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Pikes Peak Marathon

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Coordinates: 38°50′26″N 105°02′39″W / 38.8405322°N 105.0442048°W / 38.8405322; -105.0442048
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Pikes Peak Marathon
DateSeptember
LocationManitou Springs, Colorado, United States
Event typeRoad and trail
DistanceMarathon and half-marathon
Established1956 (69 years ago) (1956)
Course recordsAscent: 2:00:20 (M), 2:24:58 (F); Marathon: 3:16:39 (M), 4:02:45 (F)[1]
Official sitewww.pikespeakmarathon.org
Participants1354 finishers (Ascent) (2023)
616 finishers (Marathon) (2023)[1]

The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon is a trail running competition that begins at the base of Pikes Peak, in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and climbs over 7,815 feet (2382 m) to the top of the 14,115 foot (4302 m) peak. Since 1956, the event takes place each year in late summer, with the Ascent taking place on Saturday (slightly longer than a half-marathon, at 13.3 miles), and the round-trip marathon on Sunday.

History

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Matt Carpenter, 42, approaching the summit of Pikes Peak during the 2006 Pikes Peak Marathon. Carpenter reached the summit in 2:08:27 on his way to a 3:33:07 win in the Marathon.

On August 10, 1956, Dr. Arne Suominen of Del Ray Beach, Fla., challenged smokers and nonsmokers to race up and down Pikes Peak, a 26-mile (42 km) race, in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the discovery of America's most famous mountain by Zebulon Montgomery Pike. He enlisted 58-year-old real-estate salesman and holistic-lifestyle practitioner Rudy Fahl as the race director. The 56-year-old Suominen, a Finnish former marathon champion and outspoken critic of tobacco, wanted to prove that smoking diminished one's physical endurance. Of the 13 runners that accepted the challenge, only three were smokers. Lou Wille, champion of two Pikes Peak races in the late 1930s and a two-pack-a-day smoker, was likely to be the biggest threat to Suominen's hypothesis. . . .[2]

Although he had beaten Suominen to the summit, Wille was disqualified for not finishing the race. In fact none of the smokers completed the round trip. "I think I've proven my point," Suominen said afterwards. "I finished the race and none of the smokers did." . . .[2]

It was widely rumored that Jecker's motivation came from an American Tobacco Association offer to reward a victorious smoker with a tidy sum of $20,000.[2]

The Pikes Peak Marathon was the first American marathon to allow female competitors, allowing them from the beginning of the marathon in 1956, although no woman entered until 1958.[3] In 1959, Arlene Pieper became the first woman to officially finish a marathon in the United States when she finished the Pikes Peak Marathon.[3] Her daughter, Kathie, aged 9, became the youngest competitor at that time to finish the race to the summit; however, she did not finish the whole marathon.[4][5]

In 1966 a well-organized marathon was initiated, making the race the third-oldest marathon in the United States.[6] In 1980 a good friend Rudy Faul and fellow runner Carl McDaniel took over as race director; he served as director until 1998 and was named director emeritus in 1999 until his death on August 23, 1999, only one day after the race was held that year.

The Pikes Peak Ascent race has twice incorporated the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge competition, first in 2006 then again in 2010.[7][8]

The 2020 edition of the ascent was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants given the option of either transferring their entry to 2021,[a] obtaining a partial refund and priority registration for 2021,[b] or obtaining a full refund.[9] At the time the ascent was canceled, the race directors were still hopeful that the marathon could be held, due to the limited number of runners in the marathon and the comparatively lower level of logistics required at the summit, since runners would be making their own way down the mountain.[9] However, registered marathon runners were also given the same options as those registered for the ascent, should they choose to withdraw from the race.[9] Eventually, the race organizers announced that the marathon would be held, with coronavirus considerations, including canceling or paring down related events, requiring masks or other face coverings before and after the race, enforcing social distancing regulations at the start and finish, starting the runners in small waves,[c] and eliminating some aid stations.[11]

