October 17, 2026, 6:13 am | Read time: 9 minutes
Those who train regularly not only want to know their own time but also whether they are better than average or just average. Here you can find out if you’re faster than Hollywood and German celebrities! Oh, by the way: It’s about 42.195 kilometers. Marathon time comparison! Anyone who thinks top times are just a matter of young legs will be proven wrong when looking at the age of the celebrities.
Why do they do it?
When celebrities run marathons, it’s usually about more than just personal bests. Many use their fame to raise money for charity. But no matter how famous someone is, no one can take the 42.195 kilometers away from them. Even Hollywood stars have to train, complete long runs, and push through the final miles.
Let’s start with the marathon champions among the celebrities. Breaking the three-hour barrier is an exceptional achievement in amateur sports.
The incredible sub-3 marathons of Sebastian Vettel and Harry Styles
Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel and pop star Harry Styles reach performance levels that even many very ambitious runners can only dream of. Running a sub-3 marathon means maintaining an average pace of under 4:16 minutes per kilometer. Incredible! That Jan Frodeno–Olympic champion and three-time Ironman world champion–can do this is not surprising and not quite a fair comparison. All the more impressive are the times of Styles and Vettel.
Jan Frodeno, 2:23:33
The Olympic champion and three-time Ironman world champion completed the Berlin Marathon 2026 in an absolutely phenomenal time for a hobby runner–which he is after his career ended: in 2:23:33 hours. Frodeno achieved a brutal average pace of 3:24 minutes per kilometer. He was 45 years old at the time.
Harry Styles, 2:59:13
Styles’ marathon performances in Tokyo (3:24:07) and Berlin (2:59:13) indicate structured preparation with good race pacing. He ran both halves of the race at a similar pace. The singer’s rituals include long training runs and an unusual pre-run snack: According to him, before long sessions, Styles eats “the biggest croissant he can find.” FITBOOK reported.
Sebastian Vettel, 2:59:08
That the four-time Formula 1 world champion ran 2:59:08 hours in his marathon debut in London shows the fitness level of Formula 1 drivers. Vettel explained that he kept fit over the years with a lot of running and cycling before tackling the marathon distance. Nevertheless, he immediately stayed under three hours and ran–similar to Harry Styles–both halves of the race almost equally fast. A performance that most ambitious amateur runners can only dream of despite targeted marathon preparation. “It’s a great experience. I’m very happy I achieved the goal,” the former Formula 1 driver told the BBC.
Also interesting: I never wanted to run a marathon! Then I won an entry spot
These celebrities ran a sub-4 marathon
Only 30 percent of marathon runners worldwide manage to stay under four hours. This is shown by an analysis of marathon times.1 A comparison shows that many amateur runners from the celebrity world overcome this hurdle–including Hollywood stars like Ryan Reynolds (3:50:22), Natalie Dormer (3:50:57), or Ashton Kutcher (3:54:01) as well as German actor Jan Josef Liefers (3:57:40). They leave about 70 percent of the entire field behind.
Pippa Middleton, 3:56:33
The younger sister of Princess Kate completed her first marathon in 2015 in Lewa (Kenya). The then 31-year-old finished in 3:56:33 hours.
Will Ferrell, 3:56:12
As early as 2001, U.S. comedian and actor Will Ferrell participated in the New York Marathon with his wife, finishing in 5:01:56 hours. In 2003, he significantly improved with a time of 3:56:12 hours. “A glorious summer day… and then you get hit with the hammer,” he was quoted afterward.2 Ferrell ran his best time at the age of 35.
Ashton Kutcher, 3:54:01
Hollywood star Ashton Kutcher made his debut over the 42.195 kilometers at the New York Marathon in 2022 at the age of 44. He was on the course for 3:54:01 hours.
Also interesting: How amateur runners can get a marathon entry spot
Natalie Dormer, 3:50:57
Actress Natalie Dormer ran her best time at the London Marathon in 2014 as a 32-year-old, finishing in 3:50:57 hours. Two years later, she competed again and was just 24 seconds slower with 3:51:21 hours. She explained in a 2016 interview with the Guardian how much the preparation dominated her daily life: Especially in the last two months, the training took over her entire life.
Ryan Reynolds, 3:50:22
Actor Ryan Reynolds ran the New York City Marathon in 2008. “Waking up at 4:30 a.m. and jogging between 11 and 23 miles [17 to 37 kilometers] was pure horror for me,” he wrote in a guest post for the British Huffington Post at the time.3 He was 32 years old at the time.
Christy Turlington, 3:46:45
Supermodel Christy Turlington has run the New York Marathon multiple times. She achieved her personal best at the age of 46 at the London Marathon 2015. With 3:46:45 hours, she broke into the top 10 percent threshold for women.1
Cynthia Erivo, 3:21:40
The British actress and singer known from “Wicked” ran her marathon best time in 2026 in London as a 39-year-old, finishing in 3:21:40 hours. This is far better than the top 10 percent for women. It means she was able to maintain a pace of under 4:47 minutes per kilometer. Erivo had clearly worked towards this: In 2016, she ran the New York Marathon in 3:57:07 hours, and in 2022 in London, 3:35:36 hours. After her best run in 2026, she said: “I come to myself during it. I can process everything that’s happening in my life, deal with the things I want to think about, and just switch off–almost like meditation.”4
Bryan Cranston, 3:20:45
Bryan Cranston, known to many as Walter White from the series “Breaking Bad,” is a really strong marathon runner. The actor participated in the New York City Marathon in 1985–he was 29 at the time–finishing in 3:20:45 hours. This corresponds to an average pace of 4:45 minutes per kilometer. A year later, he tried again, taking about 20 minutes longer for the nearly 42 kilometers with 3:41 hours.
