Pikes Peak Marathon
DateSeptember
LocationManitou Springs, Colorado, United States
Event typeRoad and trail
DistanceMarathon and half-marathon
Established1956 (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

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,[lower-alpha 1] obtaining a partial refund and priority registration for 2021,[lower-alpha 2] 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,[lower-alpha 3] and eliminating some aid stations.[11]

Course

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

Marathon

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]

Year Country Man Time Country Woman Time
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 USASeth DeMoor3:36:33 USAStevie Kremer4:34:45
2020 USASeth DeMoor3:36:31 USABrittany Charboneau4:25:21
2019 ESPKilian Jornet Burgada3:27:28  SUIMaude Mathys4:02:41
2018 USADakota Jones3:32:21 USAMegan Kimmel4:15:06
2017  SUIRémi Bonnet3:37:08 USAKristina Marie Mascarenas4:38:54
2016 USAAlex Nichols3:40:29 USAKim Dobson4:44:44
2015 USAAlex Nichols3:46:40 USAHirut Guangul4:29:06
2014  SUIMarc Lauenstein3:37:21 USAAnita M Ortiz5:00:54
2013 JPNTouru Miyahara3:43:23 USAStevie Kremer4:17:10
2012 ESPKilian Jornet Burgada3:40:26 SWEEmelie Forsberg4:28:07
2011 USAMatt Carpenter3:48:08 USAJoAnna C Masloski5:09:38
2010 USAMatt Carpenter3:51:34 USAKeri A Nelson4:34:24
2009 USAMatt Carpenter3:37:02 USAAnita M Ortiz4:28:20
2008 USAMatt Carpenter3:36:54 USAKeri A Nelson4:39:00
2007 USAMatt Carpenter3:48:41 USASalynda E Fleury5:00:42
2006 USAMatt Carpenter3:33:07 AUSEmma J Murray4:21:09
2005 ITAFulvio Dapit3:58:49 FRACorinne Favre4:31:20
2004 USAGalen Burrell4:00:04 USAErica Larson4:28:27
2003 USAMatt Carpenter3:43:46 UKAngela Mudge4:19:38
2002 USAJesse T Rickert4:10:15 USAErica Larson4:41:53
2001 USAMatt Carpenter3:53:53 USAErica Larson4:49:10
2000 USAStephen D Smalzel3:54:46 USAErica Larson4:50:37
1999 USAStephen D Smalzel3:49:09 USAErica Larson4:46:01
1998 USAMatt Carpenter3:44:27 USAMariko Shirazi4:54:34
1997 MEXRicardo Mejía3:30:55 USADanelle Ballengee4:43:46
1996 MEXRicardo Mejía3:29:22 USADanelle Ballengee4:36:52
1995 MEXRicardo Mejía3:21:32 USADanelle Ballengee4:38:55
1994 MEXMartin Rodriguez3:35:04 USADanelle Ballengee4:24:38
1993 USAMatt Carpenter3:16:39 USAKaren E Gorman4:42:03
1992 MEXRicardo Mejía3:24:25 USAJo H Gathercole4:44:15
1991 USAStephen D Smalzel3:46:43 USADeborah Wagner4:45:59
1990 MEXRicardo Mejía3:35:03 USACylinda Engelman4:44:18
1989 USAMatt Carpenter3:39:26 USALinda Quinlisk4:41:51
1988 USAMatt Carpenter3:38:05 USALinda Quinlisk4:29:59
1987 USASheldon A Larson3:41:56 USAGail Ladage Scott4:26:59
1986 USAStan W Fox3:41:57 USAMargie Loyd-Allison4:55:43
1985 USACreighton J King3:39:39 USALinda Quinlisk4:37:32
1984 USAWesley Smith3:39:00 USAGail Ladage Scott4:48:26
1983 USACreighton J King3:39:50 USAMargie Loyd-Allison4:39:59
1982 USAAl Waquie3:29:53 USAGabrielle Andersen4:25:13
1981 USAAl Waquie3:26:17 USALynn Bjorklund4:15:18
1980 USAChris G Reveley3:45:52 USALinda Quinlisk4:38:00
1979 USAChris G Reveley3:39:08 USASue Gladney4:42:45
1978 USAKen Young3:50:44 USADonna L Messenger5:08:08
1977 USARick Trujillo3:46:21 USAEllen O'Connor5:50:09
1976 USARick Trujillo3:34:15 USADonna L Messenger5:05:40
1975 USARick Trujillo3:31:05 USAJoan Ullyut5:20:21
1974 USARick Trujillo3:36:40 USAMarcia Trent5:23:10
1973 USARick Trujillo3:39:46 USAJoan Ullyut5:28:00
1972 USAChuck Smead3:44:21 USAIsa C Varela7:25:00
1971 USASteve Gachupin3:46:26 USAJoyce Swannack7:07:36
1970 USASteve Gachupin3:45:52
1969 USASteve Gachupin3:44:50
1968 USASteve Gachupin3:39:47
1967 USASteve Gachupin3:58:51
1966 USASteve Gachupin3:57:04
1965 USAJohn R Rose3:53:57
1964 USADonald Lakin4:03:33
1963 USAJohn R Rose4:01:22
1962 USARobert Mohler4:10:03
1961 USACalvin Hansen4:07:15
1960 USACalvin Hansen4:14:25
1959 USACalvin Hansen4:20:18 USAArlene Pieper9:16:00
1958 USACalvin Hansen4:29:40
1957 USAMonte Wolford5:15:53
1956 USAMonte Wolford5:39:58

