Pikes Peak Marathon + Ascent - Race Reviews

I wish I could train more but I live in the desert now. Love this race, the people and the trail is just the best. Weather is always different and it presents a real life challenge.

The good: If you're looking for a challenge...this is it! This was my 50th marathon and was the most difficult by far. I've run hilly marathons before (Boston, San Francisco, Athens) but nothing could prepare me for this. It took all the strength I could muster to finish, but I'm glad I stuck it out. The organizers did a great job with the aid stations too. They were well-stocked with flat coke, grapes, M&M's, pretzels, etc... And the volunteers were awesome too. Manitou Springs is a very cool town, and the post-race street party was a great way to recover after the race. The bad: I'm not sure how a marathon could miss this...but they did not have any photographers at the finish line! Are you kidding me?!?! I just tortured myself for 8 hours finishing the toughest race of my life, and I don't even have a picture of me crossing the finish line. To make it worse, I brought my kids with me and they ran across the finish line with me...what a priceless memory that I don't even have a picture of. Ridiculous! Even 5K's have photographers at the finish line. And they didn't have a photographer at the summit either. So after busting my balls to get to the summit...there's no picture to capture the accomplishment. And then I make my way to the finish and cross the line with my kids...and no picture. HUGE LET DOWN! Overall this is a good race to do if you're up for the challenge, but I find it absolutely ridiculous regarding the lack of pictures.

I'm local, so my view of this race is inherently biased. I trained on-course at least 2 to 3 times weekly from November the previous year right until the race. I wouldn't recommend anything less, and for flatlanders: hills, or an inclined treadmill. Don't worry about altitude but DO train on an incline. My Ascent time was roughly 30 mins faster than my flat marathon PR. But in general, a person can estimate their finish time by adding 30 mins to their marathon time for the uphill, and then add another 67% of the uphill time for the downhill. If you can take your eyes off the trail for a few, you'll have an amazing view from the top!! The course director and support was superior to any other marathon I have done. Delicious food at the end. If you are dedicated and want to experience a unique opportunity, this is the race.

I didn't really know what I was getting into when I signed up, and I'm glad I didn't or might not have done it! That being said, I'm glad I did. I read many blogs and posts, though, before I did it, and the best advice I gleaned & applied was 1.) wear gloves, esp. on the descent & regardless of weather because you almost certainly will fall and 2.) do not go out too far ahead of time. I live in NC, basically at sea level, & had no chance to adjust to altitude but had little to no trouble because I arrived in CO 3 days before the race. BIGGEST mistake I made: NOT wearing trail shoes. I don't run trails usually & haven't ever raced a trail marathon so had no idea how much it mattered. It does. Buy trail shoes. We got lucky with mostly good weather & the tank top & shorts I wore worked fine for the whole course. Other mistake: on the descent, I shouldn't even have attempted to run until I got off the boulders & below tree line. It's an injury waiting to happen unless you're a nimble & experienced trail runner. People were super nice but spectators few. I didn't care for the aid station food - found the Justin's PB that I brought was the best thing but messy & hard to eat while racing. ALSO super glad for my Flipbelt which held my food & gloves. My descent time, statistically, was 30 mins slower than it should have been, because the descent was actually MUCH harder (scary!) than the ascent. I could have been in better shape before the race, but given the technicality of the course, I'm not sure how much better I could have done w/o being able to train on the course itself. It was skill/fearlessness (or lack thereof) rather than lack of fitness that held me back in the end. I'm glad I did this & might consider doing it again  my hesitation is that the course is actually dangerous & potentially a source of serious injury if you hope to go out and actually *race* it rather than just finish it. The 'take your flat marathon and add 30 mins to the finish time for the ascent' worked out 100% accurately for me, based on the June marathon time I had. I wasn't in PR shape but not sure that would have made a difference. I'm still working through my feelings about this race and course, but I definitely don't regret the experience & I feel pretty bad a** for having done it  and finishing 2nd in my age group. Just make sure you have the right gear; right fuel; & right expectations.

By a long shot, the hardest thing I've tackled. I am a road runner mostly. A little late in life to get mountain goat lessons! It's about the trail . . . but no one told me: It's about the trail! Don't worry about altitude, it's about the trail! Think I'll do it again!

