Build a Pace Reference Sheet for a Small Running Group
Build a four-plan 5K pace sheet with 25, 30, 35 and 40-minute targets. Keep checkpoint distances, halfway times and finish labels clear.
Start with the group’s own choices
A compact group reference can answer a simple question: what do several selected finish targets mean at the same distance? Keep that task separate from assigning targets to people. Ask for the distance and target each reference should represent, and use neutral labels on a shared worksheet when names are unnecessary.
This worked example uses four independently selected 5 km targets: 25:00, 30:00, 35:00 and 40:00. The worksheet labels A, B, C and D correspond to Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 3 and Plan 4 in the tool; they identify columns, not abilities or training groups. All four plans use an even allocation. No personal details are needed to perform the arithmetic.
Compare four plans in one place
| Plan | Target | Pace / km | At 2 km | At 3 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 0:25:00 | 5:00 | 0:10:00 | 0:15:00 |
| B | 0:30:00 | 6:00 | 0:12:00 | 0:18:00 |
| C | 0:35:00 | 7:00 | 0:14:00 | 0:21:00 |
| D | 0:40:00 | 8:00 | 0:16:00 | 0:24:00 |
Enter these values in the comparison tool and keep the 5 km distance visible for every plan. The 2 km and 3 km columns provide intermediate references without turning the sheet into a long table. If the task needs every kilometre, open the split calculator for each selected plan and retain the complete terminal row.
Halfway for this distance is 2.5 km. The corresponding times are 12:30, 15:00, 17:30 and 20:00. A sheet that includes halfway should label it as 2.5 km rather than inserting an unlabeled row between the second and third kilometres.
Use labels that survive copying
Put units in the heading and keep the exact finish target beside each plan label. A column called “30” can mean minutes, seconds, speed or a group number after it has been copied into another document. “Plan B · 5 km · 30:00” remains understandable without the original page around it.
- Use one distance convention across a direct comparison.
- Write cumulative time when values are measured from the start.
- Retain a final target column even if the sheet shows only selected checkpoints.
- Explain any different two-half allocation rather than silently changing a plan.
If some references use miles, create a separately labelled set or retain the exact converted distance. A 5 km marker and a 5 mile marker cannot share the same column meaning. The unit guide explains the conversion; this sheet is concerned with keeping several plans organized.
Export a static reference
Export CSV to arrange a simple worksheet, or create individual pace-band PDFs for the selected plans. Review the output before distributing it, especially the distance labels and finish values. A printed worksheet can be useful without giving anyone access to your browser’s saved plans.
The comparison supports up to four plans at a time. For a larger set, make deliberately labelled groups of references rather than squeezing unreadable columns onto one page. This also makes it easier to spot a copied target that no longer matches its heading.
The resulting sheet remains an arithmetic reference. It does not recommend a target, prescribe a group session, assess fitness or record participants. Keep personal or scheduling information in the separate process you already use, rather than adding it to numerical plan labels by default.