For those who are new to running, setting up a training plan to complete a 5k race is an ideal starting point so finding out what a 5k in miles is makes sense for your training.
5k is a popular distance for many runners, and hundreds of 5k events take place across the UK all year round, ranging from standard road races to mud runs that will leave you with some serious washing to do afterwards!
These events are very popular with both new and experienced runners alike, regardless of fitness level, and if you choose to run for a charity, can be a great way to raise money for a good cause.
But sometimes it’s hard to put the 5k distance into context. In this article, we’ll try and illustrate exactly how far 5k in miles is, and give you some tips for getting started!
How many miles is 5k?
Some people have their default units on their fitness device set to miles, or may have signed up to a fitness challenge that is measured in miles.
One of the most common questions from runners is how many miles are in a 5k run might be.
A 5k is 3.1 miles, which converts to 5000 metres or 12.5 laps around a track
If you want a quick way to calculate all of your distances you can use our tool to find Miles conversion to Kilometres and Kilometres conversion to Miles here
How many laps of a running track is 5k?
If you’re training on the track, you might want to understand how many laps you need to run to cover 5k.
5km is 5000 metres. One lap of your standard running track is 400 metres. So you’d need to run 12.5 laps of your running track to travel 5km.
How many laps of a football pitch is 5k?
This is slightly more difficult to calculate than comparison with other distances, as football pitches can vary in size.
However, if we took the typical adult football pitch length (100m) and the typical width (60m) this would give us a perimeter of 320 metres.
So to run a 5k by running laps of the football pitch, you would need to run around the pitch just over 15.5 times.
How many steps is a 5k?
A person of average height can expect to take around 6250 steps over a 5k distance (based on an estimated stride length of 2.1 to 2.5 feet).
Once you’ve crossed the finish line of your first 5k you can start working towards increasing your steps and taking on longer distances such as 10k events.
If you prefer to accurately track the number of steps or strides taken during a 5k, consider investing in a fitness watch.
How long should a 5k take me?
There are a lot of variables here, and the average time for running a 5k will vary by age group, height, weight, running speed, fitness level and other factors.
We’ve got an article that answers “What is the average 5k time?“
As a broad generalisation, beginners might expect to cross the finish line of a 5K with running times somewhere between 30-45 minutes.
If you’re an intermediate runner (if you typically run 10 – 20 miles per week) you are likely to run faster, and an average time for most runners would be around 20-25 minutes.
The average 5K time for elite runners in peak physical condition is under 17 minutes for men and under 19 minutes for women.
If you’re interested in world records, the fastest men’s 5k is 12:37.35, held by Kenenisa Bekeleand the fastest women’s 5k is 14:11.15 minutes held by Tirunesh Dibaba.
Is running a 5k hard?
This all depends on your starting level of fitness and your running ability.
If you are just starting out with running, 5k can seem like a long distance to run.
But for most people, completing a 5k race distance is an achievable goal that will give you a sense of achievement.
The good news is that there are plenty of tried and tested training plans such as Couch to 5k that will help you get your body moving, and take you from your sofa to the finish line.
How can I get started training for a 5k?
One of the most popular training plans for new runners wanting to train for their first 5k, is Couch to 5k.
The 9-week training plan is available for iOS and Android devices, and includes celebrity coaches to help keep your training on track, and take you from couch right up to race day!
There are a variety of other online training plans to help people prepare for their first 5k race, including one that we’ve put together ourselves here at UK Fitness Events, which includes more tips and information on topics such as:
- How many calories are burned running a 5k?
- What to eat before a 5k
- Essential running gear
- Choosing suitable running shoes
- How to recover from a run
- Training plans for beginner, intermediate and advanced runners