Course

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External image
image icon Course map of full marathon in 2020[12]

Because of the nature of the run (dirt trails, rock, and other natural obstacles) and the high altitude, the race is much more difficult than standard 42.195-kilometre (26.219 mi) marathons. Winning times for the marathon are typically just under four hours (compared to elite "flatland" marathon times of just over two hours). Although the average grade of the slope is 11%, some sections are much steeper because the central portion of the race is relatively flat. The initial three miles (5 km) are very steep. The central 7 miles (11 km) start as rolling terrain, but become progressively steeper toward the end. The top 3 miles (4.8 km) are above timberline and require some rock scrambling to reach the summit. Oxygen levels drop progressively as altitude rises, further compounding the uphill ordeal.

Winning race times differ significantly from year to year, often depending on weather and trail conditions. Some races have been associated with hot, dry conditions, and others have been associated with snow and cold at the top of the peak.

The race attracts hundreds of runners for both the ascent and for the round-trip. The USDA Forest Service limits the number of runners to 1,800 for the ascent and 800 for the marathon, and the race registration typically fills in one or two days.

Winners

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Marathon

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The following table shows the official winners of the marathon.[1] Course records are highlighted with green background.

The race was lengthened by 1.1 miles in 1976, so that 7–8 minutes must be added to the pre-1976 times for comparison purposes.[13]

The most successful male and female athletes in the history of the marathon are Matt Carpenter, outright record holder and winner of the marathon on twelve occasions between 1988 and 2011, and Erica Larson, who has won the women's race five times.[1] Carpenter won six times in a row in 2006–2011, as did Steve Gachupin in 1966–1970. Larson won four times in a row in 1999–2002, as did Danelle Ballengee in 1994–1997.[1]

In 2024, the marathon was shortened due to snow and ice.[14] Runners turned around at Barr Camp instead of the peak,[15] which meant the race was shortened by about a third of the typical 26.2 mile distance.[14]

