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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 (68 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]

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  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.[14]

Year Country Man Time Country Woman Time
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 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. ^ a b c d e f g "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. ^ a b "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.
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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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