How to Calculate Miles Per Minute for Running

Running is an effective way to lose weight, get fit and create a sense of well-being. Monitoring your running speed can help you set achievable goals. Monitoring requires little more than a stopwatch and a drive along your running route. Recording the time it takes you to complete your run will determine your speed. Running speed is a function of the distance covered and the time it takes you to run that distance. Calculating your speed on a regular basis will help you keep track of your progress.

Things You'll Need

  • Odometer
  • Stopwatch
  • Calculator
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Instructions

    • 1

      Convert the time recorded on the stopwatch from the minute-second stopwatch format (00:00) to total seconds.Multiply the minutes by 60 and add the seconds to obtain a total time in seconds. For example, a time reading of 6:08 is (6 x 60) + 8 = 368 seconds.

    • 2

      Divide the total time in seconds by 60 to obtain a total time in decimal minutes. For example, 265 seconds is equivalent to 265/60 or 4.42 min.

    • 3

      Measure the running distance using your vehicle's odometer. Alternatively, a pedometer or digital map software can be used to measure the running distance.

    • 4

      Divide the total distance run in miles by the total time in decimal minutes taken to complete the distance. This gives the running speed in miles per minute. For example, if you run 2.5 miles in 15:06 minutes, then your running speed will be 2.5/15.1 = 0.17 miles per minute.