The 10K run is a long-distance road running competition over a distance of ten kilometres (6.2 miles). Also referred to as the 10K road race, 10 km, or simply 10K, it is one of the most common types of road running event, alongside the shorter 5K and longer half marathon and marathon. It is usually distinguished from the 10,000 metres track running event by stating the distance in kilometres, rather than metres.

Athletics
10K run
World records
MenBerihu Aregawi 26:33 (2023)
WomenAgnes Ngetich 28:46 (2024)
The mass public race at the 2012 London 10000 race
Amateur runners completing the very large 2006 Peachtree Road Race

As one of the shortest common road distances, many 10K races attract high levels of public participation. Among the largest 10K races, the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, United States had over 55,000 participants in 2011, while the Vancouver Sun Run and Bolder Boulder both had close to 50,000 runners.[1][2][3] The popularity of 10K races lies in the fact that, for most adults, the 10K distance is long enough to represent a challenge but short enough to remain accessible for an untrained runner.[4]

Most popular 10K races are an annual fixture in a city or area and typically incorporate an element of charity running, where participants raise funds for a cause, based upon their completion of the course. Public members may participate in the races as a competition or simply for pleasure as a fun run. Some races also allow wheelchair racers to enter. Traditional New Year's Day races are often held over 10K, including the San Silvestre Vallecana in Spain.

The accessibility of the distance, and road running in general, has meant that local governments and health charities often form partnerships with races as a way of promoting physical fitness among the general public.[5] Medical organisations, fitness groups, drinks manufacturers and sportswear companies are typical commercial sponsors of 10K events.[6][7]

The 10-kilometre metric distance has been used for road running events for a large portion of the modern era of athletics – the BěchovicePrague race is one of the longest-running events over the distance, having first been held in 1897.[8][9] In Western countries using imperial measurements, the 6-mile run (9.7 km) was once more prevalent, but many long-running events (such as the Cincinnati Thanksgiving Day Race and Saltwell Road Race) have adapted their courses to match the metric distance.[10]

Professional 10K running

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At the professional level, many races offer significant prize money to athletes who achieve a high finishing position in the race. At the highest level, annual prize money can total over US$100,000 at races such as the World's Best 10K, Peachtree Road Race, Apryle Showers Run - Florida's Fastest 10K, and World 10K Bangalore.[11][12]

 
Mo Farah, Micah Kogo and Chris Thompson in the elite men's race at the London 10000 in 2010

The 10K road distance has never been featured on the event programmes of the Athletics at the Summer Olympics or the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. However, it briefly had its own individual championship for women in the form of the IAAF World Women's Road Race Championships, contested over ten kilometres in 1983 and 1984.[13] As a result, the highest level 10K road competitions occur at individual races run by race promoters, who attract elite international level runners through prize money and appearance fees. These races are held in all parts of the world, but the highest calibre races are mainly concentrated in the United States, Canada, Europe and East Asia.

The world records for the 10K road distance are 26:24 minutes for men (Rhonex Kipruto, 2020) and 29:43 minutes for women (Joyciline Jepkosgei, 2017).[14][15] Performances over ten kilometres on the roads were not recognised as world records by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) until 2003. Instead, the fastest times were referred to as "world bests". This changed in August 2003 when the IAAF Congress approved world record status for a number of specified road distances, including the 10 km.[16]

As with other forms of professional long-distance running, East African athletes have been dominant in the 10K distance since the 1990s. As of January 2020, all ten of the fastest male 10K runners are East African (five of them Kenyan), while nine of the top ten female runners are Kenyan.

