involving coloured water showers, and the parkrun series, which is a worldwide network of free-to-enter, volunteer-led races occurring each weekend, originating in the United Kingdom. Unlike longer road races, such as the 10K run and marathon, the 5K distance is not commonly contested by elite distance runners. The Carlsbad 5000 is one of the few races that attract competitive elite fields and has seen several world bests for the distance (prior to the IAAF's 2018 decision to begin recognising world records for the 5K). The IAAF, now World Athletics did not go back to recognise the world best performances set at Carlsbad, which left a dilemma of known superior performances at Carlsbad and inferior world records that will last until the performances at Carlsbad are recognised or surpassed. Another annual American race, Freihofer's Run for Women, also regularly has elite women competing in the road distance, as does the BOClassic in Italy. Elite racing almost exclusively takes place on the track for this distance. There is no official world championship event organised for the 5 km road distance. Championships over 5 km are held nationally in some areas, including the United States and England. An annual North American 5K Championships was created in 2002, but the competition ceased after 2005. Records The 5 km road distance was introduced by IAAF as a world record event in November 2017, with the inaugural record to be recognised after 1 January 2018 if the performances were equal to or better than 13:10 for men and 14:45 for women. Other statistical organisations, including the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, record best times for the event. Records for the 5K are often noted in national records in athletics. All-time top 25 + = en route to longer performance Men Correct as of February 2023. Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 13:17: Berihu Aregawi also ran 12:52 (2021). Joshua Cheptegei also ran 13:13 (2021), 13:16 (2022). Women Correct as of December 2022. Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 14:48: Ejgayehu Taye also ran 14:21 (2022). Senbere Teferi also ran 14:37 (2022). Yalemzerf Yehualaw also ran 14:44 (2022), 14:47 (2023). Norah Jeruto also ran 14:46 (2019) and 14:48 (2021). Eilish McColgan also ran 14:48 (2022). Notes References List of world bests World Best Progressions- Road. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2013-12-21). Retrieved on 2014-01-18. External