The 5K run is a long-distance road running competition over a distance of . Also referred to as the 5K road race, 5 km, or simply 5K, it is the shortest of the most common road running distances. It is usually distinguished from the 5000 metres track running event by stating the distance in kilometres, rather than metres.
Among road running events, the 5K distance is mostly popular with novice or infrequent runners or joggers as it is comparatively easier to complete the distance without endurance training. The 5K distance also makes the distance suitable for people looking to improve or maintain their general physical fitness, rather than develop long-distance running abilities. The brevity of the distance means that less time is required to take part in the activity and that people from a wide range of ages and abilities may participate. From a physiological perspective, five kilometres is towards the low end of endurance running.Wolfe-Bieler, Kristen (2007-06-08). Run Your First 5-K. Runner's World. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.
The combination of the activity's simplicity, its low cost, and medium exercise intensity mean that it is often recommended by medical organisations and healthcare professionals. Beginner 5km programme . BUPA. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.5K Fun Run . Diabetes.co.uk. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.5K run: 7-week training schedule for beginners. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved on 2014-01-18. Like all physical activity, regular 5K runs can improve cardiovascular function, as well as having mental health benefits (see runner's high).running with Couch to 5K. National Health Service. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.
Events Similar to other road running events, many organised 5K running events incorporate an element of charity running. Runners may elect to raise money for a chosen charity on the condition of their completion of the race.Race for Life . Cancer Research UK. Retrieved on 2014-01-18. Raising money for charity is typically optional, with other participants running for pleasure. The 5K distance is particularly popular among women and a number of annual women-only races are organised over the 5K distance. Running USA's 2012 analysis of participation in American road races showed that 58% of participants in 5K races were women. The race participation contrasts with women's participation in sport in general and in longer distance races particularly, where the same report showed the gender bias was reversed.Statistics . Running USA (2012). Retrieved on 2014-01-18.2012 State of the Sport Part I: Growth of Women's Running. Running USA (2012-05-09). Retrieved on 2014-01-18.
The Hot Chocolate 5K in Chicago and the Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run in Miami are the largest organised 5K runs in the United States, having attracted over 20,000 and over 16,000 runners, respectively, in 2012. The number of runners ranked the Hot Chocolate 5K as the 20th largest road running event of any distance in the United States that year.Largest Races . Running USA. Retrieved on 2014-01-18. There are several prominent 5K race series, including The Color Run, an international, mass participation, city-based series involving coloured water showers,About. The Color Run. Retrieved on 2014-01-18. and the parkrun series, which is a worldwide network of free-to-enter, volunteer-led races occurring each weekend, originating in the United Kingdom.Philips, Mitch (2010-05-21). Grass-roots support pushes Parkrun to new heights. Reuters. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.
Unlike longer road races, such as the 10K run and marathon, the 5K distance is not commonly contested by elite distance runners. The Carlsbad 5000 is one of the few races that attract competitive elite fields and saw several world bests for the distance prior to the IAAF's 2018 decision to begin recognising world records for the 5K.Defar runs fastest ever women's 5km in Carlsbad. IAAF (2006-04-10). Retrieved on 2014-01-18.Third win in a row for Gebremeskel, Burka makes Ethiopian double in Carlsbad. IAAF (2013-04-08). Retrieved on 2014-01-18.
Another annual American race, Freihofer's Run for Women, also regularly has elite women competing in the road distance,Chebet beats the heat to set course record in Albany 5K. IAAF (2010-06-06). Retrieved on 2014-01-18. as does the BOClassic in Italy.Sampaolo, Diego (2012-01-01). Soi and Cheruiyot take thrillers in Bolzano. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-01-02. Elite racing almost exclusively takes place on the track for this distance.
There is no official world championship event organised for the 5 km road distance. Championships over 5 km are held nationally in some areas, including the United States and England.Records, Rankings, and Lists. USA Track and Field. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.English 5k Road Championship . England Athletics (2010-07-12). Retrieved on 2014-01-18. An annual North American 5K Championships was created in 2002, but the competition ceased after 2005.North AMerican 5 Kilometres Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.2005 North American 5 km Team Challenge. USATF. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.
Records
The 5 km road distance was introduced by IAAF as a world record event in November 2017, with the inaugural record to be recognised after 1 January 2018 if the performances were equal to or better than 13:10 for men and 14:45 for women. Other statistical organisations, including the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, record best times for the event.World Best Progressions- Road. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2013-12-21). Retrieved on 2014-01-18. Records for the 5K are often noted in national records in athletics.
Area records Updated 4 October 2026.
