The short answer to ‘What is 5k in miles?’ is a definitive one in that it’s 3 miles 188 yards–but in running terms it’s so much more.
t’s a hugely popular distance that sees thousands of runners take part in every weekend. Most events include a fun run, which is often 5k. So, a great choice as there’s definitely no pressure. The clue is in the word ‘fun’. Or you can take part in a Parkrun, which are free to enter and take place every Saturday all over the country.
It’s a fabulous distance, as it’s almost instantly achievable and takes around an hour if you walk. Of course, these days, the best runners in the world can now run it at just about the same speed the first-ever sub four-minute miler Sir Roger Bannister managed and today the country’s best race walkers can cover 5km in just 18mins 20.97secs (on an indoor track) for men and 21mins 30.75secs for women outdoors.
The following sample routes across the UK will help give you an idea of how long a 5k–or 3.1 miles–is:
There’s always time to improve. Science will tell you that you’ll enjoy a nine-year (on average) improvement curve from whenever you start. Start your 5k adventure aged 50 and you’ll still be improving all the way to when you hit 60 and beyond
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