What this result means
Vertical speed is climbing rate. It answers how fast you gained elevation, not how fast you covered horizontal distance.
VAM is the same engine with a climbing-rate headline familiar to mountain runners. Hill pace tools stay for grade-adjusted horizontal pace.
100 m in 30:00 → 200 m/h (about 656 ft/h). 300 m in 60:00 → 300 m/h.
A short steep repeat can post a high VAM while average running pace looks slow.
Calculation method
m/h = gain_m ÷ (time_seconds ÷ 3600). ft/h = m/h × 3.28084.
Exact arithmetic. No Minetti conversion on this page.
Net gain over a long session understates stop-and-go climbing. Use the segment you care about.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as VAM?
Same math. The VAM calculator uses the climbing-rate label runners and cyclists often search for.
Does vertical speed equal running pace?
No. Pace is horizontal distance over time. Vertical speed is elevation over time.
Can gain be negative?
Yes if you enter a descent. The rate will be negative. Most people use positive climb for VAM comparisons.
Where do I convert grade into pace?
Use hill pace, flat-equivalent pace, or the hills board. Those apply Minetti energy cost.