paces

Pace is a term with multiple meanings centered on distance and movement. As a unit of length, a pace denotes the distance covered in a single stride—the distance between successive placements of the same foot. Because stride length varies with height, leg length, fitness, and the context (walking, running, or marching), a pace is not a fixed quantity. A typical estimate for an average adult walking pace is about 1.4 to 1.8 meters, though actual values differ.

Historically and in practical fields, paces are used as rough distance measures. In surveying, navigation, and marching, people count paces to estimate distances when precise instruments are unavailable. A pace count can be calibrated by measuring actual distance for a known number of paces, yielding a personal pace length for future use.

In sports and fitness, pace also denotes speed, expressed as time per unit distance, such as minutes per kilometer or per mile. An athlete aims to maintain a target pace over a set distance, and pace can be adjusted to achieve a desired finish time.

The plural form paces may refer to different measured lengths, or to the act of pacing (walking back and forth in a restricted area). The term is also used in various cultural and historical contexts to describe walking rhythm or tempo.