5K run


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.
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, as well as having mental health benefits.

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 December 2025.
RankTimeAthleteNationDateRacePlaceRef
112:49Berihu AregawiEthiopia31 December 2021Cursa dels NassosBarcelona
212:50Yomif KejelchaEthiopia19 March 2023Lille
312:51Joshua CheptegeiUganda16 February 2020Monaco Run 5KMonaco
412:55Nicholas KimeliKenya30 April 2022Adizero: Road to RecordsHerzogenaurach
512:57Jimmy GressierFrance16 March 2025Lille
512:57Santiago CatrofeUruguay16 March 2025Lille
712:58Hagos GebrhiwetEthiopia14 December 2024Al Sharqiyah International 5kmKhobar, Saudi Arabia
712:58Kuma GirmaEthiopia14 December 2024Al Sharqiyah International 5kmKhobar, Saudi Arabia
913:00Sammy KipketerKenya26 March 2000Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
913:00Sammy KipketerKenya1 April 2001Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
913:00Yann SchrubFrance16 March 2025Lille
913:00Harbert KibetUganda3 May 2025Asics Tokyo Speed RaceTokyo
913:00Waberi Igueh HousseinDjibouti13 December 2025Al Sharqiyah International RaceKhobar
913:00Yismaw DilluEthiopia13 December 2025Al Sharqiyah International RaceKhobar
1413:01Mezgebu SimeEthiopia14 December 2024Al Sharqiyah International 5kmKhobar, Saudi Arabia
1413:01Mezgebu SimeEthiopia13 December 2025Al Sharqiyah International RaceKhobar
1513:02Levy KibetKenya30 April 2022Adizero: Road to RecordsHerzogenaurach
1613:03Andrew AlamisiKenya26 April 2025Adizero: Road to RecordsHerzogenaurach
1713:04Reynold CheruiyotKenya19 March 2023Lille
1713:04Biniam MeharyEthiopia9 December 2023Annual Charity RunKhobar, Saudi Arabia
1713:04Addisu YihuneEthiopia16 March 2025Lille
2013:05Birhanu BalewBahrain9 December 2023Annual Charity RunKhobar, Saudi Arabia
2013:05Andreas AlmgrenSweden5 April 2025Drammen 10K-5KDrammen, Norway
2213:06Jacob KropKenya12 September 2021Road to RecordsHerzogenaurach
2313:07Michael Kiplangat TemoiKenya1 October 2022Urban Trail Lille - Kiprun Race 5kmLille
2313:07Telahun Haile BekeleEthiopia19 March 2023Lille
2313:07Addisu BekeleEthiopia13 December 2025Al Sharqiyah International RaceKhobar

Women

  • Correct as of December 2025.
RankTimeAthleteNationDateRacePlaceRef
113:54 Beatrice ChebetKenya31 December 2024Cursa dels NassosBarcelona
214:13 Agnes NgetichKenya14 January 202410K Valencia IbercajaValencia
314:14 Emmaculate AcholiKenya14 January 202410K Valencia IbercajaValencia
414:19 Ejgayehu TayeEthiopia31 December 2021Cursa dels NassosBarcelona
414:19 Caroline NyagaKenya3 May 2025Asics Tokyo Speed RaceTokyo
614:23 Medina EisaEthiopia31 December 2024Cursa dels NassosBarcelona
614:23 Likina AmebawEthiopia31 December 2025Cursa dels NassosBarcelona
814:25 Lilian Kasait RengerukKenya14 January 202410K Valencia IbercajaValencia
914:28 Yalemzerf YehualawEthiopia27 February 2022Castellón 10KCastellón de la Plana
914:28 Joy CheptoyekUganda31 December 2023Cursa dels NassosBarcelona
1114:29 Senbere TeferiEthiopia12 September 2021Road to RecordsHerzogenaurach
1114:29 Prisca ChesangUganda31 December 2022San Silvestre VallecanaMadrid
1314:30Hirut MesheshaEthiopia16 March 2025Lille
1414:32Joyciline JepkosgeiKenya9 September 2017Birell Prague Grand PrixPrague
1414:32Hawi AberaEthiopia16 March 2025Lille
1414:32 Nadia BattoclettiItaly3 May 2025Asics Tokyo Speed RaceTokyo
1714:35Mekides AbebeEthiopia19 March 2023Lille
1714:35 Catherine RelineKenya10 September 2023Brașov Running FestivalBrașov
1914:36 Belinda ChemutaiUganda31 December 2024Cursa dels NassosBarcelona
2014:38 Degitu AzimerawEthiopia31 December 2021San Silvestre VallecanaMadrid
2014:38 Edinah JebitokKenya31 December 2021San Silvestre VallecanaMadrid
2014:38Edinah JebitokKenya17 March 2024Lille
2214:39 Dawit SeyaumEthiopia6 November 2021Urban Trail Lille eventLille
2214:39 Diane van EsNetherlands9 February 2025MonacoRun 5KMonaco
14:39 Karoline Bjerkeli GrøvdalNorway1 May 2021Sør-Odal
2414:40Doris LemngoleKenya19 March 2023Lille
2414:40 Melknat WuduEthiopia27 April 2024Adizero: Road to RecordsHerzogenaurach
2414:40 Maurine Jepkoech CheborKenya3 May 2025Asics Tokyo Speed RaceTokyo