This race was founded in 1956, is the oldest continually held marathon in the United States, taking runners from Manitou Springs, Colorado, to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet, and back down for a total of 26.2 grueling mountain miles.
The Pikes Peak Marathon, founded in 1956, is the oldest continually held marathon in the United States, taking runners from Manitou Springs, Colorado, to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet, and back down for a total of 26.2 grueling mountain miles.
It climbs about 7,800 vertical feet up the historic Barr Trail on the east face of the mountain. This trail is very narrow and makes passing nearly impossible. Many people sprint to the trailhead in order to get ahead of people, but use that strategy wisely. Don't blow yourself up and be the reason for a logjam.
The trail is often narrow, and winding, and may contain gravel, rocks, or dirt with sharp turns and abrupt changes in elevation or direction. There are very few sections that are not going uphill, and the average gradient is 11%.
The ascent to the peak often takes people longer than a full marathon on flatland would. This is not an easy course.
(We give away a lot of the stuff we test)
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