Plain-English glossary
Fitness Math Glossary
Use this glossary when fitness calculators ask for pace, distance, time, body weight or activity intensity.
What this glossary is for
Fitness estimates can be useful for planning, but they are sensitive to pace, body weight, terrain and intensity.
Key terms
Pace
Time per unit of distance, such as minutes per mile or minutes per kilometer.
Speed
Distance per unit of time, such as miles per hour. Pace and speed describe similar movement in different ways.
Distance
How far an activity covers. Check whether the calculator expects miles or kilometers.
MET
A metabolic equivalent value used to estimate energy cost of activities.
Walking calories
An estimated calorie burn based on body weight, time and intensity.
Intensity
How hard an activity is. A gentle walk and brisk walk can produce different estimates for the same time.
Recovery time
Time between efforts or workouts. It is not usually in the formula but matters for planning.
How to use the terms
Read the definition first, then open the calculator that uses the same term. Change one input at a time so you can see which number drives the result.
Main related calculator
The first tool below is the most directly related calculator for this glossary. The remaining links stay within the same topic so the page does not send visitors into unrelated tools.