How pace is calculated
Pace is your time divided by the distance. The calculator turns your time into seconds and your distance into kilometres (1 mile = 1.609344 km), then divides one by the other to get the time per kilometre. Pace per mile is the pace per kilometre multiplied by 1.609344.
Speed is the opposite: distance divided by time. It shows how far you'd go in an hour at the same pace.
Worked examples
Running 10 km in 55 minutes is 3,300 seconds ÷ 10 km = 330 seconds, or 5:30 per kilometre. That's 8:51 per mile and an average speed of 10.9 km/h or 6.8 mph.
Running 5 km in 25 minutes is a pace of 5:00 per kilometre, or 8:03 per mile, at 12 km/h or 7.5 mph.
Using your pace
The result is an average over the whole distance. Hills, wind, crowds at the start of a race and stops at crossings all change your pace from one kilometre to the next.
To plan a target time, try different finish times for your race distance until the pace looks achievable, then compare it with the pace of your recent training runs.
Inputs for the pace calculator
Distance
How far you ran or walked. Decimals are fine, for example 21.1 for a half marathon in kilometres.
Distance unit
Choose kilometres or miles for the distance. If you choose miles, the pace per mile becomes the main result.
Time: hours
The whole hours of your finish time. Leave it at 0 for runs under an hour.
Time: minutes
The minutes of your finish time, from 0 to 59.
Time: seconds
The seconds of your finish time, from 0 to 59.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
Pace calculator questions
What is a good running pace?
It depends on your age, experience and the distance. A comfortable pace is one at which you can still talk in short sentences. Compare your pace with your own past runs rather than with other people.
How do I convert pace per kilometre to pace per mile?
Multiply the pace per kilometre by 1.609344. For example, 5:00 per kilometre is 300 seconds × 1.609344 = 483 seconds, or 8:03 per mile.
What pace do I need for a 25-minute 5K?
5:00 per kilometre, or 8:03 per mile.
Why is the average speed different from my watch?
GPS watches often measure a slightly different distance from the official course, and some show moving time that leaves out stops. The calculator uses exactly the distance and time you enter.