Year Country Man Time Country Woman Time Notes
2024 USA Jonathan Aziz[16] 1:46:10* Sarah Guhl[16] 2:10:55* *2024 race was cut short due to weather[15]
2023 USA Jonathan Aziz 3:43:45 USA Kristina M Mascarenas 4:31:30
2022 USA Jonathan Aziz 3:40:41 USA Kristina M Mascarenas 4:37:31
2021 USA Seth DeMoor 3:36:33 USA Stevie Kremer 4:34:45
2020 USA Seth DeMoor 3:36:31 USA Brittany Charboneau 4:25:21
2019 ESP Kilian Jornet Burgada 3:27:28  SUI Maude Mathys 4:02:41
2018 USA Dakota Jones 3:32:21 USA Megan Kimmel 4:15:06
2017  SUI Rémi Bonnet 3:37:08 USA Kristina Marie Mascarenas 4:38:54
2016 USA Alex Nichols 3:40:29 USA Kim Dobson 4:44:44
2015 USA Alex Nichols 3:46:40 USA Hirut Guangul 4:29:06
2014  SUI Marc Lauenstein 3:37:21 USA Anita M Ortiz 5:00:54
2013 JPN Touru Miyahara 3:43:23 USA Stevie Kremer 4:17:10
2012 ESP Kilian Jornet Burgada 3:40:26 SWE Emelie Forsberg 4:28:07
2011 USA Matt Carpenter 3:48:08 USA JoAnna C Masloski 5:09:38
2010 USA Matt Carpenter 3:51:34 USA Keri A Nelson 4:34:24
2009 USA Matt Carpenter 3:37:02 USA Anita M Ortiz 4:28:20
2008 USA Matt Carpenter 3:36:54 USA Keri A Nelson 4:39:00
2007 USA Matt Carpenter 3:48:41 USA Salynda E Fleury 5:00:42
2006 USA Matt Carpenter 3:33:07 AUS Emma J Murray 4:21:09
2005 ITA Fulvio Dapit 3:58:49 FRA Corinne Favre 4:31:20
2004 USA Galen Burrell 4:00:04 USA Erica Larson 4:28:27
2003 USA Matt Carpenter 3:43:46 UK Angela Mudge 4:19:38
2002 USA Jesse T Rickert 4:10:15 USA Erica Larson 4:41:53
2001 USA Matt Carpenter 3:53:53 USA Erica Larson 4:49:10
2000 USA Stephen D Smalzel 3:54:46 USA Erica Larson 4:50:37
1999 USA Stephen D Smalzel 3:49:09 USA Erica Larson 4:46:01
1998 USA Matt Carpenter 3:44:27 USA Mariko Shirazi 4:54:34
1997 MEX Ricardo Mejía 3:30:55 USA Danelle Ballengee 4:43:46
1996 MEX Ricardo Mejía 3:29:22 USA Danelle Ballengee 4:36:52
1995 MEX Ricardo Mejía 3:21:32 USA Danelle Ballengee 4:38:55
1994 MEX Martin Rodriguez 3:35:04 USA Danelle Ballengee 4:24:38
1993 USA Matt Carpenter 3:16:39 USA Karen E Gorman 4:42:03
1992 MEX Ricardo Mejía 3:24:25 USA Jo H Gathercole 4:44:15
1991 USA Stephen D Smalzel 3:46:43 USA Deborah Wagner 4:45:59
1990 MEX Ricardo Mejía 3:35:03 USA Cylinda Engelman 4:44:18
1989 USA Matt Carpenter 3:39:26 USA Linda Quinlisk 4:41:51
1988 USA Matt Carpenter 3:38:05 USA Linda Quinlisk 4:29:59
1987 USA Sheldon A Larson 3:41:56 USA Gail Ladage Scott 4:26:59
1986 USA Stan W Fox 3:41:57 USA Margie Loyd-Allison 4:55:43
1985 USA Creighton J King 3:39:39 USA Linda Quinlisk 4:37:32
1984 USA Wesley Smith 3:39:00 USA Gail Ladage Scott 4:48:26
1983 USA Creighton J King 3:39:50 USA Margie Loyd-Allison 4:39:59
1982 USA Al Waquie 3:29:53 USA Gabrielle Andersen 4:25:13
1981 USA Al Waquie 3:26:17 USA Lynn Bjorklund 4:15:18
1980 USA Chris G Reveley 3:45:52 USA Linda Quinlisk 4:38:00
1979 USA Chris G Reveley 3:39:08 USA Sue Gladney 4:42:45
1978 USA Ken Young 3:50:44 USA Donna L Messenger 5:08:08
1977 USA Rick Trujillo 3:46:21 USA Ellen O'Connor 5:50:09
1976 USA Rick Trujillo 3:34:15 USA Donna L Messenger 5:05:40
1975 USA Rick Trujillo 3:31:05 USA Joan Ullyut 5:20:21
1974 USA Rick Trujillo 3:36:40 USA Marcia Trent 5:23:10
1973 USA Rick Trujillo 3:39:46 USA Joan Ullyut 5:28:00
1972 USA Chuck Smead 3:44:21 USA Isa C Varela 7:25:00
1971 USA Steve Gachupin 3:46:26 USA Joyce Swannack 7:07:36
1970 USA Steve Gachupin 3:45:52
1969 USA Steve Gachupin 3:44:50
1968 USA Steve Gachupin 3:39:47
1967 USA Steve Gachupin 3:58:51
1966 USA Steve Gachupin 3:57:04
1965 USA John R Rose 3:53:57
1964 USA Donald Lakin 4:03:33
1963 USA John R Rose 4:01:22
1962 USA Robert Mohler 4:10:03
1961 USA Calvin Hansen 4:07:15
1960 USA Calvin Hansen 4:14:25
1959 USA Calvin Hansen 4:20:18 USA Arlene Pieper 9:16:00
1958 USA Calvin Hansen 4:29:40
1957 USA Monte Wolford 5:15:53
1956 USA Monte Wolford 5:39:58

Ascent

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The following table shows the official winners of the Ascent.[1] Course records are highlighted with green background. The longest-standing men's Ascent record (set during the Marathon in 1993 by Matt Carpenter with a time of 2:01:06) was broken after 30 years in the 2023 Ascent by Rémi Bonnet with a time of 2:00:20.

