Slowest Marathon Time: What It Takes to Finish and Who Does It

When people talk about marathons, they usually think of fast times, elite runners, and record-breaking pace. But the slowest marathon time, the longest official time allowed to complete a 26.2-mile race tells a different story—one of grit, not glory. It’s not about winning. It’s about showing up, putting one foot in front of the other, and refusing to quit. In fact, the slowest official finishers often finish hours after the leaders, sometimes long after the crowds have gone home, the clocks have stopped, and the medals are nearly all given out. These runners aren’t outliers—they’re proof that endurance isn’t measured in minutes, but in willpower.

The marathon finish time, the official clock time recorded when a runner crosses the finish line has no upper limit in most races—just a cutoff window. Most marathons allow 6 to 7 hours to finish. That means someone running at a 16-minute-per-mile pace can still earn a medal. And yes, people do it. In the 2023 London Marathon, a runner finished in 8 hours and 54 minutes. He wasn’t injured. He wasn’t lost. He was just moving, step by step, because he’d trained for months and refused to let the clock win. That’s the spirit behind the slowest times. It’s not about being the fastest. It’s about being the one who doesn’t stop.

These runners aren’t just amateurs. Many are senior runners, athletes over 50 who continue to compete in long-distance events despite age, injury, or physical limits. They’ve seen their bodies change. They’ve lost speed, but not purpose. Some run to honor a loved one. Others run to prove they still can. And in Nottinghamshire, where the Notts Senior Sports League celebrates athletes of every age, you’ll find plenty of them—crossing finish lines at 7, 8, even 9 hours, smiling the whole way. Their stories aren’t in the headlines. But they’re the ones keeping the sport alive.

What makes a slow marathon time meaningful? It’s not the pace. It’s the reason. You don’t need to be fast to be a marathoner. You just need to keep going. And that’s why the slowest times matter more than the fastest ones. They remind us that sport isn’t just for the young, the strong, or the quick. It’s for anyone who shows up.

Below, you’ll find real stories, practical tips, and insights from runners who finished last—but never gave up. Whether you’re training for your first marathon or just curious about what it takes to cross that line, these posts have something for you.