I was more exhausted after this race than I was from Ironman Arizona. As I learned the hard way, training on a treadmill at incline=15 is helpful, but not enough. The trail is not all smooth like a treadmill belt. There are many, many spots in which you have to climb over rocks, roots, old railroad ties etc.. If you are a lowlander throw in some stairmaster training as well

What a great race.. The web site does a great job and letting you know this race is not for Sissies. This is a trail race and you should prepare for that, if you come from flat lands like i do i am not sure there is anyway to prepare for the elavation, just know that it will probabaly take you marathon time plus 30 minutes just to climb

I just did the race on Sunday so this is very fresh in my mind. I am from Ohio to give you a flat landers perspective. This is a race you do to challenge yourself after you have done at least 4-5 marathons. I did lots of hill repeats and long walks on the treadmill at 15% at a 15-13 min pace. You will walk 80% on the ascent because there is little room to run! This is a trail course and I wish I would have done more especially for the way down,lots of rocks ,gravel,uneven ground ,trees roots. Gaiters would help with the stones, I had to stop 4-5 times to get them out. Weather was great and the coolness at the top felt good, this is not always the case. Speaking of altitude, it didn't seem that bad,maybe cuz you'r walking and standing while other runners are coming down, this will slow you down. I was told no matter how bad you feel at the top turn around and you will feel better and that was the case. It is very difficult coming down , so you have to be carefull with twisted ankles etc. My ascent time was 4:52 and finished at 8:03. My last flatland marathon in April was 4:10 to give you an idea. If you put in the time with run /walk and do the hill repeats this is doable. I'm thinking about doing the double next year!

After running my first PPM, I made a few suggestions to the race organizers to change the course description and to add a trail marathon as a qualification. Perhaps my suggestions will eventually be considered. Sometimes it's good to step out of the box for a look from the outside in. That said, I write this from a constructive viewpoint in hopes that 1) naïve people running PPM for the first time (like me) won't get injured and 2) that first-timers have a realistic chance to finish inside of ten hours to earn their finisher's shirt and medal. Even though I'm a 3:45 to 4:15 marathoner on paved marathon courses, I consider myself lucky to have finished PPM in under ten hours. I would have been really disappointed to have finished in 10:01 and not received a medal. Rules are rules, which is fine. But be aware that you will receive neither a finisher's shirt nor a marathon medal if you finish outside of ten hours. Period. I again politely suggest that the organizers reword their description of the Barr trail. It now reads The trail is often narrow, winding, and may be gravel, rocks or dirt with sharp turns and abrupt changes in elevation or direction. However, there are no exposed ledges so there is no danger of falling off the trail! & The footing, or surface, of the trail does vary. In the forested sections it is primarily decomposed rock with a mixture of dirt and loose gravel on the surface with the occasional root or rock protrusion. Above treeline (that is, above the A-frame shelter) the trail is primarily loose gravel with one short section of broken rock. While this is mostly accurate, there are two significant omissions. First, there is ALMOST CONSTANT danger in falling off the trail - down either into rocks, granite boulders, or into sharp points of tree limbs on the many burned out pines. Many, many places would allow a fall of 10 to 50 yards - with the potential of serious injury. No, you won't fall off the proverbial cliff but you can get hurt. Secondly, the trail in the forest does not have the 'occasional tree root,' it has countless tree roots and many little rocks which can be hidden by the shadows. Trip on one of those and you could break your arm or leg or worse. Just ask the second place male finisher who tripped when, as he said, he lost his focus towards the end of the race. Result: bloody gashes. People are warned to be careful: each year several go to the hospital. I don't know how many went this year. Running fast times in marathons on paved surfaces does not guarantee a good finish here. Aside from altitude factors near the summit, a steep climb, a trail littered with rocks, boulders and roots, the clinching part is the ability (or lack of it in my case) to RUN DOWNHILL, bounding left, right and over these constant obstacles. Going up to the top is fairly safe since most of us can't go that fast to lose our footing. But downhill is much different and much more dangerous. Almost all the runners I saw were excellent mountain trail runners, competent to leap among the rocks and roots and agile enough to avoid falling (I saw one person fall - only a small knee injury). However, lacking this trail running expertise, I decided to be careful and run only in the parts of the path that were free of rocks and roots, which meant walking 80% of the downhill. Please note: if you are an overweight marathon runner (and there are lots of these), PPM is not for you. Yes, you might be able to run the Columbus marathon in five and a half hours, which qualifies you for PPM. But you probably wont finish PPM in less than ten hours. Consider the Ascent instead. And, if youre not an experienced trail runner, you're in for a rude awakening. This is one tough puppy, especially the downhill part. Therefore, I would suggest also that the organizers change their entry requirements to include having run a trail marathon (there are dozens to choose from). That would indicate a runner's ability to negotiate the difficult Pikes Peak trail. Ironically PPM is nearly the opposite of Boston: Boston's qualifying is very difficult but the marathon itself is not too hard (unless a Noreaster blows in your face the whole way as it did in 2007). But PPM qualifying of 5:30 is fairly easy while the marathon is extremely difficult. If you really want to run this one, I advise to do a trail marathon first - one with many rocks and roots and learn to leap going downhill. As you know, this might mean a twisted ankle, knee, or a broken bone. That said, the race is extremely well organized and supported: the volunteers are terrific. Even the fans, late in the day, stuck around to cheer on the slowpokes like me. The pasta dinner and expo were wonderful. Thanks also to the El Paso County rescue team and I hope they didn't get too much business. The views from high up above the treeline are spectacular: Colorado is one of our most scenic states. I also highly recommend a massage from the local massage school. I got one before and after the race and they both helped.

