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Original poster

Running paces - Metric vs Imperial

24 replies

xsquared · 22/04/2022 21:39

Which do you use or prefer?

I use imperial as I rarely do just 5K or less. The first group run I did offered pace in minutes/mile so it's stuck with me since.

OP posts:
Onlythelaundryfairy · 22/04/2022 21:40

Same here

Redcrayons · 22/04/2022 21:45

miles for me.

I have friends who run in Kms and I’ve no idea how far they are going unless it’s 5k or 10k

FourEyesGood · 23/04/2022 09:56

I use kms on my running app (Adidas) and miles on my watch - just beside I like to be able to see both!

jeffersonsam · 25/04/2022 11:40

I always use Kms in my app, because it will makes to run more kms on next day. This will also use to manage my running hours and distances. Every day I start my running exercise at 6.00 a.m

emmathedilemma · 25/04/2022 12:05

always km for me. I have a "rough conversion" rate in my head for when people insist on talking in miles e.g. 5min/km is about an 8min/mile and 6min/km is a 10min/mile.

Shopgirl1 · 25/04/2022 22:38

Both are ok for me, although I have km set on my garmin.

MirandaWest · 25/04/2022 22:39

I do minutes per km.

Weirdlynormal · 25/04/2022 22:41

I converted about 4 years ago. Having run in min miles for 20 years, it’s taken some time, but now I ‘know’ the different pace.

WoodenClock · 25/04/2022 22:41

Miles. I'd say the vast majority of runners I know use miles, but I have noticed that people who only started in the last couple of years seem to be increasingly using km.

PurpleDaisies · 26/04/2022 10:34

I’m firmly team km, probably because I came to running via the couch to 5k app. I’d struggle to change now. Plus the scientist in me is pleased with the imperial unit!

Perfectlystill · 27/04/2022 21:43

Miles. I feel it superior to measuring in kms, I don't know why!

fellrunner85 · 28/04/2022 07:12

Miles. Km only make sense if you're running shorter distances IME (ie 5k or 10k) as most other race distances are in miles.

If you're running a half or full marathon you don't want to be looking at your pace and seeing what you need to make up/even out over 21 or 42kms. Easier to work in miles.

Also, as miles are the more traditional measurement, everyone knows what they equate to. We know Roger Bannister's 4 min mile is fast. But I have no idea what he ran in km..

Ifailed · 28/04/2022 07:27

It's furlongs per fortnight for me.

Original poster
xsquared · 28/04/2022 15:48

😆@Ifailed

I agree @fellrunner85 . I very rarely do runs shorter than 45 minutes long if I am out on my own. I might start working on being faster with my 5K once I get my next race out of the way.

OP posts:
User3579 · 28/04/2022 15:50

Prefer km in general but for running pace it’s min/mile all the way. I can convert easy enough in my head but I “think” in min/mile

Bateleur · 28/04/2022 16:15

Only kms for me. I grew up with the metric system and do not understand imperial at all!

Also, as all races are in km distances - 5km, 10km, half marathon and marathon - it makes sense to me to train in kms to help prepare for race pace. And of course Strava is km which is nice when following friends around the world 🌎

fellrunner85 · 28/04/2022 16:57

Erm, Strava is in miles as well as km - you just pick on your settings. I've never seen Strava in miles.
Also, races above 10k are usually in miles - people describe a marathon as a 26.2, not a 42km.
10 mile and 20 mile races are very common, esp at club level.

Shopgirl1 · 28/04/2022 17:39

There are lots of races in miles also, I often run 10 mile races and also 5 miles.

When I train I use km now, but would also kind of think if I get to 16k say I better add a bit to make it 10 miles. For HM I know what time per km I want to do to make whatever time I am targeting.

In our club I would say it is split between km and miles, with people running many years using miles more as it’s what they are used to.

Iamanunsafebuilding · 28/04/2022 17:49

I do km but I've got good at knowing the distance equivalents and I can roughly do pace conversions as well!

Bateleur · 01/05/2022 08:34

Fellrunner I grew up in the Southern Hemisphere and have only ever heard marathons and half marathons spoken about in kilometers . And we have a huge culture of long distance running, especially ultra marathons.

So it must be cultural thing and just what I'm used to. I had never heard of races described in miles before I came to the UK, so I guess it is just what I am comfortable with and know.

rifling · 01/05/2022 08:39

Also, races above 10k are usually in miles - people describe a marathon as a 26.2, not a 42km.
Depends where you live! Where I am it's 42km. I grew up in the UK but never learnt Imperial and now live in the EU so I use km.

ThettaReddast · 02/05/2022 07:26

It depends what I’m training for at that point. I’m marathon training at the moment so Strava etc is set to miles. If I’m working towards a 10k though I’d switch it back.

PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 02/05/2022 07:33

Metric for me. Despite the fact that most of the races I do are longer distances and in miles... I just convert them to km

purplesequins · 02/05/2022 07:35

km here
went to school in forrin where only metric measurements were used. I find it difficult to convert km to miles or pounds/ounces/stones to kg.

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