PaceNiveau

PaceNiveau is a concept used in distance running to measure an athlete's performance in certain races, typically in a road racing setting. It is often associated with the Fields High School in Ogden, Utah, and has been widely used to describe top-level performances since the 1950s. The PaceNiveau is calculated based on the average time it takes for a top athlete to complete a specific distance during a race.

One key aspect of PaceNiveau is that it only takes into account the time achieved by the best male and female runners. While the concept does not require any specific calculation formula, a PaceNiveau of 64 means that the top male runner finished a race in 64 minutes or less per 64 minute fraction of the total distance. This results in a unique ratio system that aims to rank elite runs accurately despite irregular race distances.

Competitors and runners use PaceNiveau rankings to demonstrate relative positioning and defense of course records, especially when standard mile and 3200m split times aren't available. PaceNiveau is largely independent of pacing and can unfold differently, depending on the road running event. The metric has been endorsed and retained by several schools and running organizations due to its ability to simplify vast and spread field times.