Where does the term "5k walk" stem from?

[Torsten]

Hi,

I understand a "5K walk" is a long or tough walk but does anyone know the origin of this term?

Thanks a lot,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Mister Micawber]

I think it's just a standard distance for a competition, isn't it?
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Torsten]

So what does "5K" stand for -- 5 kilometers? Why not use miles?
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Mister Micawber]

.
Even in the US, the metric system is slowly catching on. It must be because of the Japanese cars.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Yankee]

.
Even when I was a kid (i.e. long before the influx of Japanese cars), distances in competitions were often metric. I swam competitively for years, and the distance to be covered was determined by whether the pool was 25 or 50 yards or meters long. The length of plenty of pools was 25 or 50 meters (rather than yards) even when I was young.
.

[Torsten]

Hi Amy,

So a "5K walk" is a 5 kilometer walk? Why is it a walk and not a run? Is there a 3K or a 10K walk too?
Thanks,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

I really don't know. If something is called a "5K Walk", then it would be reasonable to expect the people to walk rather than run.

Maybe it involves simply walking that distance to raise money for charity (i.e. it's not actually a competition), or maybe it is a competition for "power walking":

Power Walking
.