Pace Calculator

Use this free pace calculator for running, walking, and cycling. Calculate your pace from distance and time, your finish time from pace and distance, or the distance you can cover at a given pace and time. Includes splits for common race distances.

How to use this Pace Calculator

This calculator has three modes. Select the tab for what you want to find:

Find Pace: Enter your distance in miles and your total time to calculate your average pace per mile and equivalent speed in mph. Also shows predicted finish times for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon at that pace.

Find Finish Time: Enter a distance and your target pace in minutes per mile to calculate your predicted finish time. Useful for race planning and goal setting.

Find Distance: Enter your pace and available time to calculate how far you can run or walk. Useful for planning training runs of a specific duration.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What is a good running pace for beginners?
A: A comfortable beginner running pace is typically between 10 and 14 minutes per mile, which is a conversational pace where you can speak in full sentences. Beginners should focus on completing the distance at a comfortable effort level rather than hitting a specific pace. As fitness improves over weeks of consistent training, pace naturally increases without additional effort.

Q: What is the difference between pace and speed?
A: Pace is expressed as time per unit of distance — such as 9 minutes per mile — and tells you how long it takes to cover one mile. Speed is expressed as distance per unit of time — such as 6.7 miles per hour — and tells you how far you travel in one hour. Both measure the same thing from different angles. Runners typically use pace, while cyclists and swimmers often use speed.

Q: How do I calculate my race finish time?
A: Multiply your pace in minutes per mile by the race distance in miles. For example, a 10-minute-per-mile pace over a half marathon (13.1 miles) = 131 minutes = 2 hours 11 minutes. Use the Find Finish Time tab in this calculator to do this instantly for any distance and pace combination.

Q: What is a negative split in running?
A: A negative split means running the second half of a race faster than the first half. It is considered the most effective race strategy because it preserves energy for a strong finish and avoids the performance drop that comes from going out too fast. Most running coaches recommend targeting an even split or slight negative split for races of 5K and longer.

Q: How do I convert kilometers to miles for pace?
A: One kilometer equals 0.621 miles. To convert a km pace to a mile pace, multiply by 1.609. For example, a 5:00 min/km pace equals 8:03 min/mile. If you train with a GPS watch set to kilometers, simply change the setting to miles or use this calculator with the mile equivalent of your distance.