Pace Calculator

Calculate running pace, finish time, or distance. Enter any two values and the calculator will solve for the third.

Running Pace Formulas

Running pace is the amount of time it takes to cover a unit of distance, typically expressed in minutes per kilometer (min/km) or minutes per mile (min/mi). It is the inverse of speed.

Formulas

Pace = Time / Distance

e.g. 25 min / 5 km = 5:00 min/km

Time = Pace × Distance

e.g. 5:00 min/km × 10 km = 50:00

Distance = Time / Pace

e.g. 30:00 / 6:00 min/km = 5 km

Speed = Distance / Time

e.g. 5 km / 25 min = 12 km/h

Unit Conversions

  • 1 mile = 1.609344 km
  • 1 km = 0.621371 miles
  • To convert min/km to min/mi: multiply by 1.609344
  • To convert min/mi to min/km: divide by 1.609344

Common Race Distances

Road Races

  • 5K - 5 km (3.107 miles)
  • 10K - 10 km (6.214 miles)
  • 15K - 15 km (9.321 miles)
  • Half Marathon - 21.0975 km (13.109 miles)
  • Marathon - 42.195 km (26.219 miles)
  • Ultra Marathon - 50 km+ (31.069+ miles)

Track Events

  • 100m - Sprint
  • 200m - Sprint
  • 400m - One lap
  • 800m - Two laps (middle distance)
  • 1500m - Metric mile (middle distance)
  • 5000m - Long distance
  • 10,000m - Long distance

Pace Benchmarks by Level

Running pace varies greatly based on fitness level, age, experience, and terrain. Below are general benchmarks for adult recreational and competitive runners.

Level Pace (min/km) Pace (min/mi) 5K Time Marathon Time
Elite 2:50 - 3:15 4:35 - 5:15 14:00 - 16:15 2:00 - 2:17
Advanced 3:45 - 4:30 6:00 - 7:15 18:45 - 22:30 2:38 - 3:10
Intermediate 5:00 - 6:00 8:00 - 9:40 25:00 - 30:00 3:31 - 4:13
Beginner 6:00 - 7:30 9:40 - 12:00 30:00 - 37:30 4:13 - 5:16
Recreational 7:30+ 12:00+ 37:30+ 5:16+

Training Pace Zones

Effective training uses different pace zones based on your race pace. These zones target different physiological systems to build endurance, speed, and aerobic capacity.

  • Easy / Recovery - 60-75% effort; conversational pace, typically 1:00-2:00 min/km slower than race pace
  • Aerobic / Long Run - 70-80% effort; sustainable for long periods, builds endurance base
  • Tempo / Threshold - 80-90% effort; "comfortably hard" pace you can sustain for about 60 minutes
  • Interval / VO2 max - 90-100% effort; short bursts at or above race pace with rest periods
  • Sprint / Repetition - 100% effort; very short, maximal efforts for speed and form improvement

Note: This calculator provides pace and time estimates based on simple mathematical relationships. Actual race performance is affected by many factors including terrain, elevation, weather, fatigue, hydration, and individual fitness. Race time predictions assume a constant pace throughout the distance, which may not reflect real-world conditions.

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