Area records

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  • World records are in bold. Correct as of January 2024.[17][18]
Area Men   Women
Time Athlete Nation   Time Athlete Nation
Africa 26:24 Rhonex Kipruto Kenya 28:46 Agnes Ngetich Kenya
Asia 27:51 Abraham Cheroben Bahrain 30:05 Violah Jepchumba Bahrain
Europe 27:13 Julien Wanders Switzerland 30:19 Eilish McColgan Great Britain
North, Central America
and Caribbean
27:23 Mark Nenow United States 30:52 Shalane Flanagan United States
Oceania 27:28 Zane Robertson New Zealand 31:17 Benita Willis Australia
South America 27:48 Marilson dos Santos Brazil 32:03 Carmem de Oliveira Brazil

All-time top 25

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Rank Time Athlete Nation Date Race Place Ref
26:24[a] Rhonex Kipruto Kenya 12 January 2020 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [21]
1 26:33 Berihu Aregawi Ethiopia 11 March 2023 Laredo [22]
2 26:37 Yomif Kejelcha Ethiopia 16 March 2024 Laredo [23]
3 26:38 Joshua Cheptegei Uganda 1 December 2019 10K Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Valencia [24]
4 26:44 Leonard Patrick Komon Kenya 26 September 2010 Singelloop Utrecht Utrecht
5 26:48 Jacob Kiplimo Uganda 14 January 2024 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [25]
6 26:49 Sebastian Sawe Kenya 29 April 2023 Adizero Road to Records Herzogenaurach [26]
7 26:50 Kibiwott Kandie Kenya 30 April 2022 Adizero Road to Records Herzogenaurach [27]
8 26:51 Nicholas Kimeli Kenya 25 September 2022 Brașov Running Festival Brașov [28]
9 26:55 Weldon Langat Kenya 25 September 2022 Brașov Running Festival Brașov [28]
15 January 2023 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [29]
Isaac Kibet Ndiema Kenya 25 September 2022 Brașov Running Festival Brașov [28]
11 26:56 Tadese Worku Ethiopia 12 September 2021 Road to Records Herzogenaurach [30]
Rodrigue Kwizera Burundi 30 April 2022 Adizero Road to Records Herzogenaurach [27]
26:56[b] Hicham Amghar Morocco 7 April 2023 NAS Sports Tournament 10K Dubai [31]
13 26:57 Felix Kipkoech Kenya 3 October 2021 The Giants Geneva Geneva [32]
Charles Kipkurui Langat Kenya 15 January 2023 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [29]
Birhanu Balew Bahrain 14 January 2024 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [25]
16 26:58 Daniel Simiu Ebenyo Kenya 9 January 2022 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [33]
17 26:59 Peter Mwaniki Aila Kenya 14 January 2024 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [25]
18 27:00 Yasin Haji Ethiopia 20 March 2022 10 km de Lille Lille [34]
30 April 2022 Adizero Road to Records Herzogenaurach [27]
19 27:01 Micah Kipkemboi Kogo Kenya 29 March 2009 Parelloop Brunssum
Jacob Kosen Kenya 15 January 2023 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [29]
Dennis Kibet Kitiyo Kenya 14 January 2024 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [25]
22 27:02 Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia 11 December 2002 QSI 10K Road Race Doha [35]
Geoffrey Koech Kenya 7 September 2019 Prague Grand Prix Prague [36]
24 27:04 Josphat Kiprono Menjo Kenya 18 April 2010 Cursa de Bombers Barcelona
Jacob Krop Kenya 15 January 2023 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [29]

Notes

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Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 27:04:

Annulled marks

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The following athletes had their performance (inside 27:04) annulled due to doping offences:

Other bests en route or on aided road course equal or superior to 27:04

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  • Correct as of February 2022.[37]
  • + = en route to longer performance
  • a = aided road course according to IAAF rule 260.28
Time Athlete Nation Date Race Place Ref
26:41 a Jacob Kiplimo Uganda 31 December 2018 San Silvestre Vallecana Madrid [38]
26:54 a Eliud Kipchoge Kenya 31 December 2006 San Silvestre Vallecana Madrid
26:54 a Zersenay Tadese Eritrea 31 December 2006 San Silvestre Vallecana Madrid
26:54 a Abadi Hadis Ethiopia 31 December 2018 San Silvestre Vallecana Madrid [38]

Notes

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Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 27:04:

