What running pace means
Pace is how long it takes to cover a set distance — minutes and seconds per kilometre (or mile). It's the number runners plan and race by, because it translates directly into a finish time for any distance. This tool converts between pace, time and distance so you can answer any of the three from the other two.
Pace vs. speed
Pace and speed describe the same effort inverted: a faster pace is a smaller number (less time per km), while a faster speed is a bigger number (more km per hour). Runners usually think in pace because it maps neatly onto splits and goal times.
Planning a race
Set a goal finish time and this tells you the pace to hold; or enter your training pace to see the time a distance will take. Remember that race pace is usually a little quicker than easy training pace.
Frequently asked questions
How do I enter minutes and seconds?
Use decimals of a minute: 5:30 per km is 5.5. The result is shown back as minutes:seconds for you.
Does it do miles?
Distances are entered in km, but the pace result also shows the equivalent per-mile pace.
How do I calculate running pace?
Divide your time by the distance. Running 10 km in 50 minutes is a pace of 5:00 minutes per kilometre.
How do I convert pace to speed?
Divide 60 by your pace in minutes per km. A 5:00/km pace is 60 ÷ 5 = 12 km/h.
What pace do I need for a target time?
Divide your goal time by the distance. For a sub-2-hour half marathon (21.1 km), that is about 5:41 per km.