20k | Colorado Running Hall of Fame

photo: jkrunning.de

Arturo Barrios rose to fame in the early ’80s setting his first world record in 1986 in the 10,000m road race. 1987 saw Barrios set the world record for the four-mile road race. Between 1987 and 1990, Arturo won the San Francisco Bay to Breakers race, considered the largest footrace in the world, four consecutive times. Arturo competed in the 1988 Olympic games, placing fifth in the 10,000m. In 1989 he broke the world record for the 10,000m track race by over five seconds with a time of 27:08:32. Arturo continued his remarkable running in 1991 when he set a new world record in the 20,000m on a track at 56:55:06. During that race, Barrios also became the first man to run a half marathon in less than an hour. The following year, Barrios returned to the Olympics in Barcelona to compete in the 10,000m and placed fifth. The Mexican National record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m, Barrios is still active in the running community.

photo: Getty

photo: Kit Williams

Ellen Hart is a former world-class runner and lawyer. She competed in the 1980 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m, finishing third, the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials marathon, and held the U.S. record for the 30K and the world’s best time for the 20K. She has since obtained a law degree and practiced law, co-founded the Eating Disorders Foundation, served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, served as a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and was married to former Denver Mayor Federico Peña. She was the subject of a made-for-television movie about her life, Dying to Be Perfect: the Ellen Hart Pena Story, which chronicled her battle with anorexia and bulimia. She has made an unprecedented comeback in the highly competitive world of marathons and triathlons. At 50, she finished first in her age division in the Clearwater Half Ironman Tournament. Since moving from runner to triathlete, Hart has easily won or ranked in nearly all the events she has entered, setting new course records in some of the more prestigious events.

photo: Kit Williams