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. It takes place on Pikes Peak in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Runners start at the bottom of the mountain. They climb over 7,815 feet (2382 meters) to reach the very top. The peak is 14,115 feet (4302 meters) high!
This event happens every year in late summer. The "Ascent" race is on Saturday. It's a bit longer than a half-marathon, about 13.3 miles. The "Marathon" race is on Sunday. It's a full marathon distance, going up and then back down the mountain.
History of the Race
The first race happened on August 10, 1956. A doctor named Arne Suominen started it. He wanted to show that being healthy helped with physical strength. He challenged both smokers and non-smokers to run up and down Pikes Peak. The race was about 26 miles long.
Thirteen runners took on the challenge. Only three of them were smokers. One smoker, Lou Wille, had won Pikes Peak races before. He was a big challenge to the doctor's idea.
Lou Wille reached the top before Dr. Suominen. But he didn't finish the whole race. In fact, none of the smokers completed the full round trip. Dr. Suominen felt he had proven his point. He finished the race, and the smokers did not.
The Pikes Peak Marathon was special for another reason. It was the first marathon in America to allow women to compete. This was right from the start in 1956. No women entered until 1958. Then, in 1959, Arlene Pieper made history. She became the first woman to officially finish a marathon in the United States. Her 9-year-old daughter, Kathie, also ran to the summit. She was the youngest person to do so at that time.
In 1966, the marathon became a very well-organized event. This made it the third-oldest marathon in the United States. A good friend of Rudy Fahl, Carl McDaniel, became the race director in 1980. He led the race until 1998.
The Pikes Peak Ascent race has also hosted big international events. It was part of the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge in 2006 and 2010.
In 2020, the Ascent race was canceled. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Runners could move their entry to 2021 or get a refund. The marathon race still happened that year. But there were special rules because of the virus. Runners had to wear masks before and after the race. They also had to keep their distance from each other. Runners started in small groups instead of one big crowd.
The Race Course
This race is much harder than regular marathons. It's on dirt trails, rocks, and other natural obstacles. Also, the high altitude makes it very tough. Winning times for the marathon are usually under four hours. This is much slower than "flatland" marathons, which elite runners finish in just over two hours.
The average slope of the mountain is 11%. But some parts are much steeper. The first three miles (5 km) are very steep. The middle 7 miles (11 km) start out rolling. But they get steeper as you go. The last 3 miles (5 km) are above the tree line. This means there are no trees. Runners might even need to climb over rocks to reach the top.
As runners go higher, there is less Oxygen in the air. This makes it even harder to breathe and run. Winning times can change a lot each year. This depends on the weather and how the trail is. Sometimes it's hot and dry. Other times, there's snow and cold at the top.
Many runners want to join this race. The Forest Service limits how many people can run. Only 1,800 runners can do the Ascent. For the Marathon, only 800 runners are allowed. Because of this, registration usually fills up in just a day or two!
Race Winners
This section shows the official winners of the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent races. The fastest times for the course are shown with a green background.
The marathon course was made a bit longer in 1976. It added 1.1 miles. So, times from before 1976 would be about 7-8 minutes faster for the same effort.
The most successful male runner is Matt Carpenter. He holds the overall record. He won the marathon twelve times between 1988 and 2011. He even won six times in a row from 2006 to 2011. Another great runner, Steve Gachupin, also won six times in a row from 1966 to 1970.
For women, Erica Larson has won the marathon five times. She won four times in a row from 1999 to 2002. Danelle Ballengee also won four times in a row from 1994 to 1997.
In 2024, the marathon was shorter than usual. There was snow and ice on the mountain. Runners turned around at Barr Camp. This meant the race was about a third shorter than the usual 26.2 miles.
Marathon Winners
| Year | Country | Man | Time | Country | Woman | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |  USA |
Jonathan Aziz | 1:46:10* | Sarah Guhl | 2:10:55* | *2024 race was cut short due to weather | |
| 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
This table shows the official winners of the Pikes Peak Ascent race. The fastest times are highlighted in green. The men's Ascent record was held for 30 years! It was set by Matt Carpenter in 1993 with a time of 2:01:06. But in 2023, Rémi Bonnet broke it with an amazing time of 2:00:20.
In 2018, the Ascent race was shorter. It was only 7.6 miles long. Runners finished at Barr Camp. This was because bad weather was expected at the top of the peak.
| Year | Country | Man | Time | Country | Woman | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | USA |
Joseph Gray | 2:11:13 | USA |
Allie McLaughlin | 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 | |||||
| 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
