Early Years
Dan King’s running journey began during the track season of his junior year of high school, where he quickly developed into one of Colorado’s top two-milers. That early success gave him the confidence to walk on at CU Boulder, where he earned varsity letters in both cross country and track.
Running as a Masters Athlete (M50, M55)
His competitive fire reignited as a masters. After turning 50, Dan surprised even himself by winning the M50 gold medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Sacramento in 2011. As an M55, he claimed his first USATF National Cross Country Championship and his first USATF National Club Cross Country Championship — both in 2015 — and added a bronze medal in the 5000m at the World Track & Field Championships that same year.
After Turning 60: World-Class Masters Running
It is in his 60s, however, that Dan has truly distinguished himself as one of the finest masters runners in the world. He made history as the first person over 60 to break the 4:50 barrier in the mile, setting a world record in the process, and has gone on to set 16 USATF national age group records across the M60 and M65 divisions.
M60 Records
Road Mile 4:59.7
Mile (outdoor) 4:51.4
3000m (outdoor) 9:57.7
5000m (outdoor) 16:48.7
15K 54:30
10 Mile 58:36
1 Hour Run 16,455m
M65 Records
Road Mile 5:10.0
Mile (outdoor) 5:04.5
Mile (indoor) 5:09.5
1500m (outdoor) 4:43.5
1500m (indoor) 4:48.2
3000m (outdoor) 10:08.9
3000m (indoor) 10:24.5
5000m (outdoor) 17:38.9
10,000m (outdoor) 36:15.7
His dominance in cross country has been equally remarkable. Since turning 60, Dan has recorded podium finishes in all 12 national and world cross country championship events he has entered, capturing 8 gold medals along the way. He is the reigning WMA M65 8K Cross Country champion and the reigning WMA M65 1500m champion. Dan closed 2025 as the #1 ranked M65 athlete in the world in five track and field events — the indoor and outdoor mile, 3000m, 5000m, and 10,000m — a testament to his extraordinary consistency and longevity at the highest levels of masters competition. He was recently recognized by USATF Masters as 2025 National Middle Distance Athlete of the Year and National Distance Athlete of the Year.