10K run

"10 kilometres" redirects here. For the order of magnitude, see 1 myriametre. For the track running event, see 10,000 metres.

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
Men	Rhonex Kipruto 26:24 (2020)
Women	Yalemzerf Yehualaw 29:14 (2022)

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][5]

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. Members of the public may take part 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.^[6] Medical organisations, fitness groups, drinks manufacturers and sportswear companies are typical commercial sponsors of 10K events.^[7][8]

The 10-kilometre metric distance has been used for road running events for a large portion of the modern era of athletics – the Běchovice–Prague race is one of the longest-running events over the distance, having first been held in 1897.^[9][10] 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.^[11]

Professional 10K running

At the professional level, there are many races which 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.^[12][13]

 

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 featured on the event programmes of the Athletics at the Summer Olympics or the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. However, it did briefly have its own individual championship for women in the form of the IAAF World Women's Road Race Championships, which was contested over ten kilometres in 1983 and 1984.^[14] 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 types of 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).^[15][16] Performances over ten kilometres on the roads were not recognised as world records by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) until 2003 and 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.^[17]

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

• World records are in bold. Correct as of June 2018.^[18][19]

Area	Men				Women
	Time	Athlete	Nation		Time	Athlete	Nation
Africa	26:24	Rhonex Kipruto	Kenya		29:43	Joyciline Jepkosgei	Kenya
Asia	27:51	Abraham Cheroben	Bahrain		30:05	Violah Jepchumba	Bahrain
Europe	27:13	Julien Wanders	Switzerland		30:05	Lonah Chemtai Salpeter	Israel
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

Men

• Correct as of March 2023^[20][21]

Rank	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Race	Place	Ref
1	26:24	Rhonex Kipruto	Kenya	12 January 2020	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[22]
2	26:33	Berihu Aregawi	Ethiopia	11 March 2023		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	26:50	Kibiwott Kandie	Kenya	30 April 2022	Adizero Road to Records	Herzogenaurach	^[25]
6	26:51	Nicholas Kimeli	Kenya	25 September 2022	Brașov Running Festival	Brașov	^[26]
7	26:54	Sebastian Sawe	Kenya	30 April 2022	Adizero Road to Records	Herzogenaurach	^[25]
8	26:55	Weldon Langat	Kenya	25 September 2022	Brașov Running Festival	Brașov	^[26]
				15 January 2023	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[27]
		Isaac Kibet Ndiema	Kenya	25 September 2022	Brașov Running Festival	Brașov	^[26]
10	26:56	Tadese Worku	Ethiopia	12 September 2021	Road to Records	Herzogenaurach	^[28]
		Rodrigue Kwizera	Burundi	30 April 2022	Adizero Road to Records	Herzogenaurach	^[25]
12	26:57	Felix Kipkoech	Kenya	3 October 2021	The Giants Geneva	Geneva	^[29]
		Charles Kipkurui Langat	Kenya	15 January 2023	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[30]
14	26:58	Daniel Simiu Ebenyo	Kenya	9 January 2022	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[31]
15	27:00	Yasin Haji	Ethiopia	20 March 2022	10 km de Lille	Lille	^[32]
				30 April 2022	Adizero Road to Records	Herzogenaurach	^[25]
17	27:01	Micah Kipkemboi Kogo	Kenya	29 March 2009	Parelloop	Brunssum
		Jacob Kosen	Kenya	15 January 2023	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[33]
19	27:02	Haile Gebrselassie	Ethiopia	11 December 2002	QSI 10K Road Race	Doha	^[34]
		Geoffrey Koech	Kenya	7 September 2019	Prague Grand Prix	Prague	^[35]
21	27:04	Josphat Kiprono Menjo	Kenya	18 April 2010	Cursa de Bombers	Barcelona
		Jacob Krop	Kenya	15 January 2023	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[36]
23	27:07	Mathew Kimeli	Kenya	7 September 2019	Prague Grand Prix	Prague	^[35]
		Rogers Kibet	Uganda	15 January 2023	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[37]
25	27:09	Peter Kamais Lotagor	Kenya	6 September 2009	Tilburg 10K	Tilburg
		Kennedy Kimutai	Kenya	12 September 2021	Road to Records	Herzogenaurach	^[28]
		Domnic Lokinyomo Lobalu	South Sudan	15 January 2023	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[38]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 27:09:

• Rhonex Kipruto also ran 26:43 (2021), 26:46 (2018), 26:58 (2022).
• Tadese Worku also ran 26:59 (2022).
• Joshua Cheptegei also ran 26:49 (2022).
• Kibiwott Kandie also ran 26:51 (2022).
• Rodrigue Kwizera also ran 27:04 (2023).
• Micah Kipkemboi Kogo also ran 27:07 (2007).
• Rhonex Kipruto also ran 27:08 (2018).

Other bests en route or on aided road course equal or superior to 27:09

• Correct as of February 2022.^[39]
• + = 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	^[40]
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	^[40]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 27:09:

• Jacob Kiplimo also ran 26:56+ (2022), 27:05+ (2021).
• Joshua Cheptegei also ran 27:09 (2022) a.

Women

• Correct as of January 2023.^[41][42]
• Mx = mixed gender race
• Wo = women only race

Rank	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Race	Place	Ref
1	29:14 Mx	Yalemzerf Yehualaw	Ethiopia	27 February 2022	Castellón 10K	Castellón de la Plana	^[43]
2	29:38 Mx	Kalkidan Gezahegne	Bahrain	3 October 2021	The Giants Geneva	Geneva	^[29]
3	29:43 Mx	Joyciline Jepkosgei	Kenya	9 September 2017	Prague Grand Prix	Prague	^[44]
4	29:46 Mx	Sheila Chepkirui	Kenya	12 January 2020	10K Valencia	Valencia	^[22]
5	29:50 Mx	Rosemary Wanjiru	Kenya	12 January 2020	10K Valencia	Valencia	^[22]
		Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi	Kenya	3 October 2021	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[45]
7	29:51 Mx	Norah Jeruto	Kenya	12 January 2020	10K Valencia	Valencia	^[22]
8	29:57 Mx	Dorcas Kimeli	Kenya	7 September 2019	Prague Grand Prix	Prague	^[35]
9	30:01 Wo	Agnes Tirop	Kenya	12 September 2021	Road to Records	Herzogenaurach	^[28]
	30:01 Mx	Jesca Chelangat	Kenya	15 January 2023	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[46]
11	30:05 Mx	Lonah Chemtai Salpeter	Israel	1 September 2019	Tilburg 10K	Tilburg	^[47]
12	30:06 Mx	Fancy Chemutai	Kenya	9 September 2017	Prague Grand Prix	Prague	^[44]
13	30:14 Mx	Vicoty Chepngeno	Kenya	27 February 2022	Castellón 10K	Castellón de la Plana	^[48]
14	30:15 Mx	Tsehay Gemechu	Ethiopia	13 January 2019	10K Valencia	Valencia	^[49]
	30:15 Wo	Hellen Obiri	Kenya	22 May 2022	Great Manchester Run	Manchester	^[50]
	30:15 Mx	Esther Borura	Kenya	15 January 2023	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[51]
17	30:16 Mx	Irine Chepet Cheptai	Kenya	3 September 2022	Prague Grand Prix	Prague	^[52]
18	30:19 Wo	Eilish McColgan	Great Britain	22 May 2022	Great Manchester Run	Manchester	^[50]
	30:19 Mx	Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui	Kenya	8 September 2018	Prague Grand Prix	Prague	^[53]
	30:19 Mx	Celliphine Chespol	Kenya	6 November 2021	Urban Trail Lille event	Lille	^[54]
	30:19 Mx	Prisca Chesang	Uganda	31 December 2022	San Silvestre Vallecana	Madrid	^[55]
22	30:21 Mx	Paula Radcliffe	Great Britain	23 February 2003	World's Best 10K	San Juan
23	30:23 Mx	Diana Kipyokei	Kenya	8 September 2018	Prague Grand Prix	Prague	^[53]
		Jesca Chelangat	Kenya	3 September 2022	Prague Grand Prix	Prague	^[56]
25	30:24 Mx	Violah Jepchumba	Bahrain	10 September 2016	Prague Grand Prix	Prague
		Fentaye Belayneh	Ethiopia	30 April 2022	Adizero Road to Records	Herzogenaurach	^[25]
		Sarah Chelangat	Uganda	15 January 2023	10K Valencia Ibercaja	Valencia	^[57]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 30:24:

• Yalemzerf Yehualaw also ran 29:19 Mx (2023).
• Sheila Chepkirui also ran 29:57 Mx (2019), 30:07 Wo (2022), 30:17 Wo (2021).
• Norah Jeruto also ran 30:07 (2019), 30:08 (2021).
• Agnes Tirop also ran 30:20Mx (2021).
• Fancy Chemutai also ran 30:22 (2018), 30:23 (2017).
• Violah Jepchumba also ran 30:24 (2016).

Other bests en route or on aided road course equal or superior to 30:24

• Correct as of May 2021.^[58]
• + = 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	^[59]
29:45+ Mx	Yalemzerf Yehualaw	Ethiopia	24 October 2021	Valencia Half Marathon	Valencia	^[60]
	Sheila Chepkirui	Kenya	24 October 2021	Valencia Half Marathon	Valencia	^[61]
29:54 a	Brigid Kosgei	Kenya	31 December 2018	San Silvestre Vallecana	Madrid	^[40]
29:59 a	Hellen Obiri	Kenya	31 December 2018	San Silvestre Vallecana	Madrid	^[40]
30:05+	Violah Jepchumba	Bahrain	1 April 2017	Prague Half Marathon	Prague	^[62]
30:14+	Joan Chelimo	Kenya	7 April 2018	Prague Half Marathon	Prague	^[63]
30:18+	Ababel Yeshaneh	Ethiopia	21 February 2020	Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon	Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah	^[64]
30:21+ Mx	Ruth Chepng'etich	Kenya	4 April 2021	Istanbul Half Marathon	Istanbul	^[65]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 30:24:

• Letesenbet Gidey also ran 29:44+ (2019), 29:45+ (2021).
• Yalemzerf Yehualaw also ran 29:52+ Mx (2022), 30:22+ Mx (2021).
• Joyciline Jepkosgei also ran 30:04+ (2017), 30:07+ (2017).
• Fancy Chemutai also ran 30:07+ (2017).
• Brigid Kosgei also ran 30:18+ (2020) and 30:21+ (2021 Mx).
• Hellen Obiri also ran 30:21+ (2021 Mx).
• Joan Chelimo also ran 30:21+ (2021 Mx).

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External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 10K runs.

• IAAF list of 10k records in XML