The 2018 Ascent was run on a shortened course of 7.6 miles, finishing at Barr Camp, due to inclement weather being forecast.[17]

Year Country Man Time Country Woman Time
2024 USA Joseph Gray 2:11:13[18] USA Allie McLaughlin[18] 2:45:36
2023  SWI Rémi Bonnet 2:00:20 USA Sophia Laukli 2:35:54
2022  SWI Rémi Bonnet 2:07:02 NED Nienke Frederiek Brinkman 2:27:24
2021 USA Joseph Gray 2:12:38 USA Allie McLaughlin 2:49:40
2020 canceled due to coronavirus pandemic[9]
2019 USA Joseph Gray 2:09:00 USA Kim Dobson 2:41:44
2018 ERI Azerya Tekay Weldemariam 1:06:28 USA Kim Dobson 1:15:51
2017 USA Joseph Gray 2:08:19 USA Serkalem Biset Abrha 2:42:19
2016 USA Joseph Gray 2:05:28 USA Kim Dobson 2:34:39
2015 JPN Touru Miyahara 2:15:42 USA Kim Dobson 2:40:44
2014 USA Sage Canaday 2:10:03 USA Allie McLaughlin 2:33:42
2013 USA Eric Blake 2:13:45 USA Kim Dobson 2:41:43
2012 USA Jason Delaney 2:13:18 USA Kim Dobson 2:24:58
2011 USA Mario Macias 2:08:57 USA Kim Dobson 2:34:07
2010 USA Glenn Randall 2:09:28 USA Brandy Erholtz 2:41:38
2009 USA Tim Parr 2:12:32 USA Megan Kimmel 2:40:16
2008 USA Simon Gutierrez 2:18:09 USA Brandy Erholtz 2:41:26
2007 USA Matt Carpenter 2:12:56 USA Maria Portilla 2:35:46
2006 USA Simon Gutierrez 2:18:06 USA Lisa Goldsmith 2:46:07
2005 USA Ryan Hafer 2:21:30 USA Lisa Goldsmith 2:50:02
2004 USA Scott Elliott 2:23:31 USA Anita Ortiz 2:44:58
2003 USA Simon Gutierrez 2:13:29 USA Anita Ortiz 2:52:11
2002 USA Matt Carpenter 2:23:22 USA Anita Ortiz 2:44:33
2001 USA Matt Carpenter 2:16:13 USA Anita Ortiz 2:47:09
2000 USA Scott Elliott 2:16:00 USA Cindy O'Neill 2:50:52
1999 USA Jeremy Wright 2:18:32 USA Cindy O'Neill 2:45:17
1998 USA Jeremy Wright 2:26:48 USA Cindy O'Neill 2:45:11
1997 USA Matt Carpenter 2:10:41 USA Kirsten Ames 2:46:43
1996 MEX Martin Rodriguez 2:11:11 USA Marti Cooksey 2:50:11
1995 USA Michael Tobin 2:12:03 USA Marie Boyd 2:44:36
1994 USA Matt Carpenter 2:09:35 USA Marie Boyd 2:38:22
1993 USA Scott Elliott 2:13:39 USA J'ne Day-Lucore 2:43:51
1992 USA Scott Elliott 2:11:11 USA J'ne Day-Lucore 2:48:28
1991 USA Scott Elliott 2:11:58 USA Allison Shayne 2:48:36
1990 USA Matt Carpenter 2:07:36 USA J'ne Day-Lucore 2:44:40
1989 USA Scott Elliott 2:06:47 USA J'ne Day-Lucore 2:37:35
1988 USA Scott Elliott 2:11:10 USA Lynn Brown 2:48:39
1987 USA Scott Elliott 2:09:33 USA Christine Maisto 2:39:01
1986 USA Chester Carl 2:10:54 USA Judy Chamberlin 2:52:11
1985 USA Al Waquie 2:10:06 USA Judy Chamberlin 2:41:25
1984 USA Chester Carl 2:13:25 USA Judy Chamberlin 2:49:31
1983 USA Chester Carl 2:12:54 USA Lize Brittin 2:39:44
1982 USA Ron McCurley 2:17:18 USA Diane Israel 2:47:32
1981 USA Pat Porter 2:12:35 USA Joyce Rankin 3:09:15
1980 USA Lynn Bjorklund 2:41:06
1979
1978 USA Marti Cooksey 2:46:44
1977 USA David Casillas 2:12:24 USA Donna Messenger 3:11:15
1976 USA Chuck Smead 2:05:22 USA Lynn Bjorklund 2:44:47
1975 USA Donna Messenger 3:02:24
1974 USA Chuck Smead 2:09:59 USA Donna Messenger 23:04:54
1973
1972 USA Donna Messenger 3:28:26
1971
1970 USA Pamela Schmidt 7:21:00
1969
1968
1967
1966
1965
1964 USA Mary Felts 3:52:15
1963 USA Mary Felts 4:05:00
1962 USA Mary Felts 4:15:29
1961 USA Kathleen Bernard 4:42:24
1960
1959 USA Katherine Heard-Fahl 5:17:52
1936 USA Lou Wille 3:00:55 USA Agnes Nellesen 6:42:00

