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Pace Calculator – Running and Cycling Pace

Find pace, time, or distance

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Method and source check

Last checked:

Automated source and implementation review, including worked examples and documented numerical limits. This review does not provide professional advice or specialist approval.

Method

From two of distance, elapsed time, and pace per kilometer, derive the third plus average speed and pace per mile.

pace = time / distance

time = pace × distance

distance = time / pace

Variables and units

distance
km, miles, or meters
time
elapsed hours/minutes/seconds
pace
minutes/seconds per km

Worked example

5km in 25min is 5:00 per km and 12km/h.

Limitations

Pace and time strings round total seconds once, then normalize seconds to 0–59. Speed and calculated distance use two decimal places.

  • Results are averages from entered distance and time. They do not prescribe training intensity or predict segment paces.
  • Unsupported derived numerical ranges are rejected with a localized error on a visible form field; the calculations use floating-point arithmetic.
  • 5km/25min → 5:00/km
  • 2km/11:59 → 6:00/km after rounding
  • 10km at 5:00/km → 50:00

Sources

Table of Contents

How to Use

  1. Choose whether to calculate pace, time, or distance.
  2. Enter the two known values and select the distance unit.
  3. Read the result and related speed or pace conversions.

Choose whether to calculate pace, time, or distance

Enter the two known values and select the distance unit. Pace is the time it takes to cover a specific distance, typically expressed as minutes per kilometer (min/km) or minutes per mile (min/mi). It's the inverse of speed and is commonly used by runners and cyclists to measure performance and plan workouts.

Unlike speed (distance per unit time), pace tells you how long it takes to complete each unit of distance, making it easier to plan race times and training intervals.

Method source: OpenStax, Rice University. https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/2-2-speed-and-velocity

Compare paces from your own times

Pace is elapsed time divided by distance. For example, 30 minutes over 5 km is 6:00 per km. Compare like distances and conditions rather than using one pace as a universal benchmark.

Worked example

Covering 5 km in 30 minutes gives an average pace of 6:00 per km. Individual kilometers may be faster or slower than that average.

Pace vs. Speed

While pace and speed represent the same relationship between distance and time, they're expressed differently:

  • Pace: Time per distance (e.g., 5:00 min/km) - Common in running
  • Speed: Distance per time (e.g., 12 km/h) - Common in cycling
  • A pace of 5:00 min/km = 12 km/h = 7.46 mph
  • Slower pace = higher number (e.g., 6:00 is slower than 5:00)
  • Slower speed = lower number (e.g., 10 km/h is slower than 12 km/h)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate pace from time and distance?
Divide elapsed time by distance. For example, 30 minutes over 5 km is 6 minutes per kilometer.
How do I convert pace to speed?
To convert pace to speed: divide 60 by your pace in minutes. For example, a 5:00 min/km pace equals 60 ÷ 5 = 12 km/h. To convert to mph, multiply km/h by 0.621.
Should I use pace or speed for cycling?
Cyclists typically use speed (km/h or mph) rather than pace because cycling speeds are much higher than running speeds, making speed easier to comprehend and track.
Does average pace show every split?
No. Average pace combines the total time and distance; it does not show how pace varied over individual segments.

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