How Long Does It Take to Run 1.5 Miles?
The average fit adult completes 1.5 miles in about 12 to 15 minutes, depending on fitness level. Beginners typically take 15–20 minutes, intermediate runners 10–13 minutes, and advanced runners under 10 minutes. The 1.5-mile run is the standard fitness test distance for the US Air Force, Navy, and FBI — making it one of the most widely tested running distances in America.
Calculate Your Running Time
Distance: 1.5 mi (2.41 km)
1.5-Mile Times by Experience Level
| Level | Men's 1.5-Mile | Women's 1.5-Mile | Per-Mile Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Untrained | 16:00–22:00+ | 18:00–24:00+ | 10:40–16:00 |
| Beginner | 13:00–16:00 | 15:00–18:00 | 8:40–12:00 |
| Intermediate | 10:00–13:00 | 11:30–15:00 | 6:40–10:00 |
| Advanced | 8:00–10:00 | 9:00–11:30 | 5:20–7:40 |
| Elite | Under 7:30 | Under 8:30 | Under 5:00 |
A sub-12-minute 1.5-mile (8:00/mile) is the target most fitness test candidates aim for. A sub-10 (6:40/mile) is strong. At 1.5 miles, you can afford to run significantly faster than your 5K pace — this is short enough to push hard from the start.
Military and Law Enforcement Standards
The 1.5-mile run features in several major fitness tests. Here are the key passing and excellent standards:
US Air Force Physical Fitness Test
| Age Group | Men's Minimum | Men's Excellent | Women's Minimum | Women's Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | 13:36 | Under 9:12 | 16:22 | Under 10:23 |
| 30–39 | 14:00 | Under 9:34 | 16:22 | Under 10:51 |
| 40–49 | 14:52 | Under 10:01 | 17:24 | Under 11:33 |
| 50–59 | 15:26 | Under 10:46 | 18:10 | Under 12:20 |
US Navy Physical Readiness Test
| Age Group | Men's Satisfactory | Women's Satisfactory |
|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 13:30 | 15:30 |
| 30–39 | 14:00 | 16:00 |
| 40–49 | 14:30 | 16:30 |
| 50–59 | 15:00 | 17:00 |
FBI Physical Fitness Test
The FBI requires 1.5 miles in under 13:59 for men and 16:14 for women as a minimum passing standard. Competitive candidates typically run under 10:30 (men) and under 12:30 (women).
These standards are designed so that a moderately fit person can pass with focused training, while excellent scores require genuine athletic ability.
1.5-Mile Times at Common Paces
| Pace (min/mile) | 1.5-Mile Time | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| 5:30 | 8:15 | Very fast, racing |
| 6:00 | 9:00 | Fast, strong effort |
| 6:30 | 9:45 | Hard tempo |
| 7:00 | 10:30 | Comfortably hard |
| 7:30 | 11:15 | Moderate-hard |
| 8:00 | 12:00 | Moderate, sustainable |
| 8:30 | 12:45 | Comfortable |
| 9:00 | 13:30 | Easy jog |
| 10:00 | 15:00 | Slow jog |
| 11:00 | 16:30 | Very slow jog |
| 12:00 | 18:00 | Jog-walk |
The military passing standards cluster around 13:30–16:30, which corresponds to roughly 9:00–11:00/mile pace — an attainable target for most healthy adults with 6–10 weeks of training.
How 1.5-Mile Times Change by Age
| Age Group | Typical Men's 1.5-Mile | Typical Women's 1.5-Mile |
|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 10:00–13:00 | 11:30–15:00 |
| 30–39 | 10:30–13:30 | 12:00–15:30 |
| 40–49 | 11:00–14:30 | 12:30–16:30 |
| 50–59 | 12:00–15:30 | 14:00–18:00 |
| 60–69 | 13:30–18:00 | 16:00–21:00 |
| 70+ | 15:30–21:00+ | 18:00–24:00+ |
These ranges span from trained runners to occasional joggers. Military fitness test standards roughly align with the lower-middle of these ranges for each age bracket.
5 Real-World Examples
1. The Air Force Recruit
Specialist Davis, 23, needs to pass the Air Force PT test with at least a 13:36 for the 1.5-mile run. After 8 weeks of training — three runs per week including one interval session — he finishes in 11:45 (7:50/mile), scoring well above the minimum.
His training progression: Week 1 he ran 1.5 miles in 14:30. By Week 4, he hit 13:00. The final 1:15 improvement came from interval training — 6 × 400m at his goal pace with 90-second rest.
2. The FBI Applicant
Nicole, 28, is applying to the FBI and needs to run 1.5 miles under 16:14 (women's minimum). She targets 12:30 to be competitive. After 10 weeks of dedicated training, she finishes her test in 12:08 (8:05/mile) — comfortably under the competitive threshold.
Her strategy: she ran the first half-mile in 4:15 (8:30 pace — deliberately conservative), then picked up to 7:45 pace for the final mile. Negative-splitting the 1.5-mile test is the smartest approach.
