1. What is Minutes per Mile?

Minutes per mile is a measurement of running pace that shows how many minutes and seconds it takes to cover one mile. It's the most common way runners track their speed and compare performance.

2. How the Calculator Works

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• 60 — Number of minutes in an hour
• MPH — Your speed in miles per hour

Explanation: If you're running at 6 mph, you're covering 6 miles in 60 minutes, so each mile takes 10 minutes (60/6).

3. Importance for Runners

Details: Knowing your pace helps with training, race strategy, and tracking fitness improvements. Different training runs (easy, tempo, interval) require different paces.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your running speed in miles per hour (mph). For treadmill runners, this is the speed displayed. For outdoor runners, use GPS watch data or calculate from time and distance.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a good minutes per mile pace?
A: For beginners, 12:00-15:00 min/mile is common. Intermediate runners might do 8:00-10:00. Elite runners can do sub-5:00.

Q2: How do I convert min/mile to mph?
A: Use the inverse: MPH = 60 / (minutes + seconds/60). Our calculator does this conversion automatically.

Q3: Why use min/mile instead of mph?
A: Runners prefer min/mile as it directly shows time per distance, which is more intuitive for pacing during a run.

Q4: How does elevation affect pace?
A: Hills slow your min/mile pace significantly. Trail runners often use "grade adjusted pace" to account for elevation.

Q5: What's the difference between pace and speed?
A: Pace is time per distance (min/mile), speed is distance per time (mph). They're inversely related.