20,000 metres

The 20,000 metres (approximately 12.43 mi or 65,617 ft) is a rarely contested long-distance running event in track and field competitions; most world records in the event have been set during half marathons and one-hour races, as a half marathon is roughly 21,000 meters.

World Records
+ = indicates a time was taken at an intermediate distance in a longer race

Men

 * Prague Half Marathon 2013 - leading group crossing Čechův most 02.JPG in the lead pack of the 2013 Prague Half Marathon]]Updated January 2024.

Women

 * Correct as of January 2024.

All-time top 25

 * + = en route to longer performance
 * h = hand timed

Men

 * Updated September 2022.

Women

 * Updated September 2022.

In popular culture
Tegla Loroupe's 20,000 meter world record was mentioned in Chapter 1, problem 64P of Chemistry (Seventh Edition)  by John E. McMurry, Robert C. Fay, and Jill Kirsten Robinson.