Nothing else quite compares. When you reach a stage in your marathoning where finishing time isn't such a big deal but a great experience is, then 'run' this race. I experienced the joy and exuberance at the finish line that I hadn't felt in a very long time. Other than a little bit of running in town at 'only' a 5% grade and a section for a couple of miles at 9,500 ft, you cant run the first half unless you are a trail running elite. There are too many people in the Conga line and impact of grade and altitude is beyond description. Even with that little bit of running, I got to the top in 4:40, almost 2 hours in advance of the cut off. Few in the 2012 race were going to miss the 6:30 cut-off at the top. We had perfect racing weather, which probably helped. Getting through the tree line and seeing the tiny heads bobbing along the trail far, far above me was the most beautiful and most depressing site I have ever seen in 37 marathons. The best parts, non-scenery division, were the trail volunteers/rescue and the people in town as you approached the finish. Both groups were wildly energetic and enthusiastic. I especially liked the kazoo band that played at 13,000 ft. They even played 'Rocky Top!' My only quibbles: -I get it that the race team has to be intense when it comes to runner safety, but the race website seemed overboard on the downer side. So much negativity. I think you can be serious about the safety issues of mountain running while still showing the joyousness that everyone on the course showed to me during the race. -'Shame on you' to every runner who was so self-absorbed that they dropped a gel packet or cup on the trail, making the job harder for the race organizers who had to cover the entire trail to pick up after us. The race could lose its permit with the Park Service, plus the aid stations were only 2 miles apart. There's no reason for not holding onto ones trash.

Excellent race in all respects. Incredibly tough course but that's to be expected. Well organized. No complaints whatsoever.

When you get up above timberline, you might as well be 'running' on an entirely different planet. This was #43 for me and the first that involved 'scrambling.' All previous experience was on asphalt. This was a fun race, nice people, a finishers shirt that made the enrty fee worth it... I don't understand why the sports drink was so 'watered down.' The endurance formula is strong for a reason. Loved the fresh fruit and candy at the aid stations. I wish they had a photographer at the summit to capture that moment for people who wanted it. Awesome experience. I might be back...

Somewhere along the trail at 12,000' I found myself staggering along, dizzy and needing to make repeated stops to let my breathing and heartrate correspond. Looking up at still 2,000' of winding trail through the rock and rubble to the summit, I really thought I was done for. It became hand-to-hand combat with that mountain. I scrapped and clawed my way to the top. But the mountain wasn't done sparring. It began to sleet and the descent was treacherous; slick and cautious footing for much of the way. A few runners got hurt. I ultimately made it though. As a 'flatlander' I could train for the distance, hills, and trails but toss in some unknowns like altitude 'management' and the unpredictable weather and this race became a challenge like no other race I ever experienced. I felt priviledged to be there at this prestigious race and be among so many incredible and encouraging athletes. This is truly an event that will define what you are made of. They did run out of beer and shirts by the time I finished, but I don't care...I beat Pikes Peak!

