Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Michael Smith #1535 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 High Altitude Adaptation Michael Smith completed the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent in an elapsed time of 4:48:20 over a distance of 13.36 miles, achieving an elapsed pace of 21:34 min/mile. He maintained a steady rank throughout, initially placing 733 overall at the start and concluding at 853 out of 2049 total participants. Notably, Michael's performance improved significantly between Barr Camp and Bottomless Pit, where his split pace was 12:43 min/mile over a 1.86-mile stretch. In terms of ranking, Michael placed 85th in his division (O40-44) and 617th in the Open gender category. His pace showed remarkable consistency given the challenging elevation gain from 6,303 feet at the start to 14,061 feet at the finish. Despite the natural slowdown over the steep final miles, Michael's ability to navigate the course was commendable. To refine performance in future races, consider focusing on maintaining momentum during the high-altitude segments, especially between A-Frame and the finish.