Saturday, August 15, 2009

Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon

Distances: marathon, 13.32 mi
http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/index.htm
Pikes Peak Ascent is a butt-kicker and an education. The Ascent starts in Manitou Springs, CO and finishes on the 14,115 ft-high summit of Pikes Peak --a vertical gain of 7815 feet. The Marathon is out and back --or more to the point --up and down. Both races draw participants from all over the country and the globe. The Ascent starts in two "waves:" the first for more competitive racers and the second, 30 minutes later, for everyone else. Qualifying times from past races are required to get in. The course, except for the short stretch through town, lies on a trail that gradually becomes more narrow and rocky as the hours go by.
It's a first-rate event with a 54 year history and a lot of extra-curricular events. The course itself has many aid stations with water and Gatorade, though most racers also carry their own hydration. Food is available at a couple of the aid stations and free beer was offered just a few yards from the summit (!) and again after touching down back in Manitou. Sweat bags are available for Ascent runners to send dry clothes to the summit. The volunteers were extremely boisterous and enthusiastic, which I appreciated toward the end of my race. You don't get anything for entering, but a finisher's medal and a very nice jacket await you at the top if you beat the cut-off times. Views from the course are unrivaled but along with that often comes severe weather. In the past there have been lighting strikes, large hail, and even a blizzard that forced a mid-race cancellation and resulted in several cases of hypothermia. It is strongly recommended that all racers carry additional clothing to put on during the race.
The average grade is about 11%, so most middle- and back-of-the-pack runners will find this a power hike. But even that can become a faint hope if your race turns into the legendary "death march" for the last miles because you started too fast despite all the warnings not to. (That was my Pikes Peak experience and I was lucky to finish.) It would have been cool to see the winners; they're world class. I was impressed by many of the older (70's!) athletes who were all business and showed humbling strength.
****reviewed by a guest reviewer****

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