Health and fitness
Pace Calculator
Your pace per mile and your finish time for 5K, 10K and the marathon
With this pace calculator you turn your distance and time into minutes per mile (or per kilometer) and miles per hour. We also project your finish time for a 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon at the same pace.
An estimate for adults. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace advice from your doctor or another health professional.
The key idea
Running is not about mph: it is about minutes per mile
Runners think in minutes per mile because that is what the watch shows at every mile split. To go from speed to pace, divide 60 by your mph: at 6 mph you run 10:00 per mile. To break 2 hours in a half marathon (13.1 mi) you need 9:09 per mile or faster.
How it is calculated
Pace = Time / Distance Speed = Distance / Time
A mile is 1.609344 km. A 5K is 3.1 miles, a 10K is 6.2 miles, a half marathon is 13.1 miles (21.0975 km) and a marathon is 26.2 miles (42.195 km). When you pick a race, we use its exact distance.
The projections to other distances assume the same pace, which is hard to hold over longer races: treat them as an optimistic reference.
Worked example
A 10K (6.2 miles) in 55 minutes: 55 / 6.2137 = 8.85 min/mile = 8:51 per mile, or 5:30 per km. Speed: 6.2137 / (55/60) = 6.78 mph.
Typical cases
Race finish times by pace per mile
Your finish time in a 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon if you hold the same pace per mile the whole way.
| Pace per mile | 5K | 10K | Half marathon | Marathon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 /mi | 18:38 | 37:17 | 1:18:39 | 2:37:19 |
| 7:00 /mi | 21:45 | 43:30 | 1:31:46 | 3:03:32 |
| 8:00 /mi | 24:51 | 49:43 | 1:44:53 | 3:29:45 |
| 9:00 /mi | 27:58 | 55:55 | 1:57:59 | 3:55:58 |
| 10:00 /mi | 31:04 | 1:02:08 | 2:11:06 | 4:22:11 |
| 11:00 /mi | 34:11 | 1:08:21 | 2:24:12 | 4:48:24 |
| 12:00 /mi | 37:17 | 1:14:34 | 2:37:19 | 5:14:38 |
| 13:00 /mi | 40:23 | 1:20:47 | 2:50:25 | 5:40:51 |
| 15:00 /mi | 46:36 | 1:33:12 | 3:16:38 | 6:33:17 |
Save or share this table as an image Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is running pace?
It is the time it takes you to cover one mile (or one kilometer), written in minutes and seconds per mile. You get it by dividing your total time by the distance: a 10K in 55 minutes is 8:51 per mile.
How do I convert mph to pace per mile?
Divide 60 by your speed: at 6 mph you run 10:00 per mile. The other way around, divide 60 by your pace in minutes: 8:00 per mile is 8 minutes, and 60 / 8 = 7.5 mph.
What pace do I need to break 2 hours in a half marathon?
9:09 per mile or faster: at that pace you finish in 1:59:57. It comes from dividing 7,200 seconds by 13.1094 miles, about 9:09.2 per mile. Leave some margin for slower stretches.
Why is the marathon projection so optimistic?
Because it assumes you hold the same pace over any distance, and that almost never happens. The longer the race, the more fatigue slows you down. Treat the projection as a ceiling, not a goal.
What pace do I need to break 25 minutes in a 5K?
A bit faster than 8:03 per mile, which is 5:00 per km. At exactly that pace you finish in 25:00. Breaking 50 minutes in a 10K takes the same pace.
How do I use pace to train?
Run your easy runs slower than your race pace and your short intervals faster. To fine-tune the effort, combine pace with your heart rate: the target heart rate calculator gives you your zones.
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