Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Caroline Monberg #2024 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Steady Start with Final Push Over High Altitude Challenge Caroline Monberg, a 23-year-old from Colorado Springs, completed the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent in 5:16:11, covering a distance of 13.36 miles. The event demanded an average pace of 23:40 min/mile for her, evidencing the increasing elevation and difficulty of the terrain. Notably, she was initially positioned at 289th overall at the start and achieved her best position at Barr Camp with an overall place of 698. By the finish line, she stood at an overall placement of 1137 and a commendable division rank of 25th in her age group, F20-24. Caroline's early descending paces, such as 8:57 min/mile to Ruxton, indicate her strength in maintaining initial momentum. As altitude increased, splits at key high-altitude sections, including a 46:38 min/mile pace at Bottomless Pit, revealed where altitude impacted speeds. Her recovery over the final segments, including a 29:48 min/mile at the finish, signaled her ability to push through fatigue and elevation. For future races, focusing on adapting pacing strategies through similar high-altitude conditions could offer benefit.