Running Pace Converter (min/km ↔ km/h)
Convert running pace (minutes/km) to speed (km/h) with precision. Essential for marathon training, treadmill calibration, and interval planning.
Conversion Result:
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About
Professional runners and coaches often face a disconnect between training metrics and machine readouts. GPS watches display pace in minutes per kilometer, while treadmills and physiological lab reports often default to kilometers per hour. This discrepancy leads to training errors. A runner attempting a specific threshold workout needs precise conversion to match effort levels across different environments.
This tool bridges that gap. It handles the specific challenge of sexagesimal time formats (minutes:seconds) versus decimal speed. Accuracy here is vital. A rounding error of a few seconds per kilometer translates to minutes over a marathon distance, potentially causing an athlete to miss a qualifying time or blow up early in a race.
Formulas
The relationship between speed and pace is inverse. Speed represents distance per unit of time, while pace represents time per unit of distance.
Speed Formula:
S = 60Pdec
Where Pdec is the pace in decimal minutes.
Decimal Pace Conversion:
Pdec = Min + Sec60
To convert back to a readable time format from speed, the integer part becomes the minutes, and the fractional remainder is multiplied by 60 to find the seconds.
Reference Data
| Event / Level | Target Time | Pace (min/km) | Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon World Record (M) | 2:00:35 | 2:51 | 21.0 |
| Marathon World Record (F) | 2:11:53 | 3:07 | 19.2 |
| Sub-3 Hour Marathon | 2:59:59 | 4:16 | 14.1 |
| Boston Qualifier (Age 18-34 M) | 3:00:00 | 4:16 | 14.1 |
| Boston Qualifier (Age 18-34 F) | 3:30:00 | 4:58 | 12.1 |
| 10k Sub-40 | 0:39:59 | 4:00 | 15.0 |
| 10k Sub-50 | 0:49:59 | 5:00 | 12.0 |
| 5k Sub-20 | 0:19:59 | 4:00 | 15.0 |
| 5k Sub-25 | 0:24:59 | 5:00 | 12.0 |
| Easy Recovery Run | N/A | 6:00 - 7:00 | 8.5 - 10.0 |
| Brisk Walk | N/A | 10:00 | 6.0 |