Pikes Peak Marathon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pikes Peak Marathon |
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| Date | September |
| Location | Manitou Springs, Colorado, United States |
| Event type | Road and trail |
| Distance | Marathon and half-marathon |
| Established | 1956 |
| Course records | Ascent: 2:00:20 (M), 2:24:58 (F); Marathon: 3:16:39 (M), 4:02:45 (F) |
| Official site | www.pikespeakmarathon.org |
| Participants | 1354 finishers (Ascent) (2023) 616 finishers (Marathon) (2023) |
The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon is a super tough running race that takes place each year in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Runners start at the bottom of Pikes Peak and climb over 7,815 feet (2382 meters) to reach the very top of the 14,115-foot (4302-meter) mountain!
This exciting event has two main parts. On Saturday, there's the Ascent, which is a race to the summit (top) of the mountain. It's a bit longer than a half-marathon, at 13.3 miles (21.4 km). On Sunday, there's the full Marathon, where runners go all the way up to the summit and then race back down to the start!
Contents
History of the Race
The Pikes Peak Marathon started way back on August 10, 1956. A doctor named Arne Suominen from Florida wanted to prove that a healthy lifestyle was important. He challenged people to race up and down Pikes Peak. He especially wanted to show that people who smoked might not have as much physical endurance.
Thirteen runners accepted the challenge. Only three of them were smokers. One of the smokers, Lou Wille, had won Pikes Peak races before. He even beat Dr. Suominen to the top of the mountain! However, none of the smokers finished the entire race. Dr. Suominen felt this proved his point about endurance.
The Pikes Peak Marathon was also special because it was one of the first marathons in America to allow women to compete. Even though it started in 1956, no women entered until 1958. Then, in 1959, Arlene Pieper made history! She became the very first woman to officially finish a marathon in the United States by completing the Pikes Peak Marathon. Her 9-year-old daughter, Kathie, also ran to the summit, becoming the youngest person at that time to reach the top.
In 1966, the race became even more organized, making it the third-oldest marathon in the United States. A good friend of the original race director, Carl McDaniel, took over in 1980 and helped run the race for many years.
The Pikes Peak Ascent race has twice been part of the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge. This shows how important and challenging the race is on a global scale.
In 2020, the Ascent race had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Runners could choose to race in 2021 or get a refund. The Marathon still happened that year, but with special rules to keep everyone safe. These rules included starting runners in small groups and making sure people kept their distance.
The Challenging Course
This race is much harder than a regular marathon. Why? Because of the mountain itself! The course is made of dirt trails, rocks, and other natural obstacles. Plus, the air gets thinner as you climb higher, which makes it even tougher to breathe and run.
The race starts off very steep for the first three miles (5 km). Then, for about seven miles (11 km), the path goes up and down, getting steeper as you go. The last three miles (5 km) are above the tree line, meaning there are no trees, just rocks! Runners often have to climb over rocks to reach the summit.
Winning times for the full marathon are usually around four hours. This is much slower than "flatland" marathons, where top runners finish in just over two hours. This shows how difficult the Pikes Peak course truly is!
The weather on Pikes Peak can change a lot. Some years, it's hot and dry. Other years, there might be snow and cold temperatures at the top! This means race times can be very different from one year to the next.
Many runners want to take part in this famous race. The Forest Service limits how many people can run. Only 1,800 runners can do the Ascent, and 800 can do the Marathon. Because it's so popular, registration usually fills up in just a day or two!
Winners of the Race
Many amazing athletes have conquered Pikes Peak. Here are some of the winners. The times highlighted in green are the fastest ever recorded for that race!
Marathon Winners
The race course was made a bit longer in 1976. So, if you compare times from before 1976, you need to add about 7-8 minutes to them.
The most successful male runner in the Marathon is Matt Carpenter. He has won the race twelve times! He even won six times in a row from 2006 to 2011. For the women, Erica Larson has won five times.
| 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 Winners
The Ascent race is also very competitive. The longest-standing men's record for the Ascent was set by Matt Carpenter in 1993. It was 2 hours, 1 minute, and 6 seconds! This record stood for 30 years until Rémi Bonnet broke it in 2023 with an amazing time of 2 hours and 20 seconds.
In 2018, the Ascent race was shortened to 7.6 miles and ended at Barr Camp. This was because bad weather was expected at the summit.
| 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 the COVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| 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
- Mount Lemmon Marathon