If you have never run Pikes Peak, then there is nothing anywhere that I have found that is at all comparable to the experience. I have run many trial marathons and some modest altitude runs, but they are totally inadequate to prepare you for this run. It is an event unto itself. The air at 14,115 feet has less than half of the oxygen found at sea level. Unless you are part of the 1% of the population that lives close enough to such heights to train in them, expect altitude to severely effect your performance. You will walk... a lot. My last two miles literally were 30 minutes-plus EACH. I'm not in bad shape, but all I could do was stagger up the alpine mountian above the tree line. It's humbling. This marathon is actually two endurance races in one. There is the Ascent up the mountain (13.3 miles)that took me longer than almost any full marathon I have run. This is followed by the Decent which is a lot easier but still slower than the vast majority of my runs at a similar distance due to the relentless downhill ponding and thin air. Weather conditions are variable, so you need to pack for a wide range of conditions and read the advice found on this site, the race site and any other resource you can find to learn the tricks you will need just to finish. BELIEVE THE HYPE! This race is every bit as tough as they say! You will need to do a lot of special training to finish it. Your time will be awful. You will suffer like never before. I Loved every minute of it!

Bottom Line: This race lives up to the hype of being the toughest race in America (it is certainly the toughest race that I have ever run). It is also superbly organized and one of the most fun races that I have ever done. Sign-up, website and pre-marathon: Race spots are limited due to the race being run on the Barr Trail. I was on the website and ready to go as soon as official entry was allowed. This seems to be the best way to guarantee that you will get in. The website and links to Matt Carpenter's website were very helpful (especially the course description). I was a little disappointed at how hard it was to get Matt's book on training for the marathon. It would be really nice (and I think they would sell) if the website would republish this book. Expo: The expo was small, but meaty for what it was. It was all contained under a big, white tent. Bart Yasso of Runner's World was the MC and was there signing his book. Decent number of useful vendors. I bought my gator here, which turned out to be perfect for running. Start: I arrived at 5 a.m. and had no problems finding a parking spot along Manitou Ave., which was a five-minute walk from the start. For the marathon there were more than enough porta-potties. I was able to use the bathroom without a wait 10 minutes before the race. Course and support: Absolutely phenomenal. The search and rescue guys were spread out approximately every 2.5 miles. They were very friends and well trained. It was easy to ask for what you wanted as you approached and have water, Gatorade, grapes, Chex Mix or Skittles waiting for you. Weather was sunny, start temps in the 60s, finish temps hot, in the 80s. The spectators as spare, but the ones that are there are enthusiastic enough to make up for low numbers. Summit was windy with sustained winds about 20 mph. Water and and port-a-john stops: I was very glad that I bought my water bottle. You have to drink more at altitude, and 2.5 miles between water stops is long when you consider the ascent pace for most people. There are essentially no porta-johns on the course and the treeline ends with three miles to go. Hotel and transportation: I stayed at a friends house in Colorado Springs, but there were plenty of hotels in Manitou. They were all sold out though, so it would seem that booking a hotel when you are accepted (if not before) would be a good idea. What worked: 1. The running gators I bought at the expo did a fantastic job of keeping rocks out of my shoes and I do not think I would run this race without them. 2. Stop at every aid station, whether you think you need it or not. You will. 3. Arriving at 5 a.m. got me great parking. 4. Running over rocks without jumping them. This seemed to save a lot of energy. 5. Running with my top wrapped around my waist and hat and sunglasses on. Of course, with the weather of that day I could have ditched the top. 6. Accurate way for me to predict my time: add 30 minutes to your last marathon time and this may give you your ascent time (it worked for me). Use Matt's pace calculator to figure out your descent time. Minus a wrong turn I made, this was accurate to within a 2-3 minutes. 7. Soaking in the creek afterwards (right by the finish) was a great idea. What could be improved: 1. Training at altitude: Theres not really much you can do about this one, but I think it would have been the single most helpful thing. And I live in Boulder at 5,300 feet. 2. I did bring gloves, but someone at the expo said that they use some thick-handed work gloves that they got at Home Depot. These might have been nicer. 3. More trail running up and down steep trails. I did this about once a week. It was not enough. 4. Wearing trail shoes: I was passed by a lot of people on the descent because I did not feel safe going faster.

This was my 3rd time running the PPM, and my first time trying the double. I faltered on Saturday with only about a mile to go. Had to get some help from S&R. Sunday was a different day. Had a BLAST!! This is the best race in the country. PERIOD! Tough, yes. But worth the effort. Will be back in 2010 to try the double again. See you in August, PPM.

