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	Berihu Aregawi 26:33 (2023)
Women	Agnes 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 Běchovice–Prague 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

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

• 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

Men

• Correct as of March 2024^[19][20]

Rank	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Race	Place	Ref
–	26:24[lower-alpha 1]	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[lower-alpha 2]	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

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

• Sebastian Sawe also ran 26:54 (2022).
• Nicholas Kimeli also ran 26:54 (2023).
• Tadese Worku also ran 26:59 (2022), 27:02 (2024).
• Joshua Cheptegei also ran 26:49 (2022), 26:53 (2024).
• Kibiwott Kandie also ran 26:51 (2022), 26:53 (2023).
• Rodrigue Kwizera also ran 27:04 (2023).

Annulled marks

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

• Rhonex Kipruto also ran 26:43 (2021), 26:46 (2018), 26:58 (2022).

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

• 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

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

• Jacob Kiplimo also ran 26:56+ (2022).

Women

• 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

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

• Yalemzerf Yehualaw also ran 29:19 Mx (2023).
• Agnes Ngetich also ran 29:24 Wo^{[lower-alpha 3]} (2023), 29:26 Wo (2023), 30:03 Wo (2024).
• Sheila Chepkirui also ran 29:57 Mx (2019), 30:07 Wo (2022).
• Emmaculate Acholi also run 30:01 Wo (2023).
• Norah Jeruto also ran 30:07 (2019), 30:08 (2021).
• Loice Chemnung also ran 30:08 Mx (2024), 30:09 Mx (2024), 30:13 Wo (2024).

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

• 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

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

• Letesenbet Gidey also ran 29:44+ (2019), 29:45+ (2021).
• Yalemzerf Yehualaw also ran 29:52+ Mx (2022).
• Joyciline Jepkosgei also ran 30:04+ (2017), 30:07+ (2017).
• Fancy Chemutai also ran 30:07+ (2017).
• Diana Chepkorir also ran 30:12 Mx (2024).

References

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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21. Valiente, Emeterio (12 January 2020). "Kipruto breaks world 10km record in Valencia". World Athletics. World Athletics. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
22. Emeterio Valiente (12 March 2023). "Aregawi goes No.2 all time with 26:33 10km in Laredo". World Athletics. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
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30. Phil Minshull (12 September 2021). "Tirop and Teferi smash world records in Herzogenaurach". World Athletics. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
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33. Emeterio Valiente (9 January 2022). "Jeruto and Ebenyo take 10km honours in Valencia". World Athletics. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
34. "10km de Lille 2022 – Men's Results". bases.athle.fr. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
35. "IAAF Golden League in Brüssel: Maria Mutola kann eine Million Dollar gewinnen". GENERALI BERLINER HALBMARATHON (in German). 8 June 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
36. Bob Ramsak (8 September 2019). "Weekend road round-up: Chepkirui and Kimeli break 30 minutes at Prague 10k, Kosgei dominates Great North Run". IAAF. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
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38. Emeterio Valiente (31 December 2018). "Kiplimo Clocks 26:41 over 10km". IAAF. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
39. "Senior Outdoor 10 Kilometres women". World Athletics. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
40. "All-time women's best 10km road race". alltime-athletics.com. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
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42. "Yehualaw smashes world 10km record with 29:14 in Castellon". World Athletics. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
43. Bob Ramsak (9 September 2017). "Jepkosgei smashes world 10km record in Prague". IAAF. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
44. Emeterio Valiente (3 October 2021). "Gezahegne breaks world 10km record in Geneva, Chelimo goes sub-30 in Valencia, Kumela breaks Kosice course record". World Athletics. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
45. "10K Facsa Castellón 2024 Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
46. "Amebaw and Yimer win 10km titles at Paris Festival of Running". World Athletics. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
47. "Chemtai Salpeter smashes European 10km record with 30:05 in Tilburg". European Athletics. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
48. "Teferi runs 30:12 race record to win New York Mini 10K". World Athletics. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
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50. "Ngetich breaks women-only world 10km record in Brasov". World Athletics. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
51. Dickinson, Marley (25 September 2023). "Kenyan runner loses two world records due to short course". Canadian Running Magazine. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
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57. "Joan Melly Chelimo Prague Half Marathon 2018 Result". runczech.com. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.

External links

• IAAF list of 10k records in XML