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ With this option, qualifying times for 2020 would be honored for 2021.[9]
  2. ^ With this option, half of the entry fee would be refunded, and the other half donated to Rocky Mountain Field Institute and the El Paso County Search and Rescue.[9] In addition, prices and qualifying times for 2020 would be honored for 2021.[10][9]
  3. ^ Runners usually started in waves of about 100 runners.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Pikes Peak Ascent & Marathon Results, Records & Statistics". Pikes Peak Marathon.
  2. ^ a b c Galvin, J. III (August 2006), "Peak Experience", Runner's World, 41 (8): 94
  3. ^ a b "The mystique of Pikes Peak". Pikes Peak Marathon. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  4. ^ "The Big Race". Arlene Pieper. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  5. ^ "1959 Pikes Peak Marathon". Pikes Peak Marathon. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  6. ^ "Oldest marathons in the United States". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  7. ^ Hughes, Danny (2006-08-21). Carpenter, Murray Victorious at WMRA Challenge at Pikes Peak. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-06-23.
  8. ^ Bruno Gozzelino and Nancy Hobbs. Triumph of USA athletes at 7th World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge in Colorado Springs. WMRA. Retrieved on 2011-06-23.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ "Pikes Peak Ascent". Archived from the original on May 29, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon: Course Info". Archived from the original on February 4, 2015.
  13. ^ "1975 Pikes Peak Marathon". Pikes Peak Marathon. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  14. ^ a b Stafford, Mackenzie (September 22, 2024). "'It was intense': Pikes Peak Marathon shortened due to weather concerns". KRDO. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Weather impacts the Pikes Peak Marathon on Sunday, here are the winners". KOAA News 5. September 23, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Johnson, Hugh (September 22, 2024). "Results from 2024 Pikes Peak Marathon". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  17. ^ The Gazette: Pikes Peak Ascent Shortened because of Weather.
  18. ^ a b HILL, MARCUS (September 21, 2024). "Here are the results for the 2024 Pikes Peak Ascent in Colorado". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
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38°50′26″N 105°02′39″W / 38.8405322°N 105.0442048°W / 38.8405322; -105.0442048

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