Area Men Women Time Season Athlete Time Season Athlete World 12:49 2021 13:54 2024 Area records Africa 12:49 2021 13:54 2024 Asia 13:05 2023 none Europe 12:51 2026 14:33 2026 North, Central Americaand Caribbean 13:14 2026 14:50 2015 Oceania 13:04 2026 14:48 2013 South America 12:57 2025 15:39 1992
All-time top 25 + = en route to longer performance
Men Correct as of April 2026. RankTimeAthleteNationDateRacePlace112:49Berihu AregawiEthiopia31 December 2021Cursa dels NassosBarcelona212:50Yomif KejelchaEthiopia19 March 2023Lille312:51Joshua CheptegeiUganda16 February 2020Monaco Run 5KMonacoJimmy GressierFrance4 April 2026Urban Trail de LilleLille512:54Addisu YihuneEthiopia4 April 2026Urban Trail de LilleLille612:55Nicholas KimeliKenya30 April 2022Adizero: Road to RecordsHerzogenaurach712:56Yann SchrubFrance4 April 2026Urban Trail de LilleLille812:57Santiago CatrofeUruguay16 March 2025Lille912:58Hagos GebrhiwetEthiopia14 December 2024Al Sharqiyah International 5kmKhobar, Saudi ArabiaKuma GirmaEthiopia14 December 2024Al Sharqiyah International 5kmKhobar, Saudi Arabia1113:00Sammy KipketerKenya26 March 2000Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad1 April 2001Carlsbad 5000CarlsbadHarbert KibetUganda3 May 2025Asics Tokyo Speed RaceTokyoWaberi Igueh HousseinDjibouti13 December 2025Al Sharqiyah International RaceKhobarYismaw DilluEthiopia13 December 2025Al Sharqiyah International RaceKhobar1513:01Mezgebu SimeEthiopia14 December 2024Al Sharqiyah International 5kmKhobar, Saudi Arabia13 December 2025Al Sharqiyah International RaceKhobar1613:02Levy KibetKenya30 April 2022Adizero: Road to RecordsHerzogenaurachGemechu GodanaEthiopia4 April 2026Urban Trail de LilleLille1813:03Andrew AlamisiKenya26 April 2025Adizero: Road to RecordsHerzogenaurach1913:04Reynold CheruiyotKenya19 March 2023LilleBiniam MeharyEthiopia9 December 2023Annual Charity RunKhobar, Saudi ArabiaAddisu YihuneEthiopia16 March 2025Lille2213:05Birhanu BalewBahrain9 December 2023Annual Charity RunKhobar, Saudi ArabiaAndreas AlmgrenSweden5 April 2025Drammen 10K-5KDrammen, Norway2413:06Jacob KropKenya12 September 2021Road to RecordsHerzogenaurachMaxime ChaumetonSouth Africa4 April 2026Urban Trail de LilleLille
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 13:06: Berihu Aregawi also ran 12:52 (2021), 12:59 (2021). Yomif Kejelcha also ran 12:53 (2022), 12:54 (2025), 13:00 (2024), 13:02 (2023), 13:06 (2023). Jimmy Gressier also ran 12:57 (2025). Hagos Gebrhiwet also ran 12:59 (2023). Yann Schrub also ran 13:00 (2025). Addisu Yihune also ran 13:04 (2025), 13:05 (2024). Andrew Alamisi also ran 13:06 (2024).
Women Correct as of April 2026. RankTimeAthleteNationDateRacePlace113:54 Beatrice ChebetKenya31 December 2024Cursa dels NassosBarcelona214:13 Agnes NgetichKenya14 January 202410K Valencia IbercajaValencia314:14 Emmaculate AcholiKenya14 January 202410K Valencia IbercajaValencia414:15 Marta AlemayoEthiopia4 April 2026Urban Trail de LilleLille514:19 Ejgayehu TayeEthiopia31 December 2021Cursa dels NassosBarcelonaCaroline NyagaKenya3 May 2025Asics Tokyo Speed RaceTokyo714:22 Hawi AberaEthiopia4 April 2026Urban Trail de LilleLille814:23 Medina EisaEthiopia31 December 2024Cursa dels NassosBarcelonaLikina AmebawEthiopia31 December 2025Cursa dels NassosBarcelona1014:24 Yenenesh ShimeketEthiopia4 April 2026Urban Trail de LilleLille1114:25 Lilian Kasait RengerukKenya14 January 202410K Valencia IbercajaValencia1214:28 Yalemzerf YehualawEthiopia27 February 2022Castellón 10KCastellón de la Plana14:28 Joy CheptoyekUganda31 December 2023Cursa dels NassosBarcelona1414:29 Senbere TeferiEthiopia12 September 2021Road to RecordsHerzogenaurach14:29 Prisca ChesangUganda31 December 2022San Silvestre VallecanaMadrid1614:30Hirut MesheshaEthiopia16 March 2025Lille1714:32Joyciline JepkosgeiKenya9 September 2017Birell Prague Grand PrixPrague14:32 Nadia BattoclettiItaly3 May 2025Asics Tokyo Speed RaceTokyo1914:35Mekides AbebeEthiopia19 March 2023Lille14:35 Catherine RelineKenya10 September 2023Brașov Running FestivalBrașov2114:36 Belinda ChemutaiUganda31 December 2024Cursa dels NassosBarcelona2214:38 Degitu AzimerawEthiopia31 December 2021San Silvestre VallecanaMadridEdinah JebitokKenya31 December 2021San Silvestre VallecanaMadrid14:38 17 March 2024LilleSamiyah Hassan NourDjibouti4 April 2026Urban Trail de LilleLille2514:39 Dawit SeyaumEthiopia6 November 2021Urban Trail Lille eventLilleDiane van EsNetherlands9 February 2025MonacoRun 5KMonaco 14:39 Karoline Bjerkeli GrøvdalNorway1 May 2021Sør-Odal
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 14:39: Beatrice Chebet also ran 14:13 (2023) and 14:35 (2023). Ejgayehu Taye also ran 14:21 (2022, 2023). Agnes Ngetich also run 14:25 (2023). Lilian Kasait Rengeruk also ran 14:26 (2023), and 14:39 (2023). Hawi Abera also ran 14:32 (2025). Likina Amebaw also ran 14:33 , 14:35 (2024), 14:38 (2025). Caroline Nyaga also ran 14:35 (2023). Senbere Teferi also ran 14:37 (2022). Medina Eisa also ran 14:38 (2024).
Notes
References
List of world bests World Best Progressions- Road. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2013-12-21). Retrieved on 2014-01-18.
External links
5K run training from About.com