Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Mely Gonzalez #375 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Steady Progression and Strategic Finish Mely Gonzalez from Colorado Springs tackled the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent, a grueling half marathon stretching 13.36 miles with an elevation gain from 6303 to 14061 feet. Mely completed the race in 4:17:11, averaging a pace of 19:15 minutes per mile. She ranked 523rd out of 2049 participants overall, and 16th in the O16-19 division. Starting strong, Mely quickly advanced her position, notably at the Ruxton split, moving up from 1360th to an impressive 227th overall. As the altitude increased, Mely's pace naturally slowed, with notable deceleration beyond the Barr Camp split. Despite this, her determination never waned. Approaching the most challenging sections, from the A-Frame at mile 10.29, her split times increased, with a final ascent split pace of 30:47. For the future, it could be beneficial to focus on altitude training to aid in maintaining a more consistent pace during the latter high-elevation sections of the race.