Athletics 5K run
Runners during a 5kparkrun inCannon Hill Park, United Kingdom
World records
Men	Berihu Aregawi 12:49 (2021)
Women	Beatrice Chebet 14:13Wo (2023) Beatrice Chebet 13:54Mx (2024)

The5K run is along-distanceroad running competition over a distance of five kilometres (3.107 mi). Also referred to as the5K road race,5 km, or simply5K, it is the shortest of the most common road running distances. It is usually distinguished from the5000 metrestrack 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 orjoggers as it is comparatively easier to complete the distance withoutendurance training. The 5K distance also makes the distance suitable for people looking to improve or maintain their generalphysical 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 aphysiological perspective, five kilometres is towards the low end of endurance running.^[1][2]

The combination of the activity's simplicity, its low cost, and medium exercise intensity mean that it is often recommended bymedical organisations andhealthcare professionals.^[3][4][5] Like all physical activity, regular 5K runs can improvecardiovascular function, as well as havingmental health benefits (seerunner's high).^[6]

Similar to other road running events, many organised 5K running events incorporate an element ofcharity running.^[2] Runners may elect to raise money for a chosen charity on the condition of their completion of the race.^[7] Raising money for charity is typically optional, with other participantsrunning 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 withwomen's participation in sport in general and in longer distance races particularly, where the same report showed thegender bias was reversed.^[8][9]

The Hot Chocolate 5K inChicago and the Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run inMiami are the largest organised 5K runs in theUnited 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.^[10] There are several prominent 5K race series, includingThe Color Run, an international, mass participation, city-based series involving coloured water showers,^[11] and theparkrun series, which is a worldwide network of free-to-enter, volunteer-led races occurring each weekend, originating in theUnited Kingdom.^[12]

Unlike longer road races, such as the10K run andmarathon, the 5K distance is not commonly contested by elite distance runners. TheCarlsbad 5000 is one of the few races that attract competitive elite fields and saw severalworld bests for the distance prior to theIAAF's 2018 decision to begin recognising world records for the 5K.^[13][14]

Another annual American race,Freihofer's Run for Women, also regularly has elite women competing in the road distance,^[15] as does theBOClassic in Italy.^[16] Elite racing almost exclusively takes place on thetrack 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 andEngland.^[17][18] An annualNorth American 5K Championships was created in 2002, but the competition ceased after 2005.^[19][20]

The 5 km road distance was introduced byIAAF 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.^[21] Other statistical organisations, including theAssociation of Road Racing Statisticians, record best times for the event.^[22] Records for the 5K are often noted innational records in athletics.

• + =en route to longer performance

• Correct as of May 2025.

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 13:09:

• 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).
• Addisu Yihune also ran 13:05 (2024).
• Birhanu Balew also ran 13:07 (2022), 13:08 (2024).
• Hagos Gebrhiwet also ran 12:59 (2023), 13:09 (2023).
• Nicholas Kimeli also ran 13:08 (2023).
• Andrew Alamisi also ran 13:06 (2024).

• Correct as of April 2025.

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 14:40:

• Beatrice Chebet also ran 14:13Wo (2023) and 14:35Wo (2023).
• Ejgayehu Taye also ran 14:21Mx (2022, 2023), and 14:40Wo (2023).
• Agnes Ngetich also run 14:25+Wo^[c]+Wo (2023).
• Lilian Kasait Rengeruk also ran 14:26Wo (2023), and 14:39Wo (2023).
• Caroline Nyaga also ran 14:35 (2023), 14:40Mx (2024).
• Likina Amebaw also ran 14:35 (2024), 14:38 (2025).
• Senbere Teferi also ran 14:37 (2022).
• Medina Eisa also ran 14:38Wo (2024), 14:40Wo (2023).

List of world bests

• World Best Progressions- Road.Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2013-12-21). Retrieved on 2014-01-18.

• 5K run trainingArchived 2014-01-28 at theWayback Machine from About.com

• 5K runs
• Road running distances
• Long-distance running disciplines

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