Pace Calculator

Use the following calculator to estimate pace for a variety of activities including running, walking, and biking. Given a pace and time or distance, the calculator can also be used to estimate time taken or distance traveled. Note that placeholder zeros do not need to be entered in the "Time" field. For example, the time 2 hours 5 minutes 3 seconds does not need to be entered as 02:05:03, and can be entered as 2:5:3.

Time hh:mm:ss

Multipoint Pace Calculator

The following calculator can determine the pace of segments of a run (or other activity) for those with access to the time at intermittent points during the run. For example, if a person runs from point A to point B, then to point C, records the time at each point, and subsequently determines the distance between those points (using many available websites, applications, or maps), the multipoint calculator can determine how fast the person traveled between each pair of points, allowing use for training purposes; a person can run the same route (or distance) repeatedly and track pace over that given route, enabling comparison of times between each segment (or lap) to identify areas for potential improvement.

  Distance Time (hh:mm:ss)
Your Preferred Pace Unit

Pace Converter

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Finish Time Calculator

The following calculator can be used to estimate a person's finish time based on the time and distance covered in a race at the point the calculator is used.

Current Distance Traveled
Elapsed Time hh:mm:ss
Full Distance

Typical Races and World Record Paces

CategoryMen's World Record PaceWomen's World Record Pace
100 meters2:35/Mile or 1:36/Km2:49/Mile or 1:45/Km
200 meters2:35/Mile or 1:36/Km2:52/Mile or 1:47/Km
400 meters2:54/Mile or 1:48/Km3:12/Mile or 1:59/Km
800 meters3:23/Mile or 2:06/Km3:48/Mile or 2:21/Km
1,500 meters3:41/Mile or 2:17/Km4:07/Mile or 2:34/Km
1 mile3:43/Mile or 2:19/Km4:13/Mile or 2:37/Km
5K4:04/Mile or 2:31/Km4:34/Mile or 2:50/Km
10K4:14/Mile or 2:38/Km4:45/Mile or 2:57/Km
Half Marathon
(13.11 Miles / 21.098 Km)
4:27/Mile or 2:46/Km4:58/Mile or 3:05/Km
(26.22 Miles / 42.195 Km)
4:41/Mile or 2:55/Km5:10/Mile or 3:13/Km

Training Through Pace and Heart Rate

Pace is a rate of activity or movement, while heart rate is measured as the number of times that a person's heart contracts over a minute. Pace and heart rate have a positive correlation; higher pace corresponds to higher heart rate. The use of both in training can help a person improve performance, avoid over-training, as well as track progress and fitness over time.

Measuring and Estimating Heart Rate and Heart Rate Zones:

Heart rate can be measured in different ways, from using devices such as heart rate monitors, to simply looking at a watch while measuring pulse at some peripheral point such as the wrist or neck. Some of the more notable measurements of heart rate include resting heart rate and maximum heart rate which are often used to estimate specific target heart rate zones to determine different levels of exercise.


Maximum heart rate (MHR) is most accurately measured using a cardiac stress test, which involves measuring a person's heart function (including heart rate) at periodically increasing levels of exercise. These tests typically range from ten to twenty minutes in duration, which can be inconvenient. As such, there are many estimates for MHR based on age, which is strongly correlated with heart rate, though there is little consensus regarding which formula should be used. The most commonly cited formula for calculating MHR is:

MHR = 220 – age

Although it is the most commonly cited formula, and is often used to determine heart rate training zones, it does not have a reference to any standard deviation, and is not considered a good predictor of MHR by reputable health and fitness professionals. Furthermore, MHRs vary significantly between individuals, even those with highly similar training and age within the same sport. Nevertheless, MHR determined using the above formula is often used to prescribe exercise training heart rate ranges, and can be beneficial as a reference. Note that an exercise intensity level of 60-70% of maximum heart rate is considered the ideal range for burning fat. Refer to the figure below for further detail.

Exercise intensity levels and typical heart rates associated with said levels based on age1

Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Exercise:

Aerobic and anaerobic exercise are often mentioned in the context of endurance training and running. These types of exercise mainly differ based on the duration and the intensity of muscular contractions and the manner in which energy is generated within the muscle. Generally, anaerobic exercises (~80-90% MHR) involve short, intense bursts of activity while aerobic exercises (~70-80% MHR) involve light activity sustained over a long period of time. An exercise intensity level of 55-85% of MHR for 20-30 minutes is generally recommended to attain the best results from aerobic exercise.2

In solely aerobic exercise, there is sufficient oxygen for a person's muscles to produce all the necessary energy for the exercise. In contrast, in anaerobic exercise, the cardiovascular system cannot supply muscles with oxygen quickly enough, and muscles break down sugar to supply the necessary energy, resulting in an excess of lactate (a byproduct of glucose metabolism). Excess lactate causes the burning sensation in muscles typical of anaerobic exercises and eventually makes the continuation of exercise not possible if excess lactate is not allowed sufficient time to be removed from the bloodstream. Note that although lactate is also produced in aerobic conditions, it is used almost as quickly as it is formed at low levels of exercise, and only trace amounts leak into the bloodstream from the muscles.

Understanding aerobic exercise is particularly important when training for a long-distance activity such as a marathon. Determining a pace that can be maintained while using energy primarily derived through aerobic means, referred to as an "aerobic threshold pace" helps maintain a balance between fat and carbohydrate utilization. This pace requires a relatively low level of intensity, and is usually maintainable for a few hours. Increasing aerobic threshold pace allows for a faster sustainable pace and is a large aspect of many marathon training programs.

An anaerobic threshold pace is defined by some as the threshold at which glycogen, rather than oxygen, becomes the primary source of energy for the body.3 Note that while anaerobic training will result in a person becoming more fit overall, it is not necessarily ideal training for a marathon, since an anaerobic pace is not sustainable for long periods of time. This is not to say that a person should not perform any anaerobic training, as training at or slightly above their anaerobic threshold (the level of exercise intensity at which lactic acid builds up more quickly than it can be removed from the bloodstream) can also be beneficial.4

Similarly to heart rate, the most accurate way to determine these thresholds is through testing within a lab setting. However, both aerobic and anaerobic thresholds can also be estimated using a number of different methods, some of which involve the use of a heart rate monitor. According to a 2005 study, the most accurate way to determine anaerobic threshold (outside of blood work in a lab) is a 30-minute time trial in which heart rate is monitored.5 In this time trial, a person must run at maximum effort, averaging their heart rate over the last 20 minutes of the run. The average heart rate over the last 20 minutes is an estimation of the person's anaerobic threshold heart rate, also known as lactate threshold heart rate (LTHR). It is important that the time trial be performed alone. If it is done in a group setting, the duration must be increased to 60 minutes rather than 30 minutes. Aerobic threshold heart rate can be estimated by subtracting 30 beats per minute from the anaerobic threshold heart rate.3,6

Essentially, threshold training involves training to postpone the point at which lactate starts to build up in the bloodstream, which effectively postpones the point of fatigue, potentially allowing a person to run farther and faster.5

  1. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 2017. "Heart rate."
  2. Darley, Jesse. "The Power of Pace & Heart Rate Training."
  3. Friel, Joe. 2014. "Common But Confusing Training Terms."
  4. Gaudette, Jeff. "How to Find the Right Race Pace and Why the Wrong Pace Sets You up for Failure."
  5. Lovett, Richard A. 2013. "Find Your Tempo."
  6. Friel, Joe. 2011. "Determining your LTHR."