Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Bonnie Zhang #2111 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Consistent Effort and Steady Improvement on the Climb Bonnie Zhang's performance at the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent was characterized by strategic pacing and consistent effort. Beginning at the starting line in 1577th place overall, Bonnie steadily improved her position, finishing 1395th out of 2049 participants. Her splits reveal a strong start, clocking a swift pace of 12:27 min/mile at Ruxton. As anticipated, the climb became more challenging, particularly beyond tree line. However, Bonnie successfully managed her pace, finishing the demanding ascent with an elapsed time of 5:53:17. The detailed splits indicated impressive resilience, particularly from Barr Camp onwards. Despite the slowing pace due to higher altitude and elevation gain, Bonnie maintained consistent effort. Notably, at the 12.31-mile mark, her pace held steady, even when faced with a final elevation exceeding 14,000 feet. Moving forward, analyzing incremental pacing adjustments in earlier miles could optimize her energy conservation, ensuring continued improvement in future mountain trail races.