The men's 5 miles race was held at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.

36 runners from 14 nations competed; seven from Great Britain, five from Sweden, four each from the United States, Canada and the Netherlands, two each from Denmark, France and Australasia, and one each from Hungary, South Africa, Greece, Germany, Bohemia and Italy.

There were six preliminary heats, with the winner and the four runners-up with the best time advancing to the final.

Hefferon led for about half the race before Svanberg passed him.

Fitzgerald, Murphy, Owen, Svanberg, Hefferon, and Voigt led at various times during the final.