3. The Returning-to-Fitness Runner
Tyler, 36, used to run a sub-9 minute 1.5-mile in his Navy days. After 8 years out of the service and 30 pounds gained, his first attempt is 14:20 (9:33/mile). After 12 weeks of consistent running (building from 1 mile to 3 miles, three times per week), he's back to 11:00 (7:20/mile).
His improvement of 3:20 over 12 weeks demonstrates how quickly the 1.5-mile time responds to training — it's short enough that cardiovascular improvements translate directly to speed.
4. The High School Fitness Test
Mia, 16, runs 1.5 miles for her school's fitness assessment. She finishes in 13:50 (9:13/mile) — considered "healthy fitness zone" for her age according to school standards. She doesn't run outside of PE class, so her time reflects general fitness rather than specific training.
For teens, a sub-12 1.5-mile time indicates above-average cardiovascular fitness. School fitness assessments typically use thresholds of 12:00–14:00 depending on age and gender.
5. The Casual Runner Testing Speed
Maria, 45, usually runs 3–4 miles at a comfortable 9:30/mile pace. For fun, she decides to time herself over 1.5 miles at maximum effort. She finishes in 12:15 (8:10/mile) — about 1:20 faster per mile than her comfortable pace.
This gap between easy pace and 1.5-mile effort pace is typical. Most runners can push 60–90 seconds per mile faster for 1.5 miles than they run their daily training pace.
Calories Burned Running 1.5 Miles
| Body Weight | Calories Burned (1.5 Miles Running) | vs. Walking 1.5 Miles |
|---|---|---|
| 130 lbs | ~146 cal | ~103 cal |
| 150 lbs | ~169 cal | ~119 cal |
| 170 lbs | ~191 cal | ~135 cal |
| 190 lbs | ~214 cal | ~151 cal |
| 210 lbs | ~236 cal | ~167 cal |
Running 1.5 miles is a quick calorie burn — 150–240 calories in 10–15 minutes. Walking the same distance takes 30 minutes and burns about 30% less.
Tips for Running 1.5 Miles Faster
The 1.5-mile distance responds faster to training than almost any other running distance. Six to ten weeks of focused work can dramatically improve your time.
Run 3–4 times per week. Two easy runs of 2–3 miles plus one speed session is the classic 1.5-mile improvement formula. The speed session is where the magic happens.
Do 400m repeats at goal pace. If your target is 12:00 (8:00/mile), run 400m in 2:00, rest 90 seconds, repeat 6 times. This teaches your body what race pace feels like.
Practice the specific distance. Time yourself over 1.5 miles every 2 weeks under test conditions. Familiarity with the effort reduces anxiety and improves pacing on test day.
Start conservatively on test day. Run the first 0.5 miles at 5–10 seconds slower than goal pace. Accelerate through the middle half-mile. Sprint the final 400m. This negative-split strategy produces faster times than going out hard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good 1.5-mile run time?
For the general adult population, under 13:00 (8:40/mile) is solid. Under 11:00 (7:20/mile) indicates strong fitness. Under 9:00 (6:00/mile) is advanced.
For military fitness tests, passing typically requires 13:30–16:30 depending on branch, age, and gender. Excellent scores are generally under 10:00–11:00.
How do I train to pass a 1.5-mile fitness test?
Start with 6–10 weeks of training. Run three times per week: two easy runs of 2–3 miles and one interval session (6–8 × 400m at goal pace). Build your easy run distance first, then add speed work in weeks 3–4.
Most untrained adults can improve their 1.5-mile time by 2–4 minutes within 8 weeks of consistent training.
How does a 1.5-mile time relate to 5K performance?
Multiply your 1.5-mile time by roughly 2.1 for an estimated 5K time. A 12:00 1.5-miler can expect about a 25:00–26:00 5K. A 10:00 1.5-miler is on track for roughly a 21:00–22:00 5K.
Your 5K pace is typically 30–60 seconds per mile slower than your 1.5-mile pace due to the longer distance.
How does running 1.5 miles compare to walking it?
Walking 1.5 miles at moderate pace (3.0 mph) takes 30 minutes. Running at 8:00/mile takes 12 minutes — 60% less time. Running burns about 169 calories for a 150-lb person versus 119 walking — roughly 40% more.
Related Pages
- How Long to Run a Mile — the fundamental benchmark
- How Long to Run 2 Miles — Army fitness test distance
- How Long to Run a 5K — the nearest race distance
- How Long to Walk 1.5 Miles — walking comparison
- Running Time Calculator — calculate any distance
Sources Cited
- US Air Force Physical Fitness Test standards. af.mil
- US Navy Physical Readiness Test standards. navy.mil
- FBI Physical Fitness Test requirements. fbi.gov
- Compendium of Physical Activities — MET values. compendiumofphysicalactivities.com
- RunRepeat (2024). Race statistics. runrepeat.com