What is pace?

Pace tells you how long it takes to cover a set distance. Runners usually measure it in minutes per kilometer (min/km) or minutes per mile (min/mi).

For example, a pace of 5:00 min/km means that every kilometer takes 5 minutes. If you keep that pace for 10 km, you will finish in 50 minutes.

There is one small twist: a lower pace means a faster run. A runner moving at 4:30 min/km reaches each kilometer sooner than a runner moving at 6:00 min/km.

The relationship between pace, distance, and time

Pace, distance, and time work as a team. If you know any two of them, you can calculate the third.

To find pace, divide the total time by the distance:

To find the total time, multiply the pace by the distance:

To find the distance, divide the total time by the pace:

Imagine you run 5 km in 25 minutes. Your pace is:

Change one part and the others change too. Over the same distance, a faster pace gives you a shorter finish time. In the same amount of time, a faster pace lets you travel farther.

How to use the pace calculator

Start with the two values you already know. The calculator will find the third.

1. Choose Pace, Time, or Distance under Calculate.
2. Choose kilometers or miles. Your pace will use the same unit.
3. Enter the other two values. The answer updates automatically as you type.
4. Use a quick-distance button if you are planning a 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, or another popular race.
5. Check the race-day preview to see estimated finish times at the same pace.
6. Change the preview pace to explore a faster goal or a more relaxed run.

Here are three common ways to use it:

• Find your pace: You ran 10 km in 50 minutes. Your pace was 5:00 min/km.
• Plan your finish time: You want to run a half marathon at 6:00 min/km. Your estimated time is about 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 35 seconds.
• See how far you can go: You can run for 45 minutes at 5:00 min/km. You can cover 9 km.

Use a pace you can really hold. A fast 5K pace may feel exciting, but it probably will not survive all 42.195 km of a marathon.

Pace vs. speed

Pace and speed describe the same movement from opposite directions.

• Pace asks: How long does one kilometer or mile take? It is time per distance, such as 6:00 min/km. A smaller number is faster.
• Speed asks: How much distance do you cover in a certain time? It is distance per time, such as 10 km/h. A bigger number is faster.

An easy way to remember it: speed is how much ground you gobble up; pace is how long each bite takes.

For kilometer units, you can switch between pace and speed with these formulas:

A pace of 6:00 min/km is therefore the same as a speed of 10 km/h.

From turtle time to airplane time

Imagine a very unusual one-kilometer race. A turtle steps up to the line. A rabbit stretches beside it. A runner checks their shoes. A car quietly revs its engine. An airplane may have misunderstood the entry form.

Here is how their speeds translate into pace: