What this result means
A hills board starts from the effort you want on the flat and a constant grade percent. It converts that effort into the pace to run on the hill, then fills finish clocks and elevation gain across short markers and road distances. A grade-sweep table shows the same flat effort at other grades.
Use it when you are planning a hilly session or comparing how a course climbs. Use the hill pace calculator for a single grade answer. Use the pace board when the course is flat and you only need even-pace finish clocks.
Flat 5:00/km at 5% produces a slower hill pace than 5:00. Half-marathon gain at a constant 5% is about 1,055 m. The grade sweep still shows 5:00/km at 0%.
At −3% the hill pace is faster than the flat target because downhill costs less energy in the Minetti model. Those clocks assume you hold the grade the whole way.
Calculation method
Hill pace = flat pace × (Minetti cost at grade ÷ flat cost). Finish time = hill pace × distance. Gain metres = distance_km × 1000 × (grade ÷ 100).
The polynomial is Minetti 2002. Results are estimates. There is no GPS elevation profile on this page.
Constant grade is a simplification. Real courses mix climbs, flats, and descents. Heat, surface, and pacing strategy are not modelled.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the pace board?
The pace board is flat even-pace finish clocks. The hills board adds grade: hill pace, gain per distance, and a grade sweep for the same flat effort.
What grade should I enter?
Use the average grade you care about for planning, or a known segment grade from a map. This page does not download a course profile.
Does downhill use negative grade?
Yes. Enter a negative percent. Downhill costs less energy in the model, so the hill pace is faster than the flat target.
Is this the same as grade-adjusted pace?
Related math, different question. Grade-adjusted pace turns a watch pace on a grade into flat equivalent. The board starts from flat effort and plans the hill clocks.
Can I open a race page from a row?
Yes. Linked distances open the matching race-pace calculator. Those pages are still even-split tools; they do not inherit the hill grade.