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5K, 10K, Half & Marathon Distances in Miles and Km

By Sara LopezM.Sc. Metrology · contributor to open unit datasetsUpdated 6 min read

Every standard race distance in both miles and kilometres, plus finish-time benchmarks so you know what each distance actually asks of you.

The core distances

5K = 3.107 mi · 10K = 6.214 mi · 15K = 9.321 mi · 10 miles = 16.09 km · half marathon = 21.0975 km = 13.109 mi · marathon = 42.195 km = 26.219 mi · 50K ultra = 31.07 mi.

Why a marathon is 26.2 miles

The 1908 London Olympic course was extended to 26 miles 385 yards so it could finish in front of the royal box. That distance was standardised in 1921 and never changed.

Track distances

One lap of a standard outdoor track = 400 m = 0.249 mi. A mile is 4 laps plus 9.34 m. 1500 m — the 'metric mile' — is 3.75 laps.

Typical finish times

5K: beginner 35–40 min, intermediate 25 min, competitive under 20. Marathon: first-timer 4:30–5:30, intermediate 3:45, competitive under 3:00.

Pace conversions

6:00/km = 9:39/mi · 5:30/km = 8:51/mi · 5:00/km = 8:03/mi · 4:30/km = 7:14/mi · 4:00/km = 6:26/mi. Multiply min/km by 1.60934 to get min/mi.

Predicting a longer race

Riegel's formula: T2 = T1 × (D2 ÷ D1)^1.06. A 25-minute 5K predicts roughly a 52-minute 10K and a 3:52 marathon if training supports the distance.

Sources & further reading

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