A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres —half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish or shortcuts. If finisher medals are awarded, the medal or ribbon may differ from those for the full marathon. The half marathon is also known as a 21K, 21.1K, or 13.1 miles, although these values are rounded and not formally correct.
The 10K run is a long-distance road running competition over a distance of ten kilometres. 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.
The 5K run is a long-distance road running competition over a distance of five kilometres (3.107 mi). Also referred to as the 5K road race, 5 km, or simply 5K, it is the shortest of the most common road running distances. It is usually distinguished from the 5000 metres track running event by stating the distance in kilometres, rather than metres.
Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei is a Ugandan long-distance runner. He is the reigning Olympic champion in the 5000 metres and silver medalist for the 10,000 metres, a two-time 10,000 m World champion from 2019 and 2022, World silver medalist from 2017, and the 2019 World Cross Country champion. Cheptegei also won gold medals for the 5000 m and 10,000 m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He is the world record holder for both these disciplines and holds also the world best in the 15 kilometres road race.
The 15K run is a long distance foot race. It is a rarely held race that is not recognized as an Olympic event. The overall world best time for men was set by Jacob Kiplimo en route the Lisbon Half Marathon. Excluding en route times both the world best for men and women were set at the Zevenheuvelenloop in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The world best for men is held by Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda who ran a time of 41:05. The women's world best is held by Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia who ran a time of 44:20.
The world record in the half marathon has been officially recognised since 1 January 2004 by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the international governing body for the sport of athletics. A total of five men's world records and six women's world records have been officially ratified since that date. The IAAF officially recognised the fastest times prior to that date as a "world best" from 1 January 2003 onwards. Before that date, the IAAF did not recognise any road running world records, though the concept of a world record was recognised by other organisations, such as the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS).
Letesenbet Gidey is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who holds two world records plus one world best. A 10,000 metres 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist at the World Athletics Championships, she won the silver medal in the event in 2019 and gold in 2022.
The following table shows the progression of world bests and world records in the 5K run, as recognised by the IAAF. The 5K run is a new event, having been introduced as a world record event in 2017.
The 20K run is a long distance foot race. It is a rarely held race that is not recognized as an Olympic event. The event held IAAF world championship status in 2006 only, when the existing IAAF World Half Marathon Championships briefly hosted the shorter distance.
Robert Drake (USA)
Ian Blackwood (AUS)
Toshiaki Kamata (JPN)
Matthews Motswarateu (BOT)
Zackariah Barie (TAN)
Arturo Barrios (MEX)
Addis Abebe (ETH)
Tendai Chimusasa (ZIM)
William Sigei (KEN)
Haile Gebreselasie (ETH)
Joshua Cheptegei (UGA)
