Learn to Calculate 5K in Miles for Your Runs & More

The world of road running uses a confusing mixture of imperial and metric to describe race distances. In the UK for instance, it is easy to find some races advertised in miles and others in kilometres. If you are more used to thinking in metric, you will need to calculate how to, for example, convert 5k in miles. On the other hand, if you prefer imperial measures, you might need to calculate how many miles is 5K.

So how do you convert kilometres into miles and how far are common distance races?

Convert kilometres into miles and miles into kilometres with ASICS' calculator

To quickly convert these distances and get a precise calculation, use ASICS' kilometre to miles calculator below.

Convert km into miles if you don't have internet connection

If you are out running and don't have easy access to the internet, it is useful to learn how to convert miles into kilometres and vice versa.

• One mile equals 1.6 kilometres

If you wish to calculate a mile distance into kilometres, you need to multiply the distance by 1.6.

Imagine you had run 10 miles. To figure out the distance in kilometres, you simply multiply 10 by 1.6. 10 miles therefore equals 16 kilometres.

• One kilometre equals 0.625 miles.

If you wish to convert a kilometre distance into miles you simply divide the total by 1.6.

Say you want to calculate 5km in miles. Divide 5 by 1.6. 5k in miles is therefore 3.12 miles.

Common UK running race distances converted

Some people always think in kilometres, while others prefer thinking in miles. If you are more used to using imperial measures, it's not always obvious how far a run in kilometres will be. The same goes if you prefer thinking in metric - figuring out exactly how far a 10K in miles is, for example, might not be immediately obvious.

Below we have summed up a conversion of some of the most common running race distances in the UK.

5km in miles

Five-kilometre runs are some of the most common distances for runners in the UK.Park Run, for instance, operates over 700 5k runs across the country every week which are attended by thousands of runners. So how much is a 5k in miles?

• 5 kilometres equals 3.1 miles

10km in miles

10-kilometre runs are another very popular distance for UK runners. If you have some experience of participating in shorter races you might be considering building up to a 10k. So how many miles is 10k?

• 10 kilometres equals 6.25 miles

10 miles in kilometres

10-mile races are another popular kind of run in the UK. They are often seen as something of an in-between distance if you have already done a 10K but are not quite comfortable with doing a full half marathon just yet. But how does 10 miles convert into kilometres?

• 10 miles equals 16 kilometres

Read more: What's the right race distance for you?

Half marathon in miles and kilometres

A half marathon is one of the most popular kinds of distance running and is many people's first target as they build up their racing experience. According to the Let's Do This website, there are over 500 half marathons that take place in the UK every year.

• A half marathon in miles is 13.1 miles
• A half marathon in kilometres is 21.1 km

Full marathon in miles and kilometres

Many people's ultimate running ambition is to complete a marathon. It typically requires months of training and preparation. Therefore having a clear idea of how many miles or kilometres you need to run in each training session is absolutely vital.

Whether you prefer to think in miles or kilometres you will want to build your marathon training plan around completing a specific distance in each training session. To do that, you of course need to know the final distance in miles or kilometres.

• A full marathon is 26.22 miles
• In kilometres, a marathon is 42.195 km

50k in miles

50k runs are often known as ultramarathons (although the term ‘ultramarathon' refers to any distance above the 42.195 kilometres of a normal marathon). The added distance makes them that much more challenging and they attract the most dedicated runners. But how far is a 50K in miles?

• 50K in miles equals 31.35 miles

Should you train in miles or kilometres?

Deciding the units that you prefer running in is completely down to you. Some people are simply more familiar with miles and prefer to think in imperial measures. Others are more accustomed to using kilometres and metric units. In either case, it will be easiest for you to prepare for your runs in your preferred unit.

For example, if you are preparing for a 10k run but always think in miles, use our calculator to work out 10K in miles (6.25 miles). You might want to run 2K on the first day of training (which equals 1.25 miles), 5K on the second day of training (which equals 3.1 miles) and so on.

By knowing how to convert miles into kilometres and kilometres into miles you can better time your run and your training. Good luck!