The 25K run (25 kilometers, approximately 15.52 miles) is a long distance running footrace that is between the distance of a half marathon and a marathon. It was formerly an official world record distance in road running by World Athletics,Kimetto breaks 25km World record in Berlin. World Athletics (2012-05-06). Retrieved 2021-03-13. but has since been downgraded to world best status.25K records men. World Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13.25K records women. World Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13. Separately, the Association of Road Racing Statisticians retains world records in the 25K distance. The ARRS holds different standards for records than World Athletics, with exclusions for certain point-to-point races and mixed sex races. As a result its women's world record is 1:26:34 by Nancy Conz, set in 1982.ARRS World Records. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
The distance was more common in the mid-20th century as mass road running was beginning to develop, but began declining with the increased popularity and familiarity of the marathon and half marathon distance. Some former 25K races have transitioned to shorter distances, with which runners and sponsors are more familiar. In particular, the establishment of the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in 1992 proved a driver for private races and national championships to switch to the half marathon as the most common distance between the 10K run and the marathon.
However, as trail running and ultra running continue to find larger participant fields, the 25K has become a more common trail race distance (many trail races and ultra races use the metric system). As runners prepare for a 100K run, they may do training race steps with a 25K followed by a 50K.
Competitions In international competition, the distance has rarely been used. The World Masters Non-Stadia Athletics Championships hosted men's and women's 25K races from 1992 to 1996 and the European Masters Athletics Championships Non Stadia featured men's and women's 25K races in 1991.World Veterans Championships Non Stadia. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13.European Veterans Championships Non Stadia. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13. Official national championships have been staged by the United States beginning 1933 for men and 1982 for women.UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN 1876-1942). GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13.UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIPS (WOMEN). GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13. German-speaking European countries also held national championship races, including Austria,Austrian Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13. Switzerland,Swiss Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13. and Germany (both East, West and Unified).East German Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13.West German Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13.German Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13. All of these were replaced by national half marathon championships, following the decision to host a world championship at that distance from 1992 onwards. Separately, Czechoslovakia also held several national 25K races in the mid-20th century.Czechoslovakian Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
Many of the longest running 25K races have taken place in the United States. The annual Around Cape Ann 25K in Gloucester, Massachusetts was established in 1933 as a 15-mile race (24.1 km) and has been held at the 25K distance from at least 1976.Around Cape Ann 25 km. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13. The River Bank Run, established 1978 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the most significant race in the nation at this distance and has hosted an official USATF national championship race every year since 1995.River Bank 25 km. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13. Other races include the Youngstown International Peace Race, which was held from 1975 to 1988,International Peace Race 25 km. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13. and the City of Lakes race (now a half marathon) which had a 25K race from 1982 to 2013.City of Lakes Half Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
Germany has also hosted multiple mass races at this distance. The BIG 25 Berlin, founded in 1980, is among the most significant privately-organised races over the distance, with the current men's world record being set at this competition in 2012.Berlin 25K. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13. Elsewhere in Germany, the Griesheimer Straßenlauf was created in 1972 as an annual 25K, before converting to a half marathon in 1993.Griesheimer Half Marathon. ARRS. Retrieved 2021-03-13. The Paderborner Osterlauf, also now a half marathon, was held over 25K from 1961 to 1992.Paderborner Osterlauf Half Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
Elsewhere in Europe, in Helsinki, Finland the Kaisaniemen Juoksu 25K run was established in 1929 and was converted to a standard half marathon in 2012.Kaisaniemen Juoksu 25 km + 9 km (F). Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13. The Brněnská 25 in the Czech Republic has been running since 1967,Brnenska Petadvacitka 25 km. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13. and the country's Beh Kolem Hluboke race has been held on over 75 occasions.Longest Running Road Races. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13. In England, the Mitcham 25K was originally a 15-mile race, then converted to a 25K from 1968 to 2001,Mitcham 25K. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13. while the Chichester-Portsmouth course from 1932 to 1986 was roughly 25K.Chichester-Portsmouth 25 km. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13. In Hungary the Pécs-Harkány 25K had been held annually since at least 2000.Pécs-Harkány . Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
The Stella Royal 25K has been held annually in Durban, South Africa since 1975.Stella Royal. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
In India, the AIMS-certified Tata Steel Kolkata 25K has been labeled a gold-labeled race by the IAAF. The race has been taking place since at least 2014, but has gain higher status in the late 2010s as greater prize purses were given and faster times were run. Nearly 15,000 runners participate in the event weekend, which includes the 25K and a 10K. The course records were set in 2023 by Daniel Ebenyo (1:11:13) and Sutume Kebede (1:18:47).
