# 5K run

The 5K run is a long-distance road running competition over a distance of five kilometres (3.107 mi). 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.
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. Like all physical activity, regular 5K runs can improve cardiovascular function and reduce body fat, as well as having mental health benefits (see runner's high).

## 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. 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.
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. There are several prominent 5K race series, including The Color Run, an international, mass participation, city-based series involving coloured water showers, and the parkrun series, which is a worldwide network of free-to-enter, volunteer-led races occurring each weekend, originating in the United Kingdom.
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.
Another annual American race, Freihofer's Run for Women, also regularly has elite women competing in the road distance, as does the BOClassic in Italy. 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. An annual North American 5K Championships was created in 2002, but the competition ceased after 2005.

## 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. Records for the 5K are often noted in national records in athletics.

## All-time top 25

* + = en route to longer performance

### Men

* Correct as of April 2024.
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Race | Place |
| 1 | 12:49 | Berihu Aregawi | Ethiopia | 31 December 2021 | Cursa dels Nassos | Barcelona |
| 2 | 12:50 | Yomif Kejelcha | Ethiopia | 19 March 2023 | | Lille |
| 3 | 12:51 | Joshua Cheptegei | Uganda | 16 February 2020 | Monaco Run 5K | Monaco |
| 4 | 12:55 | Nicholas Kimeli | Kenya | 30 April 2022 | Adizero: Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |
| 5 | 12:59 | Hagos Gebrhiwet | Ethiopia | 1 October 2023 | World Road Running Championships | Riga |
| 6 | 13:00 | Sammy Kipketer | Kenya | 26 March 2000 | Carlsbad 5000 | Carlsbad |
| 6 | 13:00 | Sammy Kipketer | Kenya | 1 April 2001 | Carlsbad 5000 | Carlsbad |
| 7 | 13:02 | Levy Kibet | Kenya | 30 April 2022 | Adizero: Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |
| 8 | 13:04 | Reynold Cheruiyot Kipkorir | Kenya | 19 March 2023 | | Lille |
| 8 | 13:04 | Biniam Mehary | Ethiopia | 9 December 2023 | Annual Charity Run | Khobar, Saudi Arabia |
| 10 | 13:05 | Addisu Yihune | Ethiopia | 27 April 2024 | Adizero: Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |
| 10 | 13:05 | Birhanu Balew | Bahrain | 9 December 2023 | Annual Charity Run | Khobar, Saudi Arabia |
| 12 | 13:06 | Jacob Krop | Kenya | 12 September 2021 | Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |
| 13 | 13:07 | Telahun Haile Bekele | Ethiopia | 19 March 2023 | | Lille |
| 14 | 13:08 | Nicholas Kipkorir | Kenya | 9 December 2023 | Annual Charity Run | Khobar, Saudi Arabia |
| 15 | 13:09 | Muktar Edris | Ethiopia | 12 September 2021 | Adizero: Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |
| 15 | 13:09 | Yismaw Dillu | Ethiopia | 9 December 2023 | Annual Charity Run | Khobar, Saudi Arabia |
| 17 | 13:10 | Dejene Berhanu | Ethiopia | 3 April 2005 | Carlsbad 5000 | Carlsbad |
| 18 | 13:11 | Dejen Gebremeskel | Ethiopia | 3 April 2011 | Carlsbad 5000 | Carlsbad |
| 18 | 13:11 | Eliud Kipchoge | Kenya | 11 April 2010 | Carlsbad 5000 | Carlsbad |
| 18 | 13:11 | Rodrigue Kwizera | Burundi | 29 April 2023 | Adizero: Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |
| 18 | 13:11 | Samwel Nyamai Mailu | Kenya | 9 December 2023 | Annual Charity Run | Khobar, Saudi Arabia |
| 22 | 13:12 | Jimmy Gressier | France | 12 February 2023 | Monaco Run 5K | Monaco |
| 22 | 13:12 | Dominic Lobalu | Switzerland | 31 December 2023 | Cursa dels Nassos | Barcelona |
| 22 | 13:12 | Weldon Langat | Kenya | 9 December 2023 | Annual Charity Run | Khobar, Saudi Arabia |
| 25 | 13:13 | Hosea Kiplangat | Uganda | 12 September 2021 | Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |
| 25 | 13:13 | Raphael Dapash | Kenya | 27 April 2024 | Adizero: Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 13:13:
* Berihu Aregawi also ran 12:52 (2021), 13:10+ (2023).
* Yomif Kejelcha also ran 12:53 (2022), 13:00 (2024), 13:02 (2023), 13:06 (2023).
* Birhanu Balew also ran 13:06 (2023), 13:07 (2022), 13:12 (2024).
* Hagos Gebrhiwet also ran 13:09 (2023).
* Telahun Haile Bekele also ran 13:11 (2022).
* Addisu Yihune also ran 13:12 (2022).
* Joshua Cheptegei also ran 13:13 (2021).
* Jacob Krop also ran 13:13 (2023).

