Thanks. I don't know why some people insist upon using metric measurements in their commentary, given that most Americans only have a passing familiarity with it.
It's like seeing foreign words and phrases in an article written in English. Unless you know that language, those words are complete blanks to you, and do not communicate.
I understand that metric is a more sensible system of measure, but we weren't raised with it, nor were most of us schooled in it. Conversely, most Europeans have been raised with the metric system, so I wouldn't think of using English measurements to communicate quantitative concepts to them. Much better to speak the language they're accustomed to.
Having been a runner, the K equivalents sank in by osmosis, I guess. I recall running a 5 mile race years ago which had KM markers and mile markers, and passing 8K shortly before the finish line.
So, after writing the preceding paragraph, I did a memory-check search. Sure enough, 8K is 4.97 miles.