About Sub-3

For sub-3 runners - and those determined to join them

Sub-3 exists to help runners who are chasing – or have already achieved – a sub-3 marathon make better, more informed decisions.

It does this by combining original rankings with practical, experience-led analysis to show where sub-3 performances are most likely to happen, what distinguishes those races, and how different courses, conditions, and competitive fields shape sub-3 outcomes. The emphasis is on the lived reality of fast amateur runners, rather than promotional claims or surface reputation.

At the centre of the project are the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings, which track the depth and consistency of sub-3 performance across races, regions, and seasons. These rankings help runners understand which marathons are fast for sub-3 athletes, and where sub-3 performance is delivered consistently over time.

Advice, analysis and experience

Alongside rankings, Sub-3 publishes a wide range of advisory and editorial content aimed at runners operating at – or aspiring to – sub-3 level.

This includes in-depth writing on training principles, mileage, consistency, pacing, race selection, seasonal planning, recovery, and the practical trade-offs involved in committing to sub-3 performance. Articles draw on data, lived experience, and sustained engagement with the realities of high-level amateur running, rather than generic training advice or short-term motivation.

The purpose of this material is to help runners think more clearly about what sub-3 performance demands, how different approaches play out in practice, and how to make decisions that stand up over time.

Independence and commercial transparency

Sub-3 operates with editorial independence.

Race organisers, brands, and commercial partners may support the site through clearly identified sponsorship or affiliate relationships, but they have no influence over rankings, methodology, or editorial judgement. Rankings are based on verified results and applied consistently, regardless of commercial relationships.

Some links on the site are affiliate links, meaning Sub-3 may earn a commission if a reader chooses to purchase through them. These links help support the ongoing work of the project, but they do not affect editorial coverage, rankings decisions, or analytical conclusions.

Editorial oversight

Sub-3 is edited by Patrick Hayes, who is responsible for the site’s editorial direction, rankings methodology, and standards.

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