Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Darren Keller #341 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Steady Climb with Impressive Division Finish Darren Keller completed the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon with an elapsed time of 4:04:23, covering a distance of 13.36 miles at an average pace of 18:17 min/mile. An impressive performance in the O55-59 division, Darren secured 9th place out of numerous participants, amidst a challenging course that brought competitors from 6303 feet to 14061 feet in elevation. He maintained a steady pace, particularly excelling in the initial miles, where he climbed from 1001st to 297th overall at the Ruxton split. During the race, Darren demonstrated consistent performance, finishing 395th overall and 307th in the Open gender category out of 2049 participants. Notably, his splits saw fluctuations as expected with elevation changes, starting strong with a 8:10 min/mile pace at Ruxton and gradually adjusting to a 32:08 min/mile pace upon reaching the finish. The final split showed a significant decrease in pace, highlighting the impact of high altitude. Overall, a commendable effort with room to fine-tune strategy in the final miles above the tree line.