Whether you are new to running or just new to racing, you’re probably thinking of signing up for a 5K. At first that might seem daunting. You’re probably asking yourself, ‘how many miles is a 5K?’ in fear that it’s some inhumanly long distance.
Well, a 5K is just 3.1 miles, making it an ideal choice for your first race. It requires relatively little buildup, the training doesn’t take over your life, and the race is over fairly quickly.
If you’re just getting started with training, but have been running or exercising regularly for a bit, we advise getting a base of at least three to four runs a week—for at least two months—and averaging at least nine miles a week with a long run of three miles. Before you start a plan for your specific time goals, you should be able to run about 30 minutes without stopping.
If you are more of an intermediate or advanced runner, you may want to run your 3.1 miles faster and stronger than the last time you raced a 5K. To get better, you may want to incorporate different types of workouts beyond logging miles, such as hill workouts, speed workouts, or other faster-paced runs.
However you approach the 5K, there’s no doubt it’s one of the most accessible and fun distances to race. Keep reading for more on the basics of the 5K distance and the other popular racing distances you can line up for.
Popular Beginner Training Plans
How many miles is a 5K?
A 5K is 3.1 miles. On a standard outdoor track, a 5K (5,000 meters) is 12.5 laps.
In 2019, there were 8.9 million 5K registrants in the United States, according to a Running USA survey. That makes the race distance far and away the most popular distance in the country.
Awesome 5Ks Every Runner Should Finish
How many miles is a 10K?
A 10K is 6.2 miles, or 25 laps around a track.
Every year, tens of thousands of runners flock to popular spring and summer 10K events, such as the Crescent City Classic in New Orleans, the Bolder Boulder in Colorado, and the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta (the largest race in America).
The festive atmosphere and hoards of cheering fans draw runners in. And you can join the fun. We recommend at least eight weeks to prepare for race day, so you’ve got plenty of time to build up to completing 6.2 miles safely and comfortably.
10K races grew in popularity during the running boom of the 1970s. Now, some of the 10 largest races in the U.S. are 10Ks.
Awesome 10Ks Every Runner Should Finish
How many miles is a half marathon?
The distance of a half marathon is 13.1 miles, or about 21.1 kilometers.
Many runners find the half marathon distance appealing: It requires training and endurance, but not nearly as much as a full marathon. However, it is far enough that you really need to train for it. Few people can finish a half marathon on a whim in the way that they might be able to run a 5K. But the 13.1-mile distance isn’t so long that training for it takes over your life, as can be the case with the marathon. Running one or more half marathons is also a great stepping stone to preparing to run a marathon.
Half Marathons Every Runner Should Finish
How many miles is a marathon?
A marathon is 26.2 miles, or 42.195 kilometers.
Running a marathon is not an easy task for many people, but with the proper training, finishing a marathon can be one of life’s most rewarding achievements. It’s generally recommended that runners train for 16 to 20 weeks before running a marathon.
Why is a marathon 26.2 miles?
The marathon distance has its roots in the story of Pheidippides, the Greek messenger who is said to have run some 25 miles, from Marathon to Athens, to deliver the news of a Greek battlefield victory. The first Olympic marathon was held in Athens in 1896; its distance was 40 kilometers, or just less than 25 miles. The current distance of 26 miles, 385 yards was first run at the 1908 Olympics. Learn more about marathons here.
Awesome Marathons Every Runner Should Finish
How long is an ultramarathon?
Anything longer than 26.2 miles is considered an ultramarathon. Another name for this distance is ultrarunning. The most common ultramarathon distances are 50K (31 miles), 50 miles, 100K (62 miles), and 100 miles. However, you’ll often various other race and run formats in ultramarathons, such as 24 and 48 hour races, last runner standing, and fastest known times. Many ultramarathons are run on trails.
If you’re like one Runner’s World video editor, however, you may want to go even farther. Watch the video below as he documents the experience of running 200 miles.
Other distances to check out
Other race distances that are common but not as popular include the 8K (about 50 yards short of five miles), 15K (9.3 miles), and 10 miles. Additionally, four- and five-mile races are common, as well.
How long are running tracks?
Standard running tracks are 400 meters, as measured by one lap in Lane 1; that’s just a bit less than a quarter of a mile. One lap on a standard indoor track is 200 meters—exactly half of the distance of a standard outdoor track. Learn more about track events here if you are watching them on television, and if you’re looking for some general rules of the track, we have you covered as well.
Here are some other measurements that are helpful to know:
- 100 meters: the length of one straightaway
- 800 meters: roughly half a mile or 2 laps around the track
- 1600 meters: roughly 1 mile or 4 laps around the track (1609.34 meters is 1 mile)
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