Create CSV File: Quick Steps for Excel, Sheets, Text

To create a CSV file, open any text editor or spreadsheet program, type your data with commas separating each column and a new line for each row, then save the file with the .csv extension. That’s the entire core process—CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values, and the format is plain text, so any program that can save text can create one. This article explains the exact steps in Excel, Google Sheets, and a plain text editor, plus how to handle commas, quotes, and encoding so your file opens correctly everywhere.

Formula

The calculator works out your average pace and speed for a run, ride, or walk. You enter the total time taken and the distance covered. The formulas are:

• Average pace = finish time (minutes) ÷ distance (km) — result in minutes per kilometre.
• Average speed = distance (km) ÷ (finish time (min) ÷ 60) — result in kilometres per hour.

Variables: t = total time in minutes, d = distance in kilometres. If you measure distance in miles, convert to km first (1 mile = 1.60934 km) or the pace will be wrong.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: t = 50 minutes, d = 10 km.

1. Pace = 50 ÷ 10 = 5.00 min/km
2. Speed = 10 ÷ (50 ÷ 60) = 10 ÷ 0.8333 = 12.00 km/h

The calculator shows pace 5.00 min/km and speed 12.00 km/h. That means you covered each kilometre in 5 minutes, and your overall speed was 12 km/h.

What the Results Mean

Pace tells you how long one unit of distance takes—commonly used by runners who think in minutes per mile or kilometre. Speed tells you how much distance you cover in one hour—used by cyclists and drivers. A lower pace number means faster; a higher speed number means faster. For the same effort, pace and speed are inverse: if you double your speed, your pace halves.

Common Mistakes

• Mixing units: Entering time in hours but distance in km gives a nonsense pace. Convert hours to minutes first (multiply by 60).
• Using miles and km together: If your distance is in miles, convert to km (multiply by 1.60934) or use a separate formula for min/mile.
• Rounding too early: If you round 50 ÷ 60 to 0.8 instead of 0.8333, your speed becomes 12.5 instead of 12.0. Keep full precision until the final answer.
• Confusing pace with speed: A 5 min/km pace is 12 km/h, not 5 km/h. Check which number you actually need.

When to Use This Calculator

Use it after a training run to see your average pace, or before an event to estimate what time you need to hit a target pace. It also works for cycling, hiking, or any activity where you know total time and distance. For interval training, this calculator gives an overall average—it won’t show splits per kilometre. If you want splits, you need a GPS watch or a spreadsheet with per-kilometre times.

Limits of the Formula

The formula assumes constant speed. Real activities have hills, stops, and changes in effort, so the average pace is just that—an average. It doesn’t account for elevation gain, terrain, or breaks. For a flat, steady run, the result is accurate. For a hilly trail, your actual effort per kilometre varies even if the average looks fine. Also, the formula uses total moving time; if you stop for traffic lights, the pace will look faster than your real elapsed time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert pace to speed without a calculator?

Take 60 and divide by your pace in minutes per km. For example, 5 min/km → 60 ÷ 5 = 12 km/h. If your pace is 6:30 (6.5 minutes), then 60 ÷ 6.5 = 9.23 km/h. For miles, use 60 ÷ pace in min/mile to get mph.

What is a good running pace for a beginner?

There is no single answer—it depends on age, fitness, and gender. A common conversational pace for a new runner is around 7–9 min/km (roughly 11–8.5 km/h). You should be able to talk in short sentences while running. If you can’t, slow down.

Why does my GPS watch show a different pace?

GPS watches often show current pace (based on the last few seconds) and average pace (based on total time or moving time). They also account for elevation and may use a different distance measurement. If your watch says 5:20 but the calculator says 5:00, check whether the watch is using moving time or elapsed time, and whether the distance is exact.

Can I use this for walking?

Yes. The formula works for any speed. A typical walking pace is 10–15 min/km (4–6 km/h). Just enter your walking time and distance.

What if I only know my speed, not my time?

You can rearrange the formula: time (minutes) = distance ÷ speed × 60. For example, 10 km at 12 km/h → 10 ÷ 12 × 60 = 50 minutes. This calculator doesn’t do that directly, but you can use it backwards by trying different times until the speed matches.

Is pace or speed more useful for training?

Runners typically use pace because it relates directly to effort per kilometre. Cyclists and drivers use speed because distance per hour is more intuitive. For structured training, pace is more practical for setting workout targets (e.g., run 5 km at 5:30 pace).

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2