what is a best time for a 5k running

Hi I ran my first 5K run last Saturday.

Let me put it this way when I started running early this year I could run for only 500 mts. Then I got 1k, 2k and 3K. When I was able to run the whole 3k's without stopping I was running at 8 min/km. Around May I started increasing speed and running more distance, 5, 6, 8 and 10K. The fastest I had done before last Saturaday was around 7 min/km. Guess what? On Saturday I ran the 5K in less than 30 min, 29.21 to be more specific. That is a huge improvement for me. I was 55 out of 126 runners. But you know how fast was the first one? The mother f$%&^ ran the 5 Ks in just 17 min.

What I'm trying to point out is that is diffciult to compare, so the best comparison is your own times. Cause sometimes you might believe you are awesome but someother you'll believe you suck

Cheers and keep working out

That's a great time! For me, like someone else mentioned, it is about beating my own time. This time last year I was running a 5K in 36 minutes. I just ran one in 27:20 a few weeks ago but that was a really fast course. My average is 29 minutes.

Running is about running for you and is really a competition against yourself. Everyone's time is different, and even different at various points in their life. If that's where you're at, then that's great! Keep on going and see if you can beat it, if that's what you're after.

ETA: I just saw this quote this morning and it reminded me of this a bit:
"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice in your head that wants you to quit." - George Sheehan

Excellent advice. It's all about personal improvement. Your first time is very good as is your improvement so well done.

My 1st 5K was in May - I did it in 28:53 - my best time is 23:16 but I still feel I can improve. The most important part to me though is running the whole route

My 1st 5K was in May - I did it in 28:53 - my best time is 23:16 but I still feel I can improve. The most important part to me though is running the whole route

That's some seriously impressive progress! I'd have thought that you're getting close to the front of your age group with low 23 minute times. I'd be overjoyed (and amazed) if I could drop my times down from 26 to 21 minutes in 5 months.

My 5k PR is 24:34

My first 5k was August 10th and I ran it in 32 min or so. My PR was last Friday night and it was 27 min 58 seconds. You really are competing against yourself.

Running is about running for you and is really a competition against yourself. Everyone's time is different, and even different at various points in their life. If that's where you're at, then that's great! Keep on going and see if you can beat it, if that's what you're after.

ETA: I just saw this quote this morning and it reminded me of this a bit:
"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice in your head that wants you to quit." - George Sheehan

I agree whole heartedly with this person. It's one of my favorite parts of running - that you're competing against yourself.

My first 5K was a 10 min/mile, and I think I was 160th out 348 women. I'm currently training for a 10K and my pacing is better, so I'm hoping to get around 9:30 min/mile, but any time it's the first time you've done a distance in a race you should focus on just *finishing* and not worrying about your time.

This is a totally individual thing. When I started I was running 5k in about 40 mins. Now it's 27, but I usually focus on longer distance races because I don't like running fast.

That being said, for me, any time the female winner could not have run the course twice in the time I run it once, I consider a successful race. I run in Boston and have the opportunity to run with world class runners.

I rarely run 5km I normally prefer slightly longer routes but my PB is 26.12 which is a gentle jog for some people - However my 'roll out of bed, grab a coffee and then run' is normally 28min - I would love to be sub 25mins however I've been focusing on endurance...What can I say...I just like to plod!
Mirroring other comments- set your own goals and don't ever be put off or feel down about times because there is always someone faster..(unless your Mr Bolt)

I agree that running is a competition with yourself. Since I am pretty competitive though, I like to check out how everyone else in my age group did.

I love to see that I am over the 50% mark.

I'm not really a 5K race runner, but I have done it on the treadmill in 25 minutes... not the same thing though because it was flat :-)

Congratulations to you :-)

For your first 5k that's a great time.
I recently ran a 5k with a few friends. One is a marathoner that finished in about 20 min. Another one is a pretty good runner and finished in the top ten of her age group around 22 min. One is a an active guy that finished around 23 min. I finished around 33 min and the last of our group finished in 43 min.
First place overall went to some 16 year old kid that finished in 16 min.
Great job, and keep up the great work.

I started regular running in January and couldn't run a whole 5k, I kept going along with losing weight and started parkrunning in June 28:02 for 5k and 2 weeks ago pb'd at 26:01 with still more to come hopefully.

Male; 22yrs old.

My PR is 19:45

I think 14:55-14:58 qualified for the Olympic 5K this year for the US.

Really? My last 5k, the top male finishers were 13:37, 13:40 and 13:41. Of course, only the #2 guy was American.