Women

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  • Correct as of April 2024.[39][40]
  • Mx = mixed gender race
  • Wo = women only race
Rank Time Athlete Nation Date Race Place Ref
1 28:46 Mx Agnes Ngetich Kenya 14 January 2024 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [41]
2 28:57 Mx Emmaculate Acholi Kenya 14 January 2024 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [41]
3 29:14 Mx Yalemzerf Yehualaw Ethiopia 27 February 2022 Castellón 10K Castellón de la Plana [42]
4 29:32 Mx Lilian Rengeruk Kenya 14 January 2024 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [41]
5 29:38 Mx Kalkidan Gezahegne Bahrain 3 October 2021 The Giants Geneva Geneva [32]
6 29:43 Mx Joyciline Jepkosgei Kenya 9 September 2017 Prague Grand Prix Prague [43]
7 29:46 Mx Sheila Chepkirui Kenya 12 January 2020 10K Valencia Valencia [21]
8 29:50 Mx Rosemary Wanjiru Kenya 12 January 2020 10K Valencia Valencia [21]
Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi Kenya 3 October 2021 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [44]
29:50 Mx Faith Chepkoech Kenya 25 February 2024 10K Facsa Castellón Castellón de la Plana [45]
11 29:51 Mx Norah Jeruto Kenya 12 January 2020 10K Valencia Valencia [21]
12 29:54 Mx Fotyen Tesfay Ethiopia 25 February 2024 10K Facsa Castellón Castellón de la Plana [45]
13 29:55 Mx Janeth Chepngetich Kenya 14 January 2024 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [41]
14 29:56 Mx Diana Chepkorir Kenya 25 February 2024 10K Facsa Castellón Castellón de la Plana [45]
Likina Amebaw Ethiopia 5 April 2024 Festival of Running ASICS Speed Race Paris [46]
16 29:57 Mx Dorcas Kimeli Kenya 7 September 2019 Prague Grand Prix Prague [36]
Loice Chemnung Kenya 5 April 2024 Festival of Running ASICS Speed Race Paris [46]
18 30:01 Wo Agnes Tirop Kenya 12 September 2021 Road to Records Herzogenaurach [30]
30:01 Mx Jesca Chelangat Kenya 15 January 2023 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [29]
20 30:03 Mx Joy Cheptoyek Uganda 14 January 2024 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [41]
21 30:05 Mx Lonah Chemtai Salpeter Israel 1 September 2019 Tilburg 10K Tilburg [47]
22 30:06 Mx Fancy Chemutai Kenya 9 September 2017 Prague Grand Prix Prague [43]
23 30:08 Mx Cintia Chepngeno Kenya 14 January 2024 10K Valencia Ibercaja Valencia [41]
24 30:12 Wo Senbere Teferi Ethiopia 10 June 2023 New York Mini 10K New York City [48]
25 30:14 Mx Vicoty Chepngeno Kenya 27 February 2022 Castellón 10K Castellón de la Plana [49]
30:14Wo Catherine Reline Kenya 10 September 2023 Brașov Running Festival Brașov [50]

Notes

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Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 30:14:

Other bests en route or on aided road course equal or superior to 30:14

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  • Correct as of May 2021.[52]
  • + = en route to longer performance
  • a = aided road course according to IAAF rule 260.28
Time Athlete Nation Date Race Place Ref
29:12+ Letesenbet Gidey Ethiopia 17 November 2019 Zevenheuvelenloop Nijmegen [53]
29:45+ Mx Yalemzerf Yehualaw Ethiopia 24 October 2021 Valencia Half Marathon Valencia [54]
Sheila Chepkirui Kenya 24 October 2021 Valencia Half Marathon Valencia [55]
29:54 a Brigid Kosgei Kenya 31 December 2018 San Silvestre Vallecana Madrid [38]
29:59 a Hellen Obiri Kenya 31 December 2018 San Silvestre Vallecana Madrid [38]
30:05+ Violah Jepchumba Bahrain 1 April 2017 Prague Half Marathon Prague [56]
30:14+ Joan Chelimo Kenya 7 April 2018 Prague Half Marathon Prague [57]
Notes
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Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 30:14:

References

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  1. ^ annulled due to doping offence
  2. ^ unconfirmed distance, probably short course
  3. ^ Ngetich's women's-only record was not certified after the course was found to be 25 metres too short by World Athletics.[51]
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