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Running Pace Calculator

Turn a distance and time into your training pace, kilometer splits and race-day speed.

Your run

Pace and speed

Pace per mile -
Pace per km -
Speed (mph) -
Speed (km/h) -

Estimate only, not a training plan.

Why runners track pace, not just speed

A treadmill console shows speed. A race clock shows time. Neither one tells you, on its own, whether you can hold today's effort for another five miles. Pace does, because it turns a run into the same unit coaches and race plans use: minutes per mile or per kilometer, something you can compare directly to a goal time or last month's long run.

Enter any distance and time above and this converts both directions at once: pace per mile, pace per km, and speed in mph and km/h. Change the distance to check a fun-run split, or plug in your last long run to see what pace you actually held once the GPS chatter is averaged out.

Rule of thumb: an 8:00 mile pace works out to roughly 7.5 mph. If your treadmill reads mph, divide 60 by the speed to get minutes per mile.
Reference: even-pace finish times by mile split
Pace / mile5K10KHalf marathonMarathon
6:0018:3837:171:18:392:37:19
7:0021:4543:301:31:463:03:32
8:0024:5149:431:44:533:29:45
9:0027:5855:551:57:593:55:58
10:0031:041:02:082:11:064:22:11
11:0034:111:08:212:24:124:48:24

Figures are arithmetic (pace times distance), not a published data set: use them to sanity-check a goal pace against a target finish time.

Reading a negative split

A negative split means the second half of a run is faster than the first. It's the pattern most experienced racers aim for, since going out too fast burns glycogen you'll want in the last few miles. If you time your first and second half separately, this calculator will convert both into a pace you can compare side by side.

Good to know

FAQs

What's the difference between pace and speed?

Pace is time per unit distance, in minutes per mile or per kilometer. Speed is distance per unit time, in mph or km/h. This tool converts between them once you enter a distance and time.

How do I use this for interval training?

Run each interval, note the distance and time, then enter them here to see your pace for that rep. Compare reps to check whether you're holding pace or fading late.

Does GPS pace match what I enter here?

Not always. GPS watches average pace over a short rolling window and can drift under tree cover or between tall buildings, so a measured distance with a stopwatch time is usually more accurate.

What is a negative split?

Running the second half of a race or workout faster than the first half. Time each half separately and compare the two paces to see if you negative split.