48-year-old Ogden runner breaking world records

48-year-old Ogden runner breaking world records

(Courtesy Brad Barton)


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OGDEN — On July 9, 48-year-old Ogden resident Brad Barton stood on the starting line of the Olympia High School track in Chula Vista, California, about to attempt something few his age have ever done: to break a world record.

Barton, a former track athlete and All-American at Weber State University, dedicated years of his life in an effort to make the 1992 Olympic team. But after a hard fall in the water barrier during the Olympic trials of the 3,000- meter steeplechase, Barton saw his dreams slip away.

He was devastated.

Life did go on, however, for the college athlete. He married his college sweetheart and teammate, Alydia. The two went on to have five children, who followed in the footprints of their parents. While the couple enjoyed casual running, they mostly enjoyed watching their children compete in the sport they both loved.

It was while at an indoor track meet, watching his son compete, when the fire to start racing was rekindled.

“I remember watching a bunch of old men running on the track. I asked my wife — who is the coach at Ogden High School — what that race was. She told me that it was the Coach’s Mile. It was then that I thought, ‘I should do this. … No, I must do this.’”


I remember watching a bunch of old men running on the track. I asked my wife — who is the coach at Ogden High School — what that race was. She told me that it was the Coach's Mile. It was then that I thought, 'I should do this. … No, I must do this.'

–Brad Barton


Barton, who is also a public speaker, spreading the message of positive thinking and action, decided it was important he did the same in his own life.

After two years of hard training, but with little success, Barton decided to call his former Weber State University track coach, who is also former assistant track coach for the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, Chick Hislop for help.

“Brad and I talked about coming out of retirement to see if we could break some (USA Track & Field) Masters' age group world records,” Hislop said.

Break records they did.

In March 2013, Barton claimed the Masters 45-49 age group indoor mile world record with a time of 4 minutes, 16.83 seconds, beating many college athletes in the process. He then went on to break Hal Higdon’s 40-yearold steeplechase American record by 17 seconds, clocking 9 minutes, 22 seconds, and then breaking his own record three weeks later, running a 9 minutes, 17.59 seconds — only 1.5 seconds shy of the world record.

Barton’s streak didn’t end there.

In March of this year he went on to break the 3000-meter Masters Indoor world record in 8 minutes, 26.15 seconds, which was also the fastest 3K ever run by a human being over 45 years of age. And this past June, in a final attempt to break the 30- year-old Masters WR in the steeplechase, Barton shattered the record by 10 seconds, with a time of 9 minutes, 6.68 seconds.

With sights set on yet another Masters record, Barton looked to friend and three-time All-American runner Darren Brown to help him break the outdoor mile record for his age group.

Friend and pacer, Darren Brown brings Brad 
Barton through right on pace at the 800 M at 
2:08. during Barton's most recent WR attempt.
Friend and pacer, Darren Brown brings Brad Barton through right on pace at the 800 M at 2:08. during Barton's most recent WR attempt. (Photo: Courtesy Brad Barton)

Traveling to Chula Vista, California, for the race, Barton was confident. He would need to break 4 minutes, 16.09 seconds to claim the record. After coming through right on pace, behind Brown, Barton took off a little too fast the last lap, making for a difficult finish.

Barton came in at 4 minutes, 17.54 seconds, barely missing the world record time, but setting another record: the oldest man to go under 4:20 in the mile.

“I have no regret on the effort I made. My only regret is that I didn’t run a little smarter,” Barton said of his world recording-breaking attempt.

When asked if he will attempt the record again, Barton joked that he is excited to be entering a new age bracket — with new records to break.

Looking forward to the coming years, Barton is excited to continue with new challenges and accomplishments. “Who decides when it’s too late to live your dreams? … With the right opportunity, a strong support team and a willing heart, we can all recapture goals we thought were dead and gone,” Barton said.

Barton gives credit to his encouraging family, amazing support team and numerous corporate sponsors, especially Get Air Sports, skin care manufacturer ASEA and Get Away Today Vacations.


Arianne Brown is a mother of six who loves running the beautiful trails around Utah. For more articles by her, like her Facebook page or visit her blogs, timetofititin.com or thestoriesofyourlife.wordpress.com.

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