All-time top 25 + = en route to longer performance Mx = mixed gender race Wo = women only race
Men RankTimeAthleteNationDateRaceLocation11:11:08Eliud KipchogeKenya25 September 2022Berlin MarathonBerlin21:11:12Jacob KiplimoUganda12 October 2025Chicago MarathonChicago31:11:13Daniel EbenyoKenya17 December 2023Tata Steel Kolkata 25KKolkata41:11:18Dennis Kipruto KimettoKenya6 May 2012BIG 25 BerlinBerlin51:11:22Amos KiprutoKenya12 October 2025Chicago MarathonChicago61:11:32Sabastian SaweKenya21 September 2025Berlin MarathonBerlin71:11:39Benson KiprutoKenya3 March 2024Tokyo MarathonTokyoTimothy KiplagatKenya3 March 2024Tokyo MarathonTokyo91:11:41Yomif KejelchaEthiopia26 April 2026London MarathonLondon101:11:42Vincent KipkemoiKenya3 March 2024Tokyo MarathonTokyoTamirat TolaEthiopia26 April 2026London MarathonLondonDeresa GeletaEthiopia26 April 2026London MarathonLondon131:11:47Abraham Naibei CherobenKenya4 May 2014BIG 25 BerlinBerlin141:11:49Joshua CheptegeiUganda21 December 2025Tata Steel Kolkata 25KKolkata151:11:50Samuel Kiplimo KosgeiKenya9 May 2010BIG 25 BerlinBerlin161:11:51Sisay LemmaEthiopia3 December 2023Valencia MarathonValenciaChalu DesoEthiopia3 December 2023Valencia MarathonValencia181:11:52Dawit WoldeEthiopia3 December 2023Valencia MarathonValenciaGabriel GeayTanzania3 December 2023Valencia MarathonValencia201:11:56Alexander MutisoKenya3 December 2023Valencia MarathonValenciaKibiwott KandieKenya3 December 2023Valencia MarathonValencia1:11:56Alphonce SimbuTanzania21 December 2025Tata Steel Kolkata 25KKolkata231:11:59Tebello RamakongoanaLesotho21 December 2025Tata Steel Kolkata 25KKolkata241:12:04Kelvin KiptumKenya8 October 2023Chicago MarathonChicago251:12:13Mathew Kipkoech KisorioKenya8 May 2011BIG 25 BerlinBerlin
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:12:13: Sabastian Sawe also ran 1:11:41 (2026). Amos Kipruto also ran 1:11:42 (2026). Jacob Kiplimo also ran 1:11:42 (2026). Eliud Kipchoge also ran 1:11:48 (2023).
Women RankTimeAthleteNationDateRaceLocation11:16:17 Ruth ChepngetichKenya13 October 2024Chicago MarathonChicago21:16:50 Fotyen TesfayEthiopia15 March 2026Barcelona MarathonBarcelona31:17:07 Sutume KebedeEthiopia13 October 2024Chicago MarathonChicago41:18:06 Sifan HassanNetherlands8 October 2023Chicago MarathonChicago51:18:40 Tigst AssefaEthiopia24 September 2023Berlin MarathonBerlin61:18:48 Hellen ObiriKenya26 April 2026London MarathonLondonJoyciline JepkosgeiKenya26 April 2026London MarathonLondon81:18:58 Peres JepchirchirKenya7 December 2025ValenciaValencia91:19:26Yalemzerf YehualawEthiopia17 December 2023Tata Steel Kolkata 25KKolkata101:19:33 Brigid KosgeiKenya13 October 2019Chicago MarathonChicago111:19:34 Sheila ChepkiruiKenya24 September 2023Berlin MarathonBerlin121:19:36 Zeineba YimerEthiopia24 September 2023Berlin MarathonBerlinDera DidaEthiopia24 September 2023Berlin MarathonBerlinWorkenesh EdesaEthiopia24 September 2023Berlin MarathonBerlin1:19:36Degitu AzimerawEthiopia21 December 2025Tata Steel Kolkata 25KKolkata161:19:37 Amane Beriso ShankuleEthiopia4 December 2022Valencia MarathonValenciaLetesenbet GideyEthiopia4 December 2022Valencia MarathonValencia181:19:38 Alemu MegertuEthiopia21 April 2024London MarathonLondonTigist KetemaEthiopia21 April 2024London MarathonLondon201:19:43 Mary Jepkosgei KeitanyKenya23 April 2017London MarathonLondon211:19:47 Senbere TeferiEthiopia24 September 2023Berlin MarathonBerlin221:19:59 Stella ChesangUganda1 December 2024Valencia MarathonValenciaHawi FeysaEthiopia12 October 2025Chicago MarathonChicagoMagdalena ShauriTanzania12 October 2025Chicago MarathonChicago251:20:00Bertukan WeldeEthiopia1 March 2026Tokyo MarathonTokyo
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:20:00: Ruth Chepngetich also run 1:18:03 (2022) and 1:18:06 (2023). Sutume Kebede also run 1:18:43 (2025), 1:18:47 (2023) and 1:20:00 (2026). Tigst Assefa also run 1:18:48 (2026), 1:19:14, 1:19:38 (2024). Joyciline Jepkosgei also run 1:18:58 (2025), 1:19:14 (2025), 1:19:38 (2024). Peres Jepchirchir also run 1:19:38 (2024). Yalemzerf Yehualaw also run 1:19:39 (2024). Sifan Hassan also run 1:19:40 (2025). Brigid Kosgei also run 1:19:47 (2024), 1:20:00 (2026).
References