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. This 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.

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. This 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 this distance. Running USA's 2012 analysis of participation in American road races showed that 58% of participants in 5K races were women. This 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. This 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 has seen several world bests for the distance. The IAAF, now World Athletics did not go back to recognise the world best performances set at Carlsbad, which left a dilemma of known superior performances at Carlsbad and inferior world records that will last until the performances at Carlsbad are recognised or surpassed.
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 this 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.

Men's world bests progression (Pre-IAAF)

Men's world record progression (IAAF era)

Women's world bests progression (Pre-IAAF)

Women's world record progression (IAAF era)

All-time top 25

RankTimeAthleteNationDateRacePlaceRef
112:51Joshua CheptegeiUganda16 February 2020Monaco Run 5KMonaco
213:00Sammy KipketerKenya26 March 2000Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
213:00Sammy KipketerKenya1 April 2001Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
313:10Dejene BerhanuEthiopia3 April 2005Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
413:11Dejen GebremeskelEthiopia3 April 2011Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
413:11Eliud KipchogeKenya11 April 2010Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
613:14Hagos GebrhiwetEthiopia1 April 2012Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
713:15Abreham CherkosEthiopia9 April 2006Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
813:16Simon NdiranguKenya30 March 2013Westfield
813:16Tariku BekeleEthiopia1 April 2012Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
813:16Paul KoechKenya29 March 1998Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
1113:18Armando QuintanillaMexico31 March 1996Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
1113:18Jimmy GressierFrance16 February 2020Monaco Run 5kmMonaco
1113:18Rhonex KiprutoKenya12 January 202010k Valencia IbercajaValencia
1413:19Bekana DabaEthiopia5 April 2009Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
1513:20Craig MottramAustralia3 April 2005Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
1513:20Ben TrueUnited States15 April 2017BAA 5KBoston
1713:21Stephen SambuKenya21 September 2013Alton
1713:21John Cheruiyot KorirKenya13 April 2003Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
1713:21Thomas NyarikiKenya29 March 1998Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
2013:22Philemon HanneckZimbabwe28 March 1993Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
2013:22Robert KeterKenya9 November 2019Urban Trail Lille 5kmLille
2213:23James KoskeiKenya13 April 2003Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
2213:23Geoffrey KoechKenya7 September 2019Prague Grand PrixPrague
2213:23Mathew KimeliKenya7 September 2019Prague Grand PrixPrague
2213:23Bravin KiptooKenya7 September 2019Prague Grand PrixPrague
2213:23Shadrack KoechKenya7 September 2019Prague Grand PrixPrague
2213:23Benard KimeliKenya7 September 2019Prague Grand PrixPrague
2213:23------

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 13:23:
RankTimeAthleteNationDateRacePlaceRef
114:32+Joyciline JepkosgeiKenya9 September 2017Birell Prague Grand PrixPrague
214:44Sifan HassanNetherlands17 February 20195km HerculisMonaco
314:45+Fancy ChemutaiKenya9 September 2017Birell Prague Grand PrixPrague
414:46Meseret DefarEthiopia9 April 2006Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
414:46Violah JepchumbaKenya10 September 2016Prague Half MarathonPrague
414:46Sheila ChepkiruiKenya7 September 2019Prague Grand PrixPrague
414:46Dorcas KimeliKenya7 September 2019Prague Grand PrixPrague
414:46Norah JerutoKenya7 September 2019Prague Grand PrixPrague
914:47Lornah KiplagatNetherlands28 March 2004ParelloopBrunssum
1014:48Genzebe DibabaEthiopia29 March 2015Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
1014:48Kim SmithNew Zealand30 March 2013Westfield
1214:50Molly HuddleUnited States18 April 2015Boston
1314:51Sentayehu EjiguEthiopia18 April 2015Boston
1314:51Tirunesh DibabaEthiopia3 April 2005Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
1314:51Paula RadcliffeGreat Britain14 September 2003London
1314:51+Caroline ChepkoechKenya7 April 2018Prague Half MarathonPrague
1314:51+Joan Melly ChelimoKenya7 April 2018Prague Half MarathonPrague
1814:52Mamitu DaskaEthiopia18 April 2015BAA 5KBoston
1914:53Isabella OchichiKenya28 March 2004Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
2014:54Deena KastorUnited States7 April 2002Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
2014:54Berhane AdereEthiopia13 April 2003Carlsbad 5000Carlsbad
2014:54Buze DiribaEthiopia15 April 2017BAA 5KBoston
2314:56Sonia O'SullivanIreland1 September 2002London
2414:57Liz McColganGreat Britain27 October 1991Chicago
2414:57Gelete BurkaEthiopia18 April 2015BAA 5KBoston