Definition & Meaning

The distance you run is the length of the path you cover, which may include curves or elevation changes. It is usually measured in kilometers (km) or miles (mi). As a fundamental metric, it directly reflects your running volume. For example, if someone says they ran 5 kilometers, we can clearly understand the extent of their run.

Pace refers to your running speed, expressed as the time taken to cover a specific distance (e.g., minutes per kilometer/mile). For example, a 5 min/km pace means it takes 5 minutes to run 1 kilometer. It is a key metric for evaluating running intensity and efficiency, crucial for training plans and race pacing. Note that pace reflects external effort, while heart rate indicates internal response.

A calorie (actually kilocalorie, kcal) is a unit measuring energy expenditure. Running calorie burn depends on distance, speed, body weight, gender, age, etc. Generally, heavier individuals, faster speeds, and longer distances burn more calories. For example, a 70 kg person running at 7.5 minutes/kilometer for 30 minutes burns approximately 300-400 kcal. Note: males typically burn more calories due to higher muscle mass, and metabolism slows with age.