Pace Calculator
Enter any two of distance, time and pace and get the third, in minutes per mile or per kilometre, with the equivalent speed and what that pace means over 5K, 10K, half and full marathon.
Pace per mi
8:03
Pace per km
5:00
Speed
7.46 mph
12.00 km/h
| At this pace | 5K | 10K | Half marathon | Marathon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish time | 25:00 | 50:00 | 1:45:29 | 3:30:59 |
Pace chart: finish times by pace
Each row is one pace per mile; read across for the finish time it produces at each distance. Speeds are what a treadmill would call the same pace.
| min/mi | min/km | mph | 5K | 10K | Half marathon | Marathon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 | 3:44 | 10.0 | 18:38 | 37:17 | 1:18:39 | 2:37:19 |
| 7:00 | 4:21 | 8.6 | 21:45 | 43:30 | 1:31:46 | 3:03:32 |
| 8:00 | 4:58 | 7.5 | 24:51 | 49:43 | 1:44:53 | 3:29:45 |
| 9:00 | 5:36 | 6.7 | 27:58 | 55:55 | 1:57:59 | 3:55:58 |
| 10:00 | 6:13 | 6.0 | 31:04 | 1:02:08 | 2:11:06 | 4:22:11 |
| 11:00 | 6:50 | 5.5 | 34:11 | 1:08:21 | 2:24:12 | 4:48:24 |
| 12:00 | 7:27 | 5.0 | 37:17 | 1:14:34 | 2:37:19 | 5:14:38 |
The three equations
Pace, time and distance are one relationship read three ways. The only trap is that pace is written in minutes and seconds, so convert to seconds before dividing and back after.
- Pace = time ÷ distance. 10K in 50:00: 3,000 s ÷ 10 km = 300 s/km = 5:00/km; × 1.609 = 483 s/mi = 8:03/mi.
- Time = pace × distance. 9:09/mi over 26.219 mi: 549 s × 26.219 = 14,395 s = 3:59:55.
- Distance = time ÷ pace. 45 minutes at 8:03/mi: 2,700 s ÷ 483 s/mi = 5.59 mi (9.0 km).
- Speed = 60 ÷ pace in minutes. 8:03/mi is 8.05 min, so 60 ÷ 8.05 = 7.45 mph (12.00 km/h).
Using the result
- Race planning: take the pace for your goal time, then use the marathon pace or split calculator to turn it into checkpoint times you can write on your arm.
- Training: your race pace is the anchor for everything else. Easy runs 60-90 s/mi slower; tempo runs 20-30 s/mi slower than 10K pace; intervals at 5K pace or a little quicker. The VDOT page computes those bands exactly.
- GPS watches read long on most road courses (tangents, tunnels, tall buildings), so the pace your watch shows is usually 1-2% faster than your official pace. Plan splits from the certified distance, not the watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my running pace?
Divide your time by your distance. A 10K (6.21 miles) in 50:00 is 50 ÷ 6.21 = 8.05 minutes per mile, which is 8:03 (the .05 of a minute is 3 seconds). Per kilometre it is 50 ÷ 10 = 5:00. The calculator does the minute-to-seconds conversion that trips people up.
What is a good running pace?
It depends entirely on the distance and the runner. Recreational adult runners commonly race a 5K at 9-12 min/mile and a marathon at 10-13 min/mile; a 'good' club-level runner is closer to 6-7 min/mile for a 5K. For easy training runs, most coaches want 60-90 seconds per mile slower than your 5K race pace, whatever that is.
Why is a marathon 26.2 miles and what pace do I need for 4 hours?
The marathon is 42.195 km (26.219 miles), fixed at the 1908 London Olympics and adopted as standard in 1921. Four hours is 240 minutes ÷ 26.219 = 9.15 min/mile, i.e. 9:09 per mile or 5:41 per km. The finish-time table under the result shows this for any pace.
Does the calculator use 26.2 or 26.219 miles?
26.219 (42.195 km exactly). The difference over a marathon is about 10 seconds at a 9-minute pace, which is worth having right when you are planning splits to a goal time.
These calculators use published exercise-science formulas and are for training guidance. They are estimates, not medical advice: if you have a heart condition or are starting exercise after a long break, talk to a doctor before training by heart rate or pace targets.