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Original poster

If you can run 5k how long does it take you and do you stop/walk inbetween?

143 replies

VladmirsPoutine · 12/10/2022 21:57

A scientific survey, I know, but I've recently set myself a goal to run 5k without stopping and wonder how long on average it should take or it takes you? I'm not training for any particular event so it's more of a fitness target for myself.

OP posts:
missfliss · 13/10/2022 07:24

About 36 mins.
45 overweight and menopausal
Also marathon training.

Time doesn't matter to me - it's getting round that matters IYSWIM

SquirmOfEels · 13/10/2022 07:28

Gezunteit1 · 13/10/2022 06:45

For the person who said it's impossible, there are many men who can complete in 16/17 minutes on a regular basis at parkruns.

There's a big difference between 15 and 16/17!!

Ihatecocomelon · 13/10/2022 07:32

32 - 33 minutes nonstop if my route wasn't hilly it might be better. I'm almost 37 and an ex smoker/drug addict.

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Luncheonmeatsandwich · 13/10/2022 07:32

27-28 mins here. Sub 30 would be a good target to aim for.

NoraLuka · 13/10/2022 07:33

34 minutes (did a charity run last weekend and timed it) down from nearly an hour when I started! I'm aiming for sub 30 and then when/if I get there I'll see about going faster. I'm 40 and slightly overweight, but a lot less overweight than I was when I started running.

TheOrigRights · 13/10/2022 08:51

Gezunteit1 · 13/10/2022 06:45

For the person who said it's impossible, there are many men who can complete in 16/17 minutes on a regular basis at parkruns.

She said it was unlikely, and there is a MASSIVE difference between 15 and 16/17.
At that level they'd be chipping away seconds.

springhassprung22 · 13/10/2022 08:59

It takes me about 27 minutes when I go out for a normal 5km run. I have done sub 25 minutes recently at Park Run though.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 13/10/2022 09:02

I took up running just after my 40th birthday and the fastest I ever did a 5k was in 29mins.

I'm now 52 and am happy with anything around 33mins

This week I did my first non stop 5k since having a break after getting Covid in August and did 35.20 but I was delighted with that as the previous three outings had me giving up at the 4.5k point and I'd started to think I should just give up.

thedoofus · 13/10/2022 10:25

I'm 45 and reasonably fit. Used to be able to do it in about 27 minutes, now my average is 31-32. My standard 5ks are all hilly though, I might still manage 30 on the flat. Maybe!

JennyForeigner2 · 13/10/2022 10:27

stillvicarinatutu · 13/10/2022 05:35

When I could run (sob! Athritis in knees now and ankle) it took me about 35 mins and about 60 mins to do 10k

God I miss being able to run !

If you were able to do a 10k in 60 minutes then there was a 5k within that that you were doing in 30, no matter how much the 10k varied in pace.

JennyForeigner2 · 13/10/2022 10:31

Gezunteit1 · 13/10/2022 06:45

For the person who said it's impossible, there are many men who can complete in 16/17 minutes on a regular basis at parkruns.

Yes, there are. Given though that your claim was that there are men (plural) doing it in fifteen at your local run though I’m not sure what relevance that has. I remain skeptical that there are regularly men (plural) doing it in under fifteen minutes at your run.

I’ve never seen it achieved at any that I’ve done.

KatnissNeverdone · 13/10/2022 10:45

My fastest has been 35 mins at 42, 3 years post hip replacement. I prefer to run a bit slower though at about 38-40 as I aim for distance rather than speed.

Foronenightonly01 · 13/10/2022 10:49

35-40mins for me, even after months of training I couldn’t get it lower (that already felt like a sprint!!). I think if you can do it without stopping that’s brilliant, whatever your speed!

givemushypeasachance · 13/10/2022 10:55

Currently I do 5k in about 30 minutes or so, but I'd like to get that back down - when I was a stone or two lighter and running a lot, regularly racing, it was more like 25-26 minutes. My PB is 24 something. I'm mid thirties.

