Beginners and Beyond

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8K Race Distance - History Lesson Needed (Read 76 times)

    Okay, in two weeks I'll run an 8K race here in Atlanta.  One of the reasons why I chose the race is that I never heard of an 8K race previously and thought it would be unique for me to run it.  Curiosity got the best of me and I was searching for the history of the 8K race distance and could not find an answer.

    So you veteran runners and T&F buffs, tell me about the origins of the 8K race and any other cool trivia stuff regarding it.

    Thanks.

    “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot


    Mostly harmless

      All I know is that 8K is about 5 miles and I run one every December.

      "It doesn’t matter how often you do it or how much you accomplish, in general, not running is a lot easier than running." - Meb Keflezighi

      wcrunner2


      Are we there, yet?

        As far as I can remember 8k races were non-existent prior to the switch to metric distances back in the 70s. At that time 3-mile races were changed to 5k, 6-mile races to 10K, and the obvious change for 5-mile races was to 8k. The only race distances that weren't actually changed were the mile, the marathon, its derivative the half-marathon, and most 10-mile races. A few 10-mile races were changed to half-marathons because of its growing popularity.

         2024 Races:

              03/09 - Livingston Oval Ultra 6-Hour, 22.88 miles

              05/11 - D3 50K
              05/25 - What the Duck 12-Hour

              06/17 - 6 Days in the Dome 12-Hour.

         

         

             

          Thanks WCR - I knew some of the long time experienced runners could give me the history.

          “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot


          No more marathons

            8K is also used as one of the standards at the college level for cross country.  It's a step up from the 5K in high school, but not quite to the 10K that is used in the conference meets at the end of the season.

            Boston 2014 - a 33 year journey

            Lordy,  I hope there are tapes. 

            He's a leaker!

              SB - thanks.  I did not know.

              “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot

                8k may also be the distance that a trail race happens to end up being - just the distance the trail is between start at end. At least the race that I did was that way (actually, I think it was announced as 6k, but their garmin missed a few segments in tunnels)

                "So many people get stuck in the routine of life that their dreams waste away. This is about living the dream." - Cave Dog
                wcrunner2


                Are we there, yet?

                  8K is also used as one of the standards at the college level for cross country.  It's a step up from the 5K in high school, but not quite to the 10K that is used in the conference meets at the end of the season.

                   

                  Again that was a conversion from 5-miles. When I was an undergrad, many college xc races were 4-miles, at least in the mid-west. When I moved east I found that 5-miles was the standard. BTW collegiate women run 6k at the championship level and 5k or 6k in other meets, quite a change from when the longest they were allowed to run was 800m in track and 2-miles in xc.

                   2024 Races:

                        03/09 - Livingston Oval Ultra 6-Hour, 22.88 miles

                        05/11 - D3 50K
                        05/25 - What the Duck 12-Hour

                        06/17 - 6 Days in the Dome 12-Hour.

                   

                   

                       

                  daisymae25


                  Squidward Bike Rider

                    Not to derail the thread, but 8K comes out to 4.97097 miles (yes, I'm a nerd).  I recently ran an 8K race (my first one ever), but they posted my pace based on 5 miles.  So, which is it, 8K or a 5-miler?

                      Oddly, both the "mega" races in Buffalo are 8K.  Here's a little history blurb on the bigger and much older of the two - like George mentioned, originated as 5 miles.

                       

                      http://www.ymcabuffaloniagara.org/trot/trothistory.html

                      Adam_McAllen


                      Beer-and-waffle Powered

                        Not to derail the thread, but 8K comes out to 4.97097 miles (yes, I'm a nerd).  I recently ran an 8K race (my first one ever), but they posted my pace based on 5 miles.  So, which is it, 8K or a 5-miler?

                         

                        If it was promoted and marked as an 8K then it was an 8K (although, an 8K race won't actually be 8000m unless it's on a track). Sounds like they just messed up with the calculation of the pace.

                        In the words of my late-coach : Just hang in there, relax... and at the end of a race anyone you see.....just pass them