The RETURN to Pikes Peak Marathon 2015

Pikes Peak Marathon Recap -  Sunday Aug 16, 2015

Written by Rick Schnell

Arguably, the hardest marathon in North America and not one I ever look forward too.  But it had been a few years since my pathetic past performance at this marathon, and it was a chance to get together with old teammates, whom I had done Primal Quest with back in 2003. 

Training is always tough for this marathon, as living and training for me  at 650 feet above sea level really doesn't prepare oneself for a marathon that starts in Manito Springs, elevation about 6,800.  Of course that's just the start, as one has to run up the Barr trail, at an average grade of 11.5% to above 14,000 feet.  Then one must then turn around and run down to the finish.  Footing is treacherous, and I have always managed to take at least one good spill coming down (usually several).  The finish line has its share of running wounded, and they have a nice triage tent set up where the first thing they do is spray your  wounds down with Betadine.  Yikes!

 I flew into Denver, where Michele, a  good friend and adventure racing team mate for years lives.  Dan, my other teammate flew in a day later.  We all drove up to Manitou Springs for the pre race registration, and checked into a motel right across from the race start.  The race is capped at 800 runners, and most seem to be from the area of Manitou Springs,  Colorado Springs, or other higher elevation places. 

After a couple days of sightseeing and just chilling, it was time.  I had a game plan this time of watching my heart rate, and keeping in zones during the ascent.  I know my heart rate max's out at 178, and I wanted to keep myself in my Aerobic zone (under 160) for the ascent portion, with the exception of the last couple miles.  I knew the elevation and diminished available oxygen would probably make me go anaerobic near the top. The race organization now uses chip timing,  and a wave start system staggered at 1 minute intervals.  My wave start was at 7:03, but since Michele and Dan had later starts,  I started back with them at 7:06AM.   

Our wave was off, and the 1st mile is through Manitou Springs, on roads with gradual elevation gain until it passes the Cogs Railway and onto a spur trail that will get us to Barr trail.  Things get a little steep here, and the physical absurdity makes most experienced normal  people start walking.  My heart rate was hovering  near my self imposed limit, and I adjusted my pace accordingly, backing my pace down when my heart rate got to high.  I had written down the aide station locations and mileages to make the ascent portion more of a series of milestones, and not one big ascent.  Occasionally I got hung up in some slower groups, and passing is sometimes next to impossible until the trail widens up.  I was feeling strong, and even above treeline, found myself passing  where I could. 

I normally go into an altitude coma around 12,000' where I have serious trouble thinking (not to mention breathing) but I was feeling great almost all the way to the summit and turn-around.  Michele and Dan whom were ahead and now on the decent (runners coming down have to pass the runners coming up, which makes for some pretty close calls) Both passed me (Michele, ahead of Dan, which goes to show you that Michele living and training at altitude was a benefit for her!)  I hit the summit turn around, and looked for Michele's husband whom was going to hand me a pair of  biking gloves to use on the downhill when I fell.  Cripes, he was nowhere to be seen, so I started down knowing that when I fell, I was going to lose some skin on my hands.  The next few miles down is a challenge as you get caught up in runners going uphill, as well as downhill runners that do well on the uphill, but are a bit timid to open it up on the descent.  About treeline I was able to open it up, and pass at will except when it was really rocky. So far, I had not taken a spill, although a couple people whom were running at my pace and we were talking... went down.  I hung around till they got up and said they were okay, but they backed their pace down and I never saw them again.  

The field really thins out on the descent, and you only see one or two people ahead of you through the forever series of switchbacks.   I was feeling pretty strong until about 3 miles from the end, when I hit my wall.  The temperature was starting to warm up, which may have been a factor.  Strange how you can be running down hill, and hit the wall.  But your actually braking with your quads on the descent, so it's not like your actually getting a free ride down. I have always said that the downhill is more punishing on your legs then the ascent.   With about 1 mile to go, you break out of the trail by the Cogs rail way, and it's a mile to the finish line on the road.... down a grade.  Now my feet were feeling really good till now, but with each foot impact on the hard road, I knew it was going to cost me a toenail or two at the end.  But if you run marathons, or adventure race that is usually a common occurrence.   I was actually starting to suffer, and was passed by a few people on the road section.  But the curve in the road was there, and I knew the finish line was just around the bend. 

Sucking it up, I made my finish look strong, but it came with a price of just about collapsing into the arms of a volunteer.  I was ushered to the a chair to sit down for a few minutes while I held a bag of ice to my neck.  After a few minutes, I was fine enough to walk out of the finishers tent and find Dan and Michele.  Michele, finished about 6:29, Dan about 6:45, and I finished at 6:50.  Not my Personal best, which was 6:29 but that was when I was 44 back in 2002.  Let me tell you,  I was quite happy with my time this year, as back in 2002 I had altitude sickness so bad, I suffered beyond my ability to describe here. 

So, Michele, Dan and I walked across the street and cooled our legs off in a mountain stream.  I have to admit  I really enjoyed the challenge, and we talked that we will come back in 2017 and do it again.  Now I just have to think how to get some altitude training in....

The 60th running of the Pikes Peak Marathon was held on Sunday August 16 2015.  The Ascent race, where runners run to the top and finish, is held on the Saturday before.  (They are bussed down) The field is limited to about 1600 starts for the ascent, and 800 for the marathon.  You need to have a qualifying time to register, and they are serious about this.  People lose their registration fee, and get banned from future races for trying to pull stuff.  If you're interested in this race, check out their website at http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/