Pace, time and distance
Runners think in pace: how long each kilometre or mile takes. It is the number that tells you if you are on track during a race and what finish time to expect. Pace, time and distance are tied together, so knowing any two gives you the third.
This running pace calculator does all three. Enter a run you have done to see your pace and speed, enter a target pace to see the finish time for any distance, or enter how long you ran at a pace to see how far you went. It converts between kilometres and miles as it goes.
How to use it
- Choose what you want: your pace, a finish time, or a distance.
- Type the distance and pick kilometres or miles. A marathon is 42.195 km, a half marathon 21.0975 km.
- Type the time as hours, minutes and seconds, or the pace as minutes and seconds per kilometre or mile.
- Read the answer, with pace in both units and speed in km/h and mph.
The formulas
pace = time ÷ distance
finish time = pace × distance
distance = time ÷ pace
speed = distance ÷ time; pace per mile = pace per km × 1.609344Pace is the upside down of speed. A pace of 5:00 per km is 12 km/h, because 60 minutes divided by 5 minutes is 12. Times are rounded to the nearest second.
Worked example: 10 km in 50 minutes
- Time in seconds: 50 × 60 = 3,000
- Pace: 3,000 ÷ 10 = 300 seconds per km = 5:00 per km
- Per mile: 300 × 1.609344 = 482.8 seconds = 8:03 per mile
- Speed: 10 km in 50 minutes = 12 km/h, or 7.46 mph
A 50 minute 10K is a pace of 5:00 per km, or 8:03 per mile, at 12 km/h. Holding that pace for a full marathon would give a finish time of 3:30:59.
Race finish times by pace
| Pace per km | Pace per mile | 5K | 10K | Half marathon | Marathon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4:00 | 6:26 | 20:00 | 40:00 | 1:24:23 | 2:48:47 |
| 5:00 | 8:03 | 25:00 | 50:00 | 1:45:29 | 3:30:59 |
| 6:00 | 9:39 | 30:00 | 1:00:00 | 2:06:35 | 4:13:10 |
| 7:00 | 11:16 | 35:00 | 1:10:00 | 2:27:41 | 4:55:22 |
These assume an even pace from start to finish. Hills, heat, crowds and the weaving around other runners usually add a little, and GPS watches often measure a race as slightly longer than its official distance.
Using pace in training
- Plan a race: pick a goal time, find the pace, and practise running at it.
- Check progress: the same route at a faster pace is a clear sign of fitness.
- Easy runs are usually much slower than race pace; most runners should be able to talk in full sentences.
- For heart rate based training, see the heart rate zone calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my running pace?
Divide your time by your distance. If you ran 5 km in 27 minutes 30 seconds, that is 1,650 seconds divided by 5, which is 330 seconds, or 5:30 per km. Choose Pace above, enter the distance and time, and the calculator shows pace per km and per mile.
How do I convert pace per km to pace per mile?
Multiply the pace per kilometre by 1.609344, because a mile is exactly 1.609344 km. A pace of 5:00 per km becomes 482.8 seconds, which rounds to 8:03 per mile. To go the other way, divide pace per mile by 1.609344.
What pace do I need for a sub 4 hour marathon?
You need to average faster than about 5:41 per km, or 9:09 per mile, over 42.195 km. Choose Finish time above, enter 42.195 km and try different paces to see the finish time. Most runners aim a few seconds per km faster to allow for the crowded start.
How do I convert pace to speed?
Divide 60 by the pace in minutes. A pace of 6 minutes per km is 60 ÷ 6 = 10 km/h, and a pace of 10 minutes per mile is 6 mph. The calculator gives the speed in km/h and mph with every answer, and does the seconds for you.
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