Pace is the inverse of speed — instead of distance over time, it's time over distance. Runners typically talk in minutes per kilometre (min/km) or minutes per mile (min/mile) because it's easier to plan races and splits that way. A faster pace means a smaller number: 4:30/km is quicker than 5:30/km. Knowing your pace lets you set even splits and predict finish times.
Key points
- Expressed as min/km or min/mile
- Smaller number = faster
- Inverse of speed
- Used for race planning and even splits