121/2 laps The 5000-meter run is a common long-distance running event in track and field, about comparable to 3 miles, 188 yards, or 16,404 feet and 2 inches. It is a track event in the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships that is run over 121/2 laps on a standard track. The distance was popularized at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics when American Robert Fowler won with an average speed of 19:57.0. It remains the longest continuous race in the Olympics. In fact, it's the longest continuous race on earth, period. The marathon is considered the premier ultramarathon with various distances being competed over multiple days. Your typical 5K is not enough to be called an "ultra" anything! But don't worry, there are more extreme versions for those who want to push themselves further. The 50K is about as far as most people will go based on health and time constraints. The 100K is regarded as the true ultramarathon with few completing it in one day. And the marathon is considered the ultimate test of endurance given its length and the number of calories burned. In addition to the Olympics, the 5000-meter run also occurs as a final event in the World Athletics Championships.