This was by far the hardest marathon I have ever done (and probably the hardest I will do). I am still trying to recover over a month later. Not the pain so much as the weirdness of trying to run again. It still feels like I'm running for the first time (oh well; I guess Chicago is gonna be REALLY UGLY!) Some advice and comments: 1. The best and most informative website (especially the message board). It truly is like some small village there which may explain the lack of postings on this site about the race. There are several frequent posters who really helped... though NOTHING can prepare you for the course. 2. The course: I tried to explain it to my wife who was there, but did not go above the treeline. It's weird looking up in several places and seeing the top so far away. Above the treeline it was like looking up some huge mall escalators and seeing these dots of people. It was also kind of like being on the moon. ALSO, be prepared to walk A LOT. 3. Buy gaiters. 4. Take some Altoids with you to settle your stomach in case of altitude sickness. I started to feel queasy five miles up and they seemed to work. 5. Be prepared for all weather (last year it snowed). I felt like a mule starting off with all of the things I carried. I wore a two-water-bottle belt, and it was enough because the volunteers at the aid stations refilled them. 6. The volunteers are AMAZING. In some cases they had to carry the tables and stuff three miles or so to set up their stations. THANK YOU SO MUCH! 7. If you are a flat-lander, one thing I would have done training-wise is LEARN how to HIKE! I was being passed while walking by several others who were walking! 8. LEAVE your pride at the start. I thought walking in a marathon was a sign of weakness. But in this one, it's a must! I ended up walking during the first bloody mile!! Do it early on so you can finish this challenge. 9. This is an ultra disguised as a marathon! Finally I only have 3 knocks on this race: 1. The expo was pitiful; the only reason I say this is that some posters on the website said it would be great. It was not! It was bare-boned with maybe two vendors, and it did not have the gels I was looking for (my fault). 2. I wish the designers or the person in charge of merchandise would get in touch with what people like regarding colors! I brought an extra couple of hundred bucks to spend on the merchandise as I was excited and proud to run this, yet the what they had was very limited (and the colors were bad). 3. Speaking of merchandise, the finisher's jacket was AWESOME... for the women!!! It was a sharp black running jacket with the emblem on the front and "14115 FT" across the back. Unfortunately, I am a guy. For us they chose a silver/bluish color, and it fits like a women's jacket. Overall, this is an AMAZING experience - one I will never forget. Once I get the 50 states out of the way, I WILL be back (hopefully I will have forgotten the pain by then!!). I am even PROUD to wear the jacket despite the color!!

Without a doubt this is one of the finest and best organized marathons I have ever entered. This was my 6th double this year, and I am still amazed at how well the marathon staff does in their planning for getting the runners off of the peak after the ascent (half-marathon) held the day before the marathon.

This is my first marathon. I have run the Pikes Peak Assent in 2002, 2003 and 2004. This year I decided to do the full marathon. It was easier to run up than I thought but harder to come down. Things I would change about my training: Practice running long distances downhill. Things that helped include climbing a lot of 14ers and 13ers. I have done about 50 of them and this was my saving grace that helped me be prepared to handle the altitude - and, in the case of 2009 and 2004, the snow and ice conditions. I tell people anyone can do this race if they train for it. I did it in 6:44:16.

Very awesome experience. I would echo what others have said on here. It was a huge challenge and I'm looking forward to it next year. The only downside is that they do a "TCR triple crown of running," which is three races in Manitou Springs throughout the summer, ending with PPM. I would not recommend getting into that if your out of state. It's not worth it unless you're local, but that's what I had to do to get in. This year they gave out five-cent pens for finishers of the TCR???? But the PPM, as always, was great. I saw a lot of people running this race who have never stepped foot in Colorado. I highly recommend some high-altitude training or you'll be in big trouble. Anyhow, great race, and I'm hoping to do it again next year without the TCR.

