Tempo is not all-out
You should finish most tempo sessions feeling like you could complete another short rep.
Free calculator
Free Tempo Run Pace Calculator
Tempo pace should feel comfortably hard, not like a race. Use a recent result to estimate a sustainable threshold target.
Recent race result
Tempo run pace
Finish time
Estimated VDOT
45.3
Tempo run pace range
5:11-5:26
per km
Per mile
8:21-8:45
training range
Use the slower end for longer tempos and the faster end for short cruise intervals.
Training notes
Make the plan fit the runner.
Duration changes the target
Short cruise intervals can sit near threshold; longer tempos often need the slower end of the range.
Context matters
Tempo work after travel, poor sleep, or a hard long run should be adjusted before it becomes a failed workout.
FAQ
What is a tempo run pace calculator?
It estimates the pace range for tempo and threshold-style sessions from a recent race or time-trial result, so structured speed workouts target the right effort.
How does tempo pace differ from threshold pace?
They overlap: tempo often refers to a comfortably hard, continuous effort, while threshold pace is the more precise pace you could sustain for about an hour. Both sit faster than easy pace and slower than 5K race pace.
How long should a tempo run last?
Many tempo sessions run 15-30 continuous minutes at the calculated pace, though shorter broken intervals near threshold pace are also common earlier in a training block.
Related guides
Keep building the plan.
VDOT calculator
VDOT calculator for training paces
A VDOT calculator. Enter a recent race and get Jack Daniels paces for easy, marathon, threshold, interval, and reps. Free. Minutes per km and per mile.
Open guideThreshold pace
Threshold pace calculator
Calculate lactate threshold / threshold pace from a recent race result. Distinct from a continuous tempo block. Free VDOT-based target.
Open guideInterval pace
Interval pace calculator
Calculate interval training pace from a recent race. See how interval differs from threshold and easy. Free VDOT zones.
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