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Race Reports for Pikes Peak Ascent

[1]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Most difficult Half Marathon in America (according to HalfMarathons.net). Not just relentlessly uphill for 13+miles, but into increasingly less oxygen availability ending at 14,115ft. This double-whammy, along with the 1800 other folks trying to get to the top on the same, single-track trail, results in an "absurdly difficult", "for-multiple-reasons", challenge. Come get some. I promise, whatever "Plan" you think you have at the bottom, the joke I make near the top is, "That whole will to live thing, it's so over-rated." I'd plan on doing it 3 years in a row, just to try to get better at it, which is VERY difficult, so I keep doing it!
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[2]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: This is the hardest Half Marathon in the world. You think your strength is in your msucles? Wait until you feel the death grip of Altitude and you'll know your strength is in Oxygen Delivery to those Muscles. At about 12,500ft that whole "Will to Live" thing, it becomes SO over-rated. Make it to the 14,115ft Summit and wear yourself some pride... you know, after you get back down to about 7,000ft and can have Pride again. Very organized, well supported, and loved/hated by all who attempt it. Come and get some!
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[3]
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Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: This is an amazing race that is suprisingly well organized based on the logistics. Getting the volunteers and aid stations up to where they need to be and getting the racers down after is quite a feat.
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[4]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Water was TASTY this year, much moreso than ever. And I got plenty at every stop. The 743Cals of Go Juice was a winner, especially with plenty of water to dilute it to a good digestible osmolality. A Frame running out of Water, asking folks to hold back. Still did ok, got more water at Cirque and carried it in. Pizza at after-party shut down my stomach instantly. Ugh!
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[5]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I will be back for more...eventually! :-)
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[6]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?No

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Mental effort was a 4-5, really kept my head in the game, and passed everyone I possibly could above treeline, dancing along rocks on the edge of the trail at times. Results show I finished 2 seconds behind someone but I didn't see anyone and I actually think that's a guy I passed right at the end. Mmm. Have found myself wondering if I maybe could have gone harder, but remembering the sudden jolts of cramps I got a couple/few different times (groin (surely from the Biking) and Calf (although VERY slight or that would have been the end!)) in the last 1.5miles tells me effort was excellent and well meted out, and while "Could I have gone harder?" might be a no, "Can I improve?" I believe is a yes! As for the Race eval... look this race is unique. Yeah, the Aid Stations get farther apart as the Altitude increases, exactly what you don't need. And again, Cirque was out of Gatorade, not that I needed it, but others were asking and I know how deadly that can be if you need it and they don't
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[7]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: A really great race put on by great people. I wish it was a little less logjammed during the first 5 miles, but there's not much to help that.
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[8]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: one of a kind race - on my bucket list - would like to do the marathon one day when I can consistently train for it.
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[9]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Look, this race is tough. 4:35 for a Half Mary? Come on! But they don't have any problem selling it out! So it's always going to be a monster challenge and very difficult to manage the crowds and passing. I'd like to do better next year, but it depends on so many factors, including weather. The fact is above treeline, no one cares about anything. At that point I was in better shape than 99% of the folks I saw. I think I got passed 3 times, got one of them back, and 1 was when we were stacked up in a long line right at the finish and I just didn't care to try and have them all move over. Drink stations are set, and a HUGE effort is needed to stock them. Taking my own Food and Drink is my answer to a 4 and a half hour event, not their problem. The meager Food after was roundly panned by both folks I talked to in person, and on the message board. But I've always ignored it so didn't even notice. But they had Bristol Beer, which counts for something to most folks. Next year, I'll hit Subway
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[10]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I have participated in a lot of races over the years but I have to say that the Ascent is by far my favorite. Not a lot of hype for this race but it has been taking place for more than 50 years! Always a humbling experience for me but still I come away feeling a great sense of accomplishment. race management has always done a great job, which is not easy when you need to get aid stations set-up on a mountain trail for approximately 2,000 runner's.
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[11]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Never intended to have to 'publish' this, but I can't figure out how to delete it and want it out of 'Draft' status and done with.
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[12]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I really enjoyed the race, there were lots of volunteers and aid stations given the nature of the course. I would definitely consider doing it again, or possibly signing up for the marathon.
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[13]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: No race has ever broken me down like that one. It was amazing. I'm now addicted. Addicted to crazy challenges and getting out of that comfort zone. If you wanna leave your comfort zone. Run Pikes Peak. No finish line has ever felt like that one. The huge production that is IM can't touch the top of Pikes Peak. I'll be back for the Marathon in 2009.
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[14]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: MUCH impressed with that the Aid Stations stayed open for everyone's descent. Again 1972 Entries, 760 Finishers, and everyone else turned around and went all the way back down the Mtn, from as far up as 10miles (A-Frame). So some went 20miles with 10 being down when they trained for 13 up. That the volunteers easily doubled their committed time was a real Godsend to those trudging that farthest. THANKS!
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[15]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: I can't rate this course. Obviously it kicked my ass and I found it to be very hard. But even when I have raced the Ascent well it has never been easy. It's a demanding course but I won't say it's "Too hard". I think this could be the worst weather ever for this race...at least the worst I have ever experienced. Sometime after I had passed A-Frame the RD decided to call the race. I assume because of the lightening above timberline. I know this disappointed many of the runner's that hadn't made it to A-Frame by 10:30 and had to run back down the mountain. Only about 750 people finished out of approximately 2000. So there were alot that had to turn back. :( The volunteers at this race were awesome! They had to brave the weather and did a great job supporting all the runners throughout the race. I know it was very chaotic at the finish and dealing with a bunch of cold, delerious runner's had to have been stressful. They handled things very well!
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[16]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This is one of if not the most organized race that I do. They have a lot of volunteers and a lot of fully stocked aid stations. I highly recommend this race to anyone that wants a true physical and mental challenge.
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[17]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: The race was awesome and I would recommend it to everyone. There were so many volunteers and Search and Rescue was out there in force. Every time I passed them or an aid station I thanked them for coming out. I'm gonna try and make an effort to do that more often. Can't wait till next year. Great race!!!
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[18]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This race is one of the most rewarding to finish! I would recommend this race who's looking for something different to do, but you might get hooked. Some people even do the Ascent and then the Marathon the next day...Crazy! Very Organized with a lot of aid stations with GREAT volunteer's.
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[19]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This is one of if not the most organized race that I do. They have a lot of volunteers and a lot of fully stocked aid stations. I highly recommend this race to anyone that wants a true physical and mental challenge.
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