...But in a good way, of course. ;-) This was my 12th marathon, and it tops them all in terms of adventure, excitement, difficulty, and accomplishment. And I've done some other tough ones too (Leadville, Bataan come to mind). As had been mentioned, the weather for 2008 was incredibly bad. A low-pressure system came down from Canada and parked itself over Colorado for the entire weekend. The storm wreaked havoc on the ascent the day before the marathon, forcing the race officials to call off the race about half way through, primarily due to lightning above timberline. Conditions on Sunday for the marathon were much better, but still not very good. It was near freezing at the top, and it snowed and rained on me during the descent. Luckily there was very little wind to contend with, and I was able to stay dry for the entire ascent. The trail itself was in good shape until about one mile from the summit. From there it was ice and snow-covered and fairly treacherous. I got some good advice about what to wear that day, and I'll share it here. Note that I don't mind running in cold temperatures. Shoes: Montrail trail running shoes and wicking socks. You could probably get away with normal running shoes if they are not too slippery; the trail is not that rocky, but when wet or icy or snow-covered, it will be treacherous. Legs: Light-weight loose-fitting running pants with weather-resistant front. I probably made a mistake here; the pants were a little too warm, and then they got soaked and did not dry out. I'd recommend sticking with shorts if you can handle the cold, or going with tights that would dry out faster. Body: Short-sleeve tech shirt, long-sleeve tech shirt, light-weight wind breaker, cheap poncho, trash bag. I started the race with the short sleeves only. Above timberline I put on the long-sleeve and the wind breaker, and I was able to stay warm enough even through the temperature was near freezing. The trick is to keep moving and stay warm! I went back to short sleeves with about 5 miles to go. I didn't use the poncho or the trash bag, and I could have used one or the other during the descent when I got rained on, but I figured I was heading down anyway so I didn't mind getting a little wet. That may have been an error; I got very wet. Head: Sunglasses, visor, lightweight winter hat. I put the winter hat on at timberline and took it off again below timberline. I left the visor on over the hat to help deflect snow and rain from my face; I'm sure that looked sexy! Sunglasses and a visor are very important in case it gets sunny up there. You can really cook your eyeballs at that altitude. And don't forget the sunscreen! Hands: Fingerless bike gloves, both for warmth and protection. I put the gloves on at timberline. Above timberline and even below, there are some big rock steps on the trail, and it's useful to be able to put your hands on rocks for stability and support. Having gloves on will help keep your hands from getting scraped up. And should you trip and fall, the gloves will also help protect against abrasion. Having fingers free was nice because it allowed me better access to energy gels and zippers and stuff, although it was a little colder. Gloves with a removable mitten part might be ideal for this. Provisions: There are 5 or 6 aid stations on the course, with water, Gatorade, and snacks, but I felt it would be smart to bring my own water and energy gels. I packed a Camelbak with 48 ounces of water, and packed 5 energy gels. Even though I stopped at every aid station both up and down, I still nearly finished my Camelbak, and I did eat all my gels. I highly recommend bringing your own water at least. It is easy to get dehydrated at high altitude, and on such a long excursion. I saw a lot of people with a small water bottle that they could refill at the aid stations, which looks like a good idea. Now I knew that the weather would be rotten that day; but weather on the mountain is extremely variable. When you do this race, it would be smart to pack some warm gear even if the weather looks beautiful at the start. Unless your name is Matt Carpenter, you will be spending a lot of time up there, plenty of time for the weather to change from beautiful to baleful. But that's part of what makes this race special! If you have a thirst for adventure, I heartily recommend this race. The course is unbelievably beautiful, and the support staff is incredible. Support for this race is serious business - real search and rescue stuff! They have my respect. Of course there are not many spectators but the last half mile or so you do get some enthusiastic crowds cheering you on to the finish. The post-race support is excellent as well. You will never forget your experience on the mountain; I hope to run it again next year!

With 32 years of competitive running behind me, this year's Pikes Peak Ascent was the most physically challenging, brutal conditions I have ever experienced in a race. From Manitou Springs to the A-Frame, around 10 miles up, it rained on us the entire way. Above the timber line, the temperature dropped from the low 50s to below freezing, with 25-30 mph winds and pelting sleet. I have never been so cold in all of my life! The conditions were rapidly deteriorating. In fact, because of the weather, more than 900 runners were not given the choice and were turned around at the A-Frame. I was one of the lucky ones, just barely fast enough to continue the adventure. The final three miles was ice and snow and thunder - marching, power walking, trying to circumvent slush puddles, slipping on snow-packed rocks, trying to maintain enough warmth literally to survive. Was it scary? Yes. I was so humbled by the power of Mother Nature on the mountain. The rippling thunder was intense; as I looked down on the clouds I could not distinguish if the thunder was below me or above me! The last 60 minutes to the summit were surreal, with hands and arms going numb and blinding snow leveling visibility to less than 25 feet. And then another GREAT volunteer was there bundled in Arctic gear, welcoming us to the 16 Golden Stairs, the final rite of passage to the summit finish. On Sunday I completed my first Pikes Peak Double. The weather was cool in the upper 40s at the 6,300-foot start and there was no rain, a major positive that made me feel more optimistic! I was better prepared this time, with a small suitcase (butt pack) of warm clothes. This time we trail runners and power walkers were greeted with a peaceful, delicate, light snow, which for my position in the adventure, started falling about 4 miles from the summit. Above the timber line, the intensity of the snow really began to pick up, but it was so beautiful! I continued to feel optimistic. The wind was not as vicious and I had a long-sleeve polar tech shirt that I took out of my suitcase along with a second pair of gloves. I made it through the snow, the most technical (rocky and tree roots) parts of Barr Trail and managed better than I have in the past as a flat-lander the effects of altitude making my head swim. Why would anyone want to do this? It is hard to explain how Pikes Peak emotionally stirs me, but it does. This mountain is part of my running identity, so much so that although it will take my battered legs still days to recover, I do not doubt that I will return to challenge myself again for future Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon adventures, America's true Ultimate Challenge.

