Pace Calculator
Calculate your running pace, total finish time, or distance for any race or workout. Works for running, walking, cycling, and swimming.
| Event | Miles | Kilometers | Finish 4:00:00 | Finish 2:00:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | 26.219 | 42.195 | 9:09 /mi | 4:35 /mi |
| Half Marathon | 13.109 | 21.098 | 18:19 /mi | 9:09 /mi |
| 10K | 6.214 | 10 | 38:37 /mi | 19:19 /mi |
| 5K | 3.107 | 5 | 1:17:10 /mi | 38:33 /mi |
| 1 Mile | 1 | 1.609 | 4:00:00 /mi | 2:00:00 /mi |
Finish 4:00:00 = pace needed to finish in exactly 4 hours. Finish 2:00:00 = pace needed to finish in exactly 2 hours.
| Finish Time | Pace per Mile | Pace per KM | Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00:00 | 6:52 | 4:16 | 8.74 |
| 3:30:00 | 8:01 | 4:59 | 7.49 |
| 4:00:00 | 9:09 | 5:41 | 6.55 |
| 4:30:00 | 10:18 | 6:24 | 5.82 |
| 5:00:00 | 11:27 | 7:06 | 5.24 |
| 5:30:00 | 12:35 | 7:49 | 4.77 |
| 6:00:00 | 13:44 | 8:32 | 4.37 |
How to Calculate Running Pace
Running pace is the most important metric for planning training runs, setting race goals, and tracking fitness progress. Pace is calculated by dividing total time by distance and is typically expressed as minutes and seconds per mile or per kilometer.
For example, completing a 5-mile run in 50 minutes gives a pace of 10 minutes per mile. Use this pace calculator to find any of the three variables when you know the other two.
How to Calculate Finish Time
If you plan to race a half marathon at a 10-minute-per-mile pace, multiply 10 minutes by 13.1 miles to get a predicted finish time of 131 minutes, or 2 hours and 11 minutes.
How to Calculate Distance
If you ran for 45 minutes at an 8-minute-per-mile pace, you covered 45 divided by 8, which equals 5.625 miles.
Pace vs Speed
Pace and speed describe the same quantity but in inverse forms. A pace of 10 minutes per mile is equivalent to a speed of 6 miles per hour (60 minutes divided by 10 minutes per mile). Runners typically use pace, while cyclists more commonly use speed.
Running Pace for Common Race Distances
Knowing the required pace for a target finish time helps runners train at the right intensity and plan their race strategy effectively.
Marathon Pace
A marathon covers 26.219 miles or 42.195 kilometers. To finish in 4 hours, you need a pace of approximately 9 minutes 9.6 seconds per mile. To qualify for the Boston Marathon, most age groups require a finish time between 3:00 and 3:35, which demands a pace between 6:52 and 8:12 per mile.
Half Marathon Pace
A half marathon covers 13.109 miles or 21.098 kilometers. An average recreational runner finishes in around 2 hours, requiring a pace of roughly 9:09 per mile. A 1:45 finish, a common goal for intermediate runners, requires a pace of 8:01 per mile.
5K and 10K Pace
A 5K (3.107 miles) run in 30 minutes equals a pace of 9:41 per mile. A 10K (6.214 miles) in 60 minutes equals the same pace. Beginner runners often aim to complete a 5K in 35 to 40 minutes, corresponding to a pace of 11:17 to 12:53 per mile.
Pace Calculator for Other Sports
This pace calculator works for any activity where you cover a measurable distance in a measured time: swimming, cycling, rowing, walking, or hiking. Enter your time and distance in any supported unit and the calculator will return your pace or speed in the unit you choose.
Swimmers often express pace per 100 meters or per 100 yards. Select meters or yards from the distance dropdown and enter the appropriate pace unit to calculate swim pace. Cyclists typically prefer speed (distance per hour) rather than pace, but pace per mile or per kilometer can also be useful for planning ride segments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Running pace is calculated by dividing total time by distance. For example, if you ran 3 miles in 30 minutes, your pace is 30 divided by 3, which equals 10 minutes per mile. Pace is expressed as minutes and seconds per mile or per kilometer.
To run a marathon in under 4 hours, you need to maintain a pace faster than 9 minutes and 9.62 seconds per mile, or approximately 5 minutes and 41 seconds per kilometer. The marathon distance is 26.219 miles or 42.195 kilometers.
A good running pace for a beginner is between 10 and 14 minutes per mile (6.2 to 8.7 minutes per kilometer). Most beginner runners complete a 5K in 35 to 45 minutes. Pace naturally improves with consistent training over weeks and months.
To calculate your 5K pace, divide your total finish time in minutes by 3.107 miles (or 5 kilometers). For example, a 30-minute 5K gives a pace of 9 minutes 41 seconds per mile, or 6 minutes exactly per kilometer.
Pace measures how long it takes to cover one unit of distance (for example, 9 minutes per mile), while speed measures how much distance is covered per unit of time (for example, 6.7 miles per hour). They convey the same information in inverse form. To convert pace to speed: speed (mph) = 60 divided by pace (min/mile).
Yes. This calculator works for any activity where you cover a measurable distance in a measured time. Select the appropriate distance unit (kilometers for cycling, meters or yards for swimming) and choose a matching pace unit. Enter any two known values to calculate the third.
To convert pace per mile to pace per kilometer, multiply the pace in minutes by 0.6214 (since 1 mile equals 1.6093 kilometers). For example, a 10-minute-per-mile pace equals 10 times 0.6214, which is approximately 6 minutes 13 seconds per kilometer.