Ascent

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.[14]

Year Country Man Time Country Woman Time
2023  SWIRémi Bonnet2:00:20 USASophia Laukli2:35:54
2022  SWIRémi Bonnet2:07:02  SWINienke Frederiek Brinkman2:27:24
2021 USAJoseph Gray2:12:38 USAAllie McLaughlin2:49:40
2020canceled due to coronavirus pandemic[9]
2019 USAJoseph Gray2:09:00 USAKim Dobson2:41:44
2018 ERIAzerya Tekay Weldemariam1:06:28 USAKim Dobson1:15:51
2017 USAJoseph Gray2:08:19 USASerkalem Biset Abrha2:42:19
2016 USAJoseph Gray2:05:28 USAKim Dobson2:34:39
2015 JPNTouru Miyahara2:15:42 USAKim Dobson2:40:44
2014 USASage Canaday2:10:03 USAAllie McLaughlin2:33:42
2013 USAEric Blake2:13:45 USAKim Dobson2:41:43
2012 USAJason Delaney2:13:18 USAKim Dobson2:24:58
2011 USAMario Macias2:08:57 USAKim Dobson2:34:07
2010 USAGlenn Randall2:09:28 USABrandy Erholtz2:41:38
2009 USATim Parr2:12:32 USAMegan Kimmel2:40:16
2008 USASimon Gutierrez2:18:09 USABrandy Erholtz2:41:26
2007 USAMatt Carpenter2:12:56 USAMaria Portilla2:35:46
2006 USASimon Gutierrez2:18:06 USALisa Goldsmith2:46:07
2005 USARyan Hafer2:21:30 USALisa Goldsmith2:50:02
2004 USAScott Elliott2:23:31 USAAnita Ortiz2:44:58
2003 USASimon Gutierrez2:13:29 USAAnita Ortiz2:52:11
2002 USAMatt Carpenter2:23:22 USAAnita Ortiz2:44:33
2001 USAMatt Carpenter2:16:13 USAAnita Ortiz2:47:09
2000 USAScott Elliott2:16:00 USACindy O'Neill2:50:52
1999 USAJeremy Wright2:18:32 USACindy O'Neill2:45:17
1998 USAJeremy Wright2:26:48 USACindy O'Neill2:45:11
1997 USAMatt Carpenter2:10:41 USAKirsten Ames2:46:43
1996 MEXMartin Rodriguez2:11:11 USAMarti Cooksey2:50:11
1995 USAMichael Tobin2:12:03 USAMarie Boyd2:44:36
1994 USAMatt Carpenter2:09:35 USAMarie Boyd2:38:22
1993 USAScott Elliott2:13:39 USAJ'ne Day-Lucore2:43:51
1992 USAScott Elliott2:11:11 USAJ'ne Day-Lucore2:48:28
1991 USAScott Elliott2:11:58 USAAllison Shayne2:48:36
1990 USAMatt Carpenter2:07:36 USAJ'ne Day-Lucore2:44:40
1989 USAScott Elliott2:06:47 USAJ'ne Day-Lucore2:37:35
1988 USAScott Elliott2:11:10 USALynn Brown2:48:39
1987 USAScott Elliott2:09:33 USAChristine Maisto2:39:01
1986 USAChester Carl2:10:54 USAJudy Chamberlin2:52:11
1985 USAAl Waquie2:10:06 USAJudy Chamberlin2:41:25
1984 USAChester Carl2:13:25 USAJudy Chamberlin2:49:31
1983 USAChester Carl2:12:54 USALize Brittin2:39:44
1982 USARon McCurley2:17:18 USADiane Israel2:47:32
1981 USAPat Porter2:12:35 USAJoyce Rankin3:09:15
1980 USALynn Bjorklund2:41:06
1979
1978 USAMarti Cooksey2:46:44
1977 USADavid Casillas2:12:24 USADonna Messenger3:11:15
1976 USAChuck Smead2:05:22 USALynn Bjorklund2:44:47
1975 USADonna Messenger3:02:24
1974 USAChuck Smead2:09:59 USADonna Messenger23:04:54
1973
1972 USADonna Messenger3:28:26
1971
1970 USAPamela Schmidt7:21:00
1969
1968
1967
1966
1965
1964 USAMary Felts3:52:15
1963 USAMary Felts4:05:00
1962 USAMary Felts4:15:29
1961 USAKathleen Bernard4:42:24
1960
1959 USAKatherine Heard-Fahl5:17:52
1936 USALou Wille3:00:55 USAAgnes Nellesen6:42:00

See also

Notes

  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

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Pikes Peak Ascent & Marathon Results, Records & Statistics". Pikes Peak Marathon.
  2. 1 2 3 Galvin, J. III (August 2006), "Peak Experience", Runner's World, 41 (8): 94
  3. 1 2 "The mystique of Pikes Peak". Pikes Peak Marathon. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Big Race". Arlene Pieper. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "1959 Pikes Peak Marathon". Pikes Peak Marathon. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Oldest marathons in the United States". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 22 May 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2020-05-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ↑ "Pikes Peak Ascent". Archived from the original on 2020-05-29.
  11. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2020-06-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ "Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon: Course Info". Archived from the original on 2015-02-04.
  13. ↑ "1975 Pikes Peak Marathon". Pikes Peak Marathon. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  14. ↑ The Gazette: Pikes Peak Ascent Shortened because of Weather.

38°50′26″N 105°02′39″W / 38.8405322°N 105.0442048°W / 38.8405322; -105.0442048

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