This was my 23rd marathon, and 18th state. This time, however, I knew I was in for a battle. I could hardly believe the rule of taking your flatland marathon time, add 30 minutes to it and that would give you a rough estimate of your Peak time... for the ascent portion only. I still needed to run down! For me, it's amazing how correct that was. I am now a believer. I will not repeat the comments of the beauty and unusual nature of this marathon - all true. I will say that the race website is plainly the best I have ever used. There is great detail on the course, as well as how to train and what to expect. There are some loyal followers of this race who lurk on the website message board that are very helpful and readily share tips. Matt Carpenter's book on preparing exclusively for this course pretty much tipped me off that I was in for something different. It was immensely helpful in setting realistic expectations in regards to which this marathon is in a class all of its own.

1. Great town full of friendly folks and marathon staff! All the volunteers are the real heros here!! 2. Bring warm, winter running clothes to put on for the final 3 miles of the climb! Gators to keep rocks out of your shoes would be a good idea too. 3. It took me 8:20 to run the 26.2 miles but it was so surreal to be climbing this giant 13-mile mountain that the hours of quad pain flew by! 4. Would love to come back to improve my time next year! (Maybe do the double!!) 5. Never been in a more quiet marathon (this was number 34) - everyone was concentrating on going up, and up, and up, and not talking! 6. Everyone who wants to do a completely different sort of marathon should do this one; just remember to train hard and race easy!!

Although I did not run the marathon this year, I did run the half marathon on Saturday. The weather was horrific! There was rain and lightning at the 7 a.m. start. Temperatures were falling, from 50 degrees at the start to below 30 degrees above the treeline. Sleet, snow, high winds, and more lightning from 10 miles to the summit. Definitely life-threatening conditions above the treeline. I reached the A-Frame at 10,200 feet in about 2:50, thoroughly unprepared for those conditions. No hat, gloves, pants, windbreaker, etc. I was warned that the weather was getting worse... if you can believe that, and was told to turn around if I was very cold. I grabbed a trash bag and put that over me and continued to run another 10 minutes, but finally decided that I should turn around in order to preserve my health. It was a tough decision, but the race director discontinued the race about 10 minutes after that and about 1,200 others were turned around. All I can say is this: The race director made the correct decision. It took guts for the director to make that decision. But he just may have saved one or more lives. No one perished, and we all can say I giant "Thank you" to the race director. It was a perfect race, organizationally! Great volunteers, excellent aid stations, informative people, enthusiastic volunteers, great technical finisher shirts and medals, and a terrific relationship with the towns' people and the Pike's Peak staff. Everyone worked together to put on a terrific race. Thank you all! I'll be back next year and will probably run the marathon. Heck, I ran about 21 miles of the course during the half marathon. Ps. I did run the 1989 Pike's Peak Marathon in 1989. The race organization was just as good back then too.

This run is by far the hardest marathon I've run and lives up to the "Ultimate Challenge" name. The trail isn't rolling; it's all up and all down. Coming from San Diego (sea level) added more challenge with the thin air. I never thought I'd find myself running in snow and ice at 14,000 feet. I blew my BQ time around mile 9, ha ha. The town of Manitou Springs was great and the volunteers were very helpful and friendly - thanks to all. This was a great experience and well worth the time spent training and traveling to take on the challenge. Best memory: giving a high-five to a 4-foot snowman around 13,000 feet on the way down.

It rained and it snowed, but the volunteers covered the course as well as anyone could have expected. They were helpful and friendly in some miserable conditions. A big thank you to the volunteers from the runners.

This is a tough, beautiful and exhilarating mountain trail marathon that builds character with each year one runs it. Reaching the top is a great feeling, but even though the rest is "all downhill from there," it is grueling with a few little uphills! The camaraderie is great, the competition is tough, and the organizers do such a great job. It is my favorite.

