How to Calculate 5K Time

If you are out running a 5-kilometer race (5K) and you know what your average speed is, you can quickly calculate what your time will be. In order to do this, you need to know the basic formula for speed: speed equals distance traveled divided by time. Your speed is your average speed and the distance traveled is 5 km. Remember, most people track speed in miles per hour, not kilometers.

Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your average speed. Use a device on your phone or shoes that let you know the pace you are going. For example, assume you are running at 3.3 mph.

    • 2

      Convert 5 km to miles if your speed is in miles per hour. It is 3.1 mph.

    • 3

      Divide your distance by your speed. In the example, 3.1 miles divided by 3.3 mph equals 0.93 hours. To convert from decimal hours to minutes, multiply the result by 60 to get 56.36 minutes.