### Women

* Correct as of January 2025.
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Race | Place |
| 1 | 13:54 Mx | Beatrice Chebet | Kenya | 31 December 2024 | Cursa dels Nassos | Barcelona |
| 2 | 14:13+ Mx | Agnes Ngetich | Kenya | 14 January 2024 | 10K Valencia Ibercaja | Valencia |
| 3 | 14:14+ Mx | Emmaculate Acholi | Kenya | 14 January 2024 | 10K Valencia Ibercaja | Valencia |
| 4 | 14:19 Mx | Ejgayehu Taye | Ethiopia | 31 December 2021 | Cursa dels Nassos | Barcelona |
| 5 | 14:23 Mx | Medina Eisa | Ethiopia | 31 December 2024 | Cursa dels Nassos | Barcelona |
| 6 | 14:25+ Mx | Lilian Kasait Rengeruk | Kenya | 14 January 2024 | 10K Valencia Ibercaja | Valencia |
| 7 | 14:28+ Mx | Yalemzerf Yehualaw | Ethiopia | 27 February 2022 | Castellón 10K | Castellón de la Plana |
| 7 | 14:28 Wo | Joy Cheptoyek | Uganda | 31 December 2023 | Cursa dels Nassos | Barcelona |
| 9 | 14:29 Wo | Senbere Teferi | Ethiopia | 12 September 2021 | Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |
| 9 | 14:29+ Mx | Prisca Chesang | Uganda | 31 December 2022 | San Silvestre Vallecana | Madrid |
| 11 | 14:32+ | Joyciline Jepkosgei | Kenya | 9 September 2017 | Birell Prague Grand Prix | Prague |
| 12 | 14:35 | Caroline Nyaga | Kenya | 19 March 2023 | | Lille |
| 12 | 14:35 | Mekides Abebe | Ethiopia | 19 March 2023 | | Lille |
| 12 | 14:35 + Wo | Catherine Reline | Kenya | 10 September 2023 | Brașov Running Festival | Brașov |
| 12 | 14:35 | Likina Amebaw | Ethiopia | 11 February 2024 | MonacoRun 5K | Monaco |
| 16 | 14:36 Mx | Belinda Chemutai | Uganda | 31 December 2024 | Cursa dels Nassos | Barcelona |
| 17 | 14:38+ Mx | Degitu Azemiraw | Ethiopia | 31 December 2021 | San Silvestre Vallecana | Madrid |
| 17 | 14:38+ Mx | Edinah Jebitok | Kenya | 31 December 2021 | San Silvestre Vallecana | Madrid |
| 19 | 14:39 Mx | Dawit Seyaum | Ethiopia | 6 November 2021 | Urban Trail Lille event | Lille |
| — | 14:39 Mx | Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal | Norway | 1 May 2021 | | Sør-Odal |
| 20 | 14:40 | Doris Lengole Cherop | Kenya | 19 March 2023 | | Lille |
| 20 | 14:40 Wo | Melknat Wudu | Ethiopia | 27 April 2024 | Adizero: Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |
| 22 | 14:41 Mx | Beth Potter | Great Britain | 3 April 2021 | Podium 5k Sub-15.30 | Barroford |
| 22 | 14:41 Wo | Wubrist Aschal | Ethiopia | 18 November 2023 | Urban Trail de Lille | Lille |
| 22 | 14:41 Wo | Asmarech Anley | Ethiopia | 18 November 2023 | Urban Trail de Lille | Lille |
| 22 | 14:41 Wo | Fotyen Tesfay | Ethiopia | 27 April 2024 | Adizero: Road to Records | Herzogenaurach |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 14:41:
* Beatrice Chebet also ran 14:13 Wo (2023) and 14:35 Wo (2023).
* Ejgayehu Taye also ran 14:21 Mx (2022, 2023), and 14:40 Wo (2023).
* Agnes Ngetich also run 14:25 + Wo + Wo (2023).
* Senbere Teferi also ran 14:37 (2022).
* Lilian Kasait Rengeruk also ran 14:26 Wo (2023), and 14:39 Wo (2023).
* Medina Eisa also ran 14:38 Wo (2024), 14:40 Wo (2023), and 14:41 Wo (2023).
* Caroline Nyaga also ran 14:40 Mx (2024).