Running pace calculator
Fill in any two of distance, time and pace. The third one works itself out, along with what that pace means for every common race distance.
Times go in as mm:ss or h:mm:ss.
| Distance | Finish time |
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Pace, time and distance
The three are one equation with three unknowns: pace is time divided by distance. Everything on this page is that, arranged so you can put in whichever two you know. Enter distance and time after a run to find out what pace you held; enter distance and pace before a race to find out what the clock will say.
Even splits are harder than they look
The splits table assumes you hold exactly the same pace the whole way. Almost nobody does. Most runners go out too fast and give it back in the second half, which is why negative splits — running the back half slightly faster — are the standard advice for anything from five kilometres upwards.
Most of your running should be slower than this
It is tempting to pick a race pace and then train at it. That is the fastest route to being permanently a bit tired and never quite improving. Keep the large majority of your weekly distance at a pace you could hold a conversation at, and let one session a week be genuinely hard.
Common questions
How do I use this calculator?
Fill in any two of distance, time and pace, and leave the third blank. Whichever field is empty is the one that gets worked out.
What format should I type times in?
Minutes and seconds as 27:40, hours as 1:05:30, or a bare number for minutes. Pace uses the same format — 5:30 means five minutes thirty per kilometre or mile, whichever unit you picked.
What is a good running pace?
There is no useful universal answer, and chasing someone else's numbers is how people get hurt. The pace that matters is the one you can hold while still talking, because most of your weekly running should happen there.
Why are my race splits slower than the calculator says?
The splits assume an even effort on flat ground with no wind and no fatigue. Real races drift, especially past ten kilometres. Use the table as a plan, not a promise.
Should I train by pace or by effort?
Effort, most days. Pace is a measurement of a run, not an instruction for one — heat, hills and a bad night's sleep all move the pace that corresponds to an easy effort.
One run is a number. A year of them is a trend.
Log distance and duration for every run and watch weekly volume build. Free, and you can take the whole log with you as CSV.