Running pace calculator
Enter your pace and distance to calculate finish time and splits. What is pace?
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Understanding running pace
Pace is the fundamental metric of running — it tells you how long it takes to cover a fixed distance, expressed as minutes per kilometre (min/km) or minutes per mile (min/mi). Unlike speed, which describes how far you travel in a given time, pace makes it easy to judge effort for a specific distance.
Enter your pace and a distance to see your projected finish time and per-kilometre splits. If you think in km/h rather than min/km, the speed calculator lets you start from a speed value instead. If you already have a goal finish time and want to work backwards to the pace required, use the target pace calculator.
Common reference points for pace:
- Under 4:00 min/km — competitive club runner
- 4:00 – 5:30 min/km — experienced recreational runner
- 5:30 – 7:00 min/km — average runner
- Over 7:00 min/km — beginner or easy recovery run
Frequently asked questions
- What is running pace?
- Running pace is the time it takes to cover one kilometre (or one mile). It is expressed as minutes per kilometre (min/km) or minutes per mile (min/mi). A pace of 5:00 min/km means you cover one kilometre every five minutes.
- How do I calculate my finish time from pace?
- Multiply your pace by the total distance. For example, a pace of 5:30 min/km over a 10 km course gives a finish time of 55 minutes. This calculator does that arithmetic instantly and also breaks the result down into per-kilometre splits.
- What is a good running pace?
- It depends entirely on your experience level and distance. A recreational runner might average 6–7 min/km, while a competitive club runner may target 4:00–4:30 min/km. For reference, the world marathon record is set at roughly 2:50 min/km — a pace that most people cannot sustain even for 400 metres.
- What is the difference between pace and speed?
- Pace and speed are two ways to describe the same thing. Pace is time per distance (min/km), while speed is distance per time (km/h). A pace of 5:00 min/km equals a speed of 12 km/h. Runners typically use pace; cyclists and most other sports use speed.