36 Deena Kastor US London
2h19:39 Sun Yingjie China Beijing
2h19:41 Yoko Shibui Japan Berlin
2h19:46 Naoko Takahashi Japan Berlin
2h19:51 Zhou Chunxiu China Seoul
2h20:42 Berhane Adere Ethiopia Chicago
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