Forums >General Running>5K distance variation
Lazy idiot
I'm training to run my first 5K. I was wondering if there is any general variation in 5K route distances. What I mean is, I doubt all 5K's are 5.00 kilometers. Does anybody have enough experiences with 5K's to give me an idea of what the general variation is? Like generally between 4.8 and 5.2 kilometers. Thanks for any help!
Tick tock
...If races are advertised as 5k but turn out to be long or short, it's likely due to measurement error by the organizers...
"Good-looking people have no spine. Their art never lasts. They get the girls, but we're smarter." - Lester Bangs
... check the race to make sure it is USATF certified...
I would guess +/- 20% which really is a bummer for a marathon. Race distances are like playing horseshoes; close enough is just fine and anyone who complains about an inaccurate track has to be an elite.
Champions are made when no one is watching
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Last Race: Portland Maine Half Marathon October 5 2014
ultramarathon/triathlete
I'd say you're off by a factor of 10. +/-2% might be more reasonable.
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USATF Coach
Empire Tri Club CoachGatorade Endurance Team
My thoughts exactly. 2% MAYBE. If someone says it's a 5K, it will be 5K unless they mis measure it. This sometimes happens in smaller races, generally not in larger races (larger by number of people I mean, hence better organized). Buy a garmin if you're concerned (though that migth be off by 2% also! :roll I've run hundreds of 5Ks, I'd say 95% of them were spot on, which is to say 3.1 miles.
A certified 5K course is actually longer than 5K, by some fudge factor. I do not remember what that factor is though.
'tis true. The requirement is simply that the course cannot be short.