Also interesting: “9 months of preparation! Despite being overweight, I was finally ready for my first marathon”
Pop Star Harry Styles (31) Runs the Tokyo Marathon in an Amazing Time
Former Olympic Champion (66) Sets New World Record in the 10 km Run
How fast German celebrities run a marathon
To be among the fastest 10 percent of all marathon runners worldwide, a time of under 3:31:46 hours is required. Moderator Kai Pflaume achieved this, for example, with an impressive 3:18:32 hours at the age of 58.
Kai Pflaume, 3:18:32
Kai Pflaume’s marathon best time is 3:18:32 hours, run in 2026 in London at the age of 58. He ran the Berlin Marathon 2026 similarly strong in 3:32:33 hours.
André Schürrle, 3:21:25
The 2014 World Cup soccer champion found a second sporting passion after his career ended in 2020: endurance and extreme sports. In 2025, he ran his fastest marathon to date in Berlin at the age of 34, finishing in 3:21:25 hours.
Jan Josef Liefers, 3:57:40
The actor has participated in the Berlin Marathon multiple times. In 2016, at the age of 52, he ran his best time to date, finishing in 3:57:40 hours. Liefers also spends a lot of time on his racing bike, as he revealed in an interview in 2023.5
Luisa Neubauer, 4:03:18
Climate activist Luisa Neubauer ran the 42.195 kilometers for the first time at the Berlin Marathon 2026 at the age of 30. The goal was simply to finish and have fun. She more than succeeded! Her time: 4:03:18 hours. According to her, she listened to Billie Eilish, the Beatles, and Peter Fox.6
Joko Winterscheidt, 4:15:22
Moderator Joko Winterscheidt finished the Berlin Marathon in 2017 in 4:15:22 hours. He was 38 years old at the time.
Also interesting: With this simple training plan to the first marathon
These stars also ran marathons
Pamela Anderson, 5:41:03
“Baywatch” star and model Pamela Anderson ran her first marathon in 2013 in New York City at the age of 46. She reportedly decided to do so only six weeks prior. Her preparation for the 42 kilometers mainly consisted of 8- and 16-kilometer runs.
Alicia Keys, 5:50:52
Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys ran the New York City Marathon in 2015 with a time of 5:50:52 hours. She was 34 years old.
Edward Norton, 3:48:01
Hollywood star Edward Norton (“Fight Club”) finished the New York Marathon in 2009 at the age of 40 in an impressive 3:48:01 hours. For his first marathon, the then 40-year-old even trained with Maasai warriors in Kenya.7
Karlie Kloss, 4:41:49
The model completed her first half marathon in 2015 in Paris, and two years later, she tackled the marathon distance in New York at the age of 25. Her officially confirmed time there was 4:41:49 hours.
Kevin Hart, 4:05:00
Comedian and Hollywood star Kevin Hart (“Jumanji”) completed his first marathon in New York in 2017 as a 38-year-old. After 4:05:06 hours, he reached the finish line and enthusiastically declared: “This is proof that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”8
Alanis Morissette, 4:28:45
Canadian singer Alanis Morissette completed the New York Marathon in 2009 with a time of 4:28:45 hours. The then 35-year-old stated that during marathon training, she had to pay more attention to nutrition, sleep, and recovery than before.9
Oprah Winfrey, 4:29:15
In 1994, the then 40-year-old talk show legend Oprah Winfrey ran her first and only marathon in Washington, D.C., in the rain, finishing in 4:29:15 hours. “Now that I’ve completed a marathon, I feel like I can accomplish anything,” she was quoted by the Washington Post after the race.10
Teri Hatcher: 5:06:42
Golden Globe winner Teri Hatcher, known for her role as Susan Mayer in the hit series “Desperate Housewives,” ran the New York City Marathon in 2014. She was 49 years old at the time. She finished in 5:06:42 hours. “I will probably never love running. But I love the feeling of being done with it,” she wrote in a piece for Parade.11 In 2018, she participated again and finished in a time of 5:51:21 hours.
Colin Farrell, 4:06:45
Hollywood star Colin Farrell ran the Dublin Marathon in 2024 as a 48-year-old, finishing in 4:06:45 hours.12 From kilometer 38, he pushed his longtime friend Emma Fogarty in a wheelchair.
Oliver Phelps, 5:06:50
In 2025, the British actor known as George Weasley (“Harry Potter”) ran his first marathon at the age of 39. He finished in 5:06:50 hours.
Katie Holmes, 5:29:58
Actress Katie Holmes completed her first marathon in New York in 2007 at the age of 28. Years later, Holmes described the marathon preparation as an experience that showed her what she could physically achieve.13
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