The Underrated 8k

For runners, distances carry meaning. The 5K is approachable, fast, and friendly. The 10K is its more serious sibling, demanding a little more endurance, a little more commitment. But in between? There’s the 8K—quietly waiting, quietly perfect.

The 8K (just under 5 miles) doesn’t get nearly enough love. It’s that sweet spot for when you want to go farther than a 5K, but aren’t quite up for a full 10K. Whether you're training, racing, or just out for a solo reset run, the 8K is a happy medium. It asks you to push yourself, but it doesn't demand your whole day. It gives you time to settle into a rhythm, to think, to work, and to finish strong—without collapsing at the end.

My first road race post-knee surgery was the Brea 8K in February 2023. It started at the Brea Mall and wound its way through the town I grew up in—the town I still call home. I had just transferred schools for my senior year and hadn’t yet found my footing at the new place. But that morning, I was just excited to run. To test myself. To feel my legs move without fear.

During the race, I (literally) ran into an old administrator from my former school. A close friend. Then, a few miles in, I realized I was running alongside people from my new school—people who had started out as acquaintances but, somewhere between mile one and mile four, were starting to feel like friends.

The course was cool and crisp that morning, the streets familiar and full of memories. The 8K was the perfect distance—long enough to grow into the run and push myself, short enough that I crossed the finish line feeling strong and proud instead of spent.

Whether you're bouncing back from an injury, figuring out your next training goal, or just need a race to remind you why you love running, consider the 8K. It's underrated, underappreciated—and maybe just exactly what you need.

pre race photo

Running into Kathleen Kelly at gear check

post race pics