Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Kelly Steele #766 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Consistent Performance with Opportunities for Growth in the Final Miles Kelly Steele completed the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent in 4:30:45, maintaining a steady pace of 20:15 min/mile over the challenging thirteen-mile course. Starting strong at Ruxton with a 10:30 min/mile split, she showed resilience especially between Hydro Street and No Name Creek, with splits close to or better than 17 min/mile. Notably, Kelly achieved significant progress despite some tough segments, moving into the top 20 in her division (O60-64) as she reached the higher elevations. Compared to her 2024 performance, Kelly's overall time was slightly slower, increasing by 5:17 from 4:25:28. The elevation gain is significant in the latter stages, and it appears that pacing above the tree line contributed to the increased elapsed time. It is worth considering incorporating focused altitude training to optimize her endurance and pacing strategy uphill in future races. Despite the challenging conditions, maintaining motivation and pacing in the final segments can aid in shaving off crucial minutes.