How Running Pace Is Calculated
Running pace is simply the time it takes to cover one unit of distance — usually minutes per kilometer or minutes per mile. It is the inverse of speed: pace = total time ÷ distance, while speed = distance ÷ time. A pace of 5:00 per kilometer means you cover each kilometer in five minutes, which is equivalent to 12 km/h. The calculator works in both directions: give it a distance and a time to find your pace and speed, or give it a distance and a target pace to find the total time.
Using Pace for Race Planning
Knowing your sustainable pace lets you predict race times. A 5:00/km pace produces a 25-minute 5K, a 50-minute 10K, a 1:45 half marathon, and a 3:30 marathon. As a reference, a sub-3-hour marathon requires roughly a 4:16/km pace, a 3–4 hour marathon 4:16–5:41/km, and a 4–5 hour marathon 5:41–7:07/km. Use the "Time from pace" mode to see what any target pace yields over your chosen distance.