Running Race Training 5K and 8K Training How Long Will It Take You to Run a 5K? By Christine Luff, ACE-CPT Christine Luff, ACE-CPT LinkedIn Twitter Christine Many Luff is a personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and Road Runners Club of America Certified Coach. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 07, 2021 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by John Honerkamp Reviewed by John Honerkamp LinkedIn Twitter John Honerkamp is an RRCA and USATF certified running coach, celebrity marathon pacer, and recognized leader in the New York City running community. Learn about our Review Board Print FatCamera / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Estimate Your Finish Time 5K Finish Times Based on Pace Consider the Competition Achieve Your Best Time A 5K race is 5 kilometers or 3.1 miles long and is a favorite among new and experienced runners alike. The distance is short enough so that beginners can build up enough stamina, strength, and skill to be ready to race in just a few months, and still challenging enough for faster runners who compete with a goal of improving their finish time or medaling. What's more, 5Ks are popular and easy to find and are especially plentiful in the spring, summer, and fall months. Many local communities sponsor 5K races to fundraise for charities or to bring awareness to chronic health conditions like diabetes, breast cancer, and leukemia. If you've never competed in a 5K race before, it's a common worry that you'll be the last person to cross the finish line—but the truth is it doesn't matter. Regardless of your finish time for your first 5K, you'll feel really good about having met a fitness goal while also contributing to a worthy cause. Still, it's helpful to estimate your finish time in advance so you know what to expect on race day. Estimate Your 5K Finish Time There are a few reasons why you might want to know your 5K finish time before the race. Maybe you're competitive and are hoping to win or improve your previous performance. If you're a beginner, you may simply be curious as to how long it might take you from start to finish. If this isn't your first 5K, you can estimate how long it will take you to finish by looking back at your time from a previous race. You can also refer to a race-time prediction chart or use a race-time predictor calculator. Calculate Your Pace Per Mile If this is your first 5K, you won't have a previous race to base your estimate on. Whether you're new to running or a seasoned athlete, your pace per mile can estimate your best possible finish time. Simply run a mile at the fastest pace you can comfortably go and time how long it takes you. This will give you your best possible race pace. Once you've calculated your pace per mile, you'll want to determine how long it will take you to complete the full 5K (3.1 miles). This pace calculator tool can provide you with an estimate, If you run a mile using your best effort in 8 minutes, your predicted 5K finishing time would be 24 minutes, 48 seconds. If you run a slower mile in 17 minutes and 27 seconds, your predicted 5K finish time would be 54 minutes and 5 seconds. 5K Finish Times Based on Pace Keep in mind that your predicted finish time is just an estimate. It doesn't mean that you'll automatically run that time, because there are lots of factors that play into what your performance will be. Perhaps you'll improve your running time between when you first did the estimate and when you run the race. Or maybe the race terrain will be easier or harder to maneuver than what you're used to. The weather and even your general mood and energy levels can also impact your race performance, as will your overall physical condition. Be prepared for any possible outcome. You might not achieve your estimated 5K finish time, but there's also a chance you could run it faster depending on the circumstances on race day. As a general rule, many runners consider a good finishing time for a 5K to be anything under 25 minutes. That would mean running at a pace of around 8 minutes per mile. Here's how long it might take you to run a 5K based on your pace per mile: 5K Finishing Times by Pace If your pace is... You'll finish in... 6 minutes per mile 18 minutes, 35 seconds 8 minutes per mile 24 minutes, 48 seconds 10 minutes per mile 31 minutes 12 minutes per mile 37 minutes 15 minutes per mile 46 minutes, 30 seconds 20 minutes per mile 62 minutes 9 Ways to Run a Faster Mile Consider the Competition Finishing times for 5K races span a wide range based on biological factors, course terrain and difficulty, and even the weather. There is usually a mix of experienced fast runners, slower beginner runners, and often, walkers of all ages. If you're curious how you might stack up against the competition, take a look back at the finishing times of past participants in the race you plan to run to get an idea of how other people did. You might notice that the winner of a race with a diverse field of competitors finished the 5K course in under 14 minutes, while someone who chose to walk took more than an hour to reach the finish line. As you'll note in the table below, your finish time will vary based on your age and sex as well as your level of fitness. 5K Averages by Age and Sex Age Women Men 1–14 24:43 21:24 15–19 23:06 18:57 20–29 20:58 17:49 30–39 20:49 18:02 40–49 22:19 19:02 50–59 24:11 20:02 60–69 27:47 23:05 70–100 38:25 28:27 Source: Meteor.Run How Does Your 5K Race Time Compare to Other People's Average? Tips to Achieve Your Best Time The key to running a great 5K race starts with your training plan. Try these strategies to increase your odds of finishing a 5K in the time predicted or to run faster than you did in a previous race: Choose a training schedule that's appropriate for you and stick to it. Follow a specific training strategy, such as finishing fast for some of your runs to improve your stamina, mental strength, and confidence, and taking rest days to allow for muscle recovery and injury prevention. Invest in well-fitting shoes and other running gear. Even if your goal isn't to finish the race in a certain amount of time, but rather to enjoy the experience and participate in a community activity, you'll still want to be as comfortable as possible. Take care of your mind and body by following a healthy, balanced diet to fuel your training runs and prioritize rest and recovery to ensure you're getting enough quality sleep. Train with a friend or running group, to make it more fun and so that you can hold each other accountable. What to Do (and Not to Do) Before a 5K Race Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! If you're planning to run a 5K, you'll need to get in shape. Our free training guide will get you ready to run. Sign up and get it free! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Running USA. U.S. road race participation numbers hold steady for 2017. Meteor.Run. Overview of 5k Run Statistics. 5k Run Summary. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies