Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Christopher Baker #221 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 in High Elevation Challenge Christopher Baker completed the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent with a time of 3:38:38, achieving an average pace of 16:21 min/mile. The ascent from 6000 feet to 14000 feet was notably demanding, but Baker secured a commendable place in his age division, finishing 8th among the O50-54 division participants. His performance remained consistent compared to his previous engagement in the same race last year, where he clocked in at 3:36:25, showing a slight increase in time but maintaining a strong standing in his age group. Analyzing the splits, Baker showed particular strength up to the halfway mark at Barr Camp, with an impressive ranking jump at the 1.5 Miles To Go mark, moving up to 2nd place briefly in his division before leveling out. The final stretch above the treeline was expectedly slower, with average split paces near 22 min/mile and peaking at 24:30 min/mile. This reflects the altitude's impact, but also highlights potential pacing strategies to focus on for improved endurance in future high-altitude segments.