It was my 35th marathon, and besides our visit to Yellowstone, it was the highlight of my 2007 journey through Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota. It is probably the hardest 42KM run I ever did, but also one of the most beautiful mountain runs. Only Swiss-Alpine in Switzerland may beat it. Many thanks to the extremely friendly people in Colorado for organizing this fantastic event!

This race was the greatest and worst experience of my life all wrapped into one. Run this race if you want to find something out about yourself. This is not for the faint of heart. I loved this race and hope I have the courage to try it again someday!!

If you go into this expecting to actually run, you're in for a world of hurt. If you're prepared for four hours on the Stairmaster followed by a blistering, total-concentration descent - you'll have a much better time. Train on hills and rough terrain; at altitude if you can find any. This was my first marathon, per se, and I spent the previous two months logging 15-20 mile mountain "runs" in the Rockies. After that, the Pike's trail is relatively easy. Great race with a long tradition and community spirit.

This was my first marathon... and, wow, not sure how I'm gonna top this one! Great course, well organized, great course, plenty of support on the course. Did I mention what a great course it is? You definitely won't be running a PR here, but that's ok... it's worth slowing down and enjoying this one. I've only run two marathons and one ultra-marathon (50K), but so far this one is tops by far.

What a race! I've wanted to do this one since I first heard about it on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway as a 10 year-old. Best course volunteers and spectators I've ever experienced. Contrary to most of the advice I've been given and read here, I would say don't hold back in the first 2 miles. Where you are once the trail narrows down is pretty much where you'll stay until folks spread out after making the summit. I arrived from Kansas (900 ft.) a week early and ran up La Platta Peak (14,???). I did the 8-mile roundtrip in 4 hours. After doing the math, there was no way I would finish Pikes Peak under the required 10 hours. Well, hiking for 5 days above 12,000 ft. makes a huge difference. I finished in 7:28. Normally I'm a 4-hour marathoner. Ironically, I loved the uphill and found the downhill brutalizing. The three best tips I can give are: (1.) spend as many days immediately before the race as high as possible, (2.) force yourself to take DEEP breaths up high and, (3.) park at the finish line by 5:30 a.m. and walk the few blocks to the finish.

Last year I was crazy enough to attempt this having my first four marathons in the prior six months. I learned a lot from that 21-mile DNF. Made if this year just under the 10-hour limit. Since all 800 spots filled in 24 hours, it's probably going to get a lot harder to get into in the future. Making it after I failed was so much sweeter (plus severe blisters caused by bad shoes and tripping downhill). The most critical piece of advice a volunteer gave me is TAKE IT EASY THE 1st 3 MILES - you can get 60% oxygen debt. That doomed me last year - a 5-hour flat-land marathoner. I'd guess you can ignore this only if you have a serious shot at Boston. Also bought a gas mask to limit air intake - strengthens the diaphram (yes, that's wierd). Got to go at the StairMaster® StepMill® 7000PT at a brisk rate, but failed to practice running down stairs (why I tripped several times and almost DNF). Losing more weight not only would have made me lighter, but REDUCES YOUR AIR CONSUMPTION. It was a great view, and the medics after the run were teriffic. Do it if you can.

This was my first half-marathon - in fact, prior to the race, I had never run more than eight flat miles. I began training a year prior with some friends, but they couldn't get registered before the race filled up, so we stopped training. Three days before the race, my mom convinced me to run as far as I could, to get a feel for it for the next year. also, she didn't want to waste $65...Remember, I had not trained at all for this in the summer. I ran the entire race in 3:57. It was a fantastic race. I was able to run with older veterans of the race who supported me and cheered me on (I am 16). I do not suggest pulling the stunt I did :). But I'm glad I did! I'm definitely running next year!

This is what running a destination marathon is all about. From the quaint and friendly town of Manitou Springs, to the gracious accommodations at the Two Sisters' Inn, to the delicious caribou and wild boar dinner at the Craftwood Inn, and finally, to the spectacular Barr Trail to the summit of Pike's Peak and back, this marathon has it all. The people were so very nice everywhere we went (especially the volunteers on the trail). Fellow runners were frequently encouraging one another and were courteous when passing each other up and down the trail. This was a small-town marathon at its finest. Train properly, register immediately after it opens, and you are in for a great experience. I've been to the mountain top - you should too.

Who cares about spectators when you're in such a majestic place?! The scenery is awe-inspiring, the volunteers & race officials are fantastic, EL Paso Co. Search & Rescue are THE BEST! This is absolutely the hardest thing I've ever done in my life but I will be back. You MUST do this one.