Our course record for my local parkrun, which is on tarmac paths but has hills involved, is 14:47 which is just crazy. Most weeks the first finisher is 16-17 mins, and to think the fastest chap would have been done several minutes before they come in is baffling!

Mind you, Kipchoge's marathon winning times split down into 5k chunks are faster than almost every parkrun ever run as well, and he does that for 26 miles...

BerryShots · 13/10/2022 10:57

Mind you, Kipchoge's marathon winning times split down into 5k chunks are faster than almost every parkrun ever run as well, and he does that for 26 miles...

This just blows my mind! I mean, we all know they're fast, but when you can put it into perspective like this, it puts them in a whole new category of awesome!

JennyForeigner2 · 13/10/2022 11:04

BerryShots · 13/10/2022 10:57

Mind you, Kipchoge's marathon winning times split down into 5k chunks are faster than almost every parkrun ever run as well, and he does that for 26 miles...

This just blows my mind! I mean, we all know they're fast, but when you can put it into perspective like this, it puts them in a whole new category of awesome!

It’s inconceivable to me how any human can run at 21kph for two hours. Doing that speed at all, for even a few seconds is hard, bouncing along like that for 26 miles is utterly unbelievable.

Royalistforaday · 13/10/2022 11:08

Under 30 minutes with the best time about 27 minutes last year. I'm a stone overweight (at least) and mid 50s

HairyMcLarie · 13/10/2022 11:19

About 34 minutes no stopping. A few years ago I could run no more than 2 minutes so 34 minutes feels great!
I also ran a non stop half marathon last year. Took an embarrassing eternity of 2 hours and 40 mins but I don't care!

Runningmad1 · 13/10/2022 11:27

Average finish time for Parkrun across the UK is 29 mins (www.parkrun.org.uk/ - bottom of the page). My PB is in the high 18 mins (that's when I race it)

emmathedilemma · 13/10/2022 12:24

mid 40's and fastest recently was 26:40 but i should be able to run faster (I'll admit I didn't set out to run as fast as possible that day), my PB is just over 23min from when i was a lot thinner
I think under 30min is a good goal to aim for on 5k but a lot of regular runners never manage that.

mindutopia · 13/10/2022 12:28

I cannot currently run 5K, but when I used to, it took about 35-40 minutes. I'm not fast, but it was all running.

reigatecastle · 13/10/2022 12:34

I ran around 23 minutes at my local parkrun last Saturday but I have been running for over ten years now.

When I first started out I used to run without stopping but it was more of a shuffle than a run or job and it took me about 34 minutes. Joining a running club made a big difference to my times, as well as doing parkrun every week.

reigatecastle · 13/10/2022 12:35

BerryShots · 13/10/2022 10:57

Mind you, Kipchoge's marathon winning times split down into 5k chunks are faster than almost every parkrun ever run as well, and he does that for 26 miles...

This just blows my mind! I mean, we all know they're fast, but when you can put it into perspective like this, it puts them in a whole new category of awesome!

I am not sure I could even keep up with him for 26 metres never mind 26 miles!

musicmum75 · 13/10/2022 12:40

About 33 or 34 mins and I don't stop. I am late 40s. I would love to do 30 mins or less but have only rarely achieved this.

reigatecastle · 13/10/2022 12:40

JennyForeigner2 · 12/10/2022 22:49

There have been about 150 men who have ever broken fifteen minutes. I’m skeptical that you have seen multiple men doing it regularly.

Show quote history

I'm not sure there have been many who've done 15 minutes but there are plenty who can run 16 minutes at the parkruns I do. And women doing 17/18 minutes. If you look at the Fast Running website you can see the top ten times in the UK for men and women each week (and they do an equivalent for Ireland). There are some courses which are well known for being quick like the original Bushy Park, Belfast Victoria, Cardiff and Dulwich, among others.