Pikes Peak Marathon - #INSANITY

The Pikes Peak Marathon...  #cray-cray!

"what starts at 6,300ft (1,920m) above sea level and climbs to within a few feet of a lung bursting, mind numbing 14,115ft (4,302m)? What gains 7,815ft (2,382m) one day and then gains and loses that same amount the next day? What has been around for 61 years and has the honor of hosting the first woman in history to participate and finish a marathon (yes, even before the Boston Marathon)? And what has been known to devour some participants and send them to the medical tent for a dose of oxygen? Well, it’s a little race we here in Colorado call the Pikes Peak Ascent & Marathon."

What it looked like running

These videos are The Barr Trail which both races used.  Saturdays race was an Ascent to the top only, but the Marathon runners run both up AND down on Sunday. Notice in the runner photos all the skinned knees.  The race committee had first aid tents and water stations set up all over the mountain.  (good job race comittee)

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  I think I need to give you some background material first.  Over the weekend I bought a ticket for the Cog Railroad via the internet and could not remember if my ticket was for Tuesday or Wednesday. (the confirmation was in my junkmail and i found it later) So I drove over to check at the COG rail depot.  When I parked my car in downtown Manitou Springs, the city park was filling up with vendor tents in preparation of the Marathon.  So naturally I went over to check it out.

That's where I met Kathy and 'Freckles'.  (not her name, but i never learned it)  Turns out Kathy is the Administrator in the office that manages the Marathon.  Kathy offered me a free parking pass if I would share my photos with her.  Gladly.  It's very difficult to find parking in tiny little Manitou Springs.  Plus I was already planning to come over to shoot the event.  The Ascent is on Saturday with 1,800 ppl running up to the top of Pikes Peak, a half Marathon, and then runners come down via busses.  Sunday is the full Marathon with just a few hundred running both up and down the entire mountain on the same trail.  The same narrow twisting, rutted and rocky trail.  I can't imagine how difficult this must be.  I almost slipped and fell walking the trail.  *these trail photos are the actual race course.

Sign In: Ascent LEFT, and Marathon RIGHT

I stayed downtown Saturday but had nothing to photograph after the race started, so I went to breakfast and then spent the afternoon at another local tourist trap.  Sunday I photographed the start and then started a very slow (more like a crawl) climb up the Barr Trail to get shots of the runners coming downhill.  I was slow because I stopped often for photos of the trail and scenery, plus I had to stop and catch my breath.  At that altitude it was a challenge for me to keep my breath.  I have no idea how those runners could make that climb and then run past me not breathing hard.  (not just the altitude, but also running 26 miles)  This entire event was crazy to me, requiring superhuman endurance and lots of heart plus the very real chance for injury.  Look at the runners knees to see who had fallen...

Saturday very early checking in for the Ascent.

Arriving before 6am to get a parking spot and catch shots of the runners before the 7am start of the race.  Volunteers were out setting up the Start banner and marking the roads for different groups of runners.  The fastest runners start in the front so they dont get trapped behind the big slower pack.

Singing America the Beautiful...

“America the Beautiful,” is a widely known song, but did you know it originated as a poem inspired by Pikes Peak.  Katharine Lee Bates stood on the top of Pikes Peak for just 30 minutes in the summer of 1893, but that was all the inspiration she needed to write a patriotic poem called, “America.”

Twins wait with dad, for Mom's start

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Volunteers

Kathy Hubel

Jerry

Skip with some elite lady Marathon runners

Jerry the announcer

a rescue medic on the trail
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Runners 2021

note: the lady center, blue jacket, 2 braces and BAREFOOT

These two got turned around at the Treeline because they were 

"too slow" and didnt make the time cut-off.

note her leg guards. (also she is the one i was hugging earlier @ the start line)

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Barr Trail

Tiny runner, Rt center of shot

The start of the Barr Trail - squeeze in everyone!

Manitou Springs, CO.  A friendly place.

This event was spectacular and amazing and scary.  I still cant believe they run straight up to the top of Pikes Peak and then back down those horrible trails.  Good Job everyone!  #respect.

I was sore for 3 days after my 'workout' of climbing and shooting the event.  Imagine how sore the runners were?  (note: the elite lady runners - far right lady.  Here she is after the race showing me her foot.)  

Ouch!       -Skip