Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Esther Runck #1516 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Strong Start with Opportunities to Refine Endurance Esther Runck, 49, from Wichita, KS, completed the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon in 6:00:14, covering a distance of 13.36 miles. Her overall pace was 26:57 min/mile. Notably, Esther started strong, beginning at a brisk pace of 11:53 min/mile at the first split, "Ruxton", but encountered challenges as the race progressed. By the "Finish" split, with an elevation of 14061 feet, her pace had slowed to 43:37 min/mile. Despite the demanding nature of the elevation gain, Esther demonstrated resilience and maintained respectable standings, finishing 71st in her division, F45-49, among 2049 total participants. The steady climb in altitude naturally impacted her pacing, particularly in the final three miles above the tree line. Focusing on maintaining more consistent pacing in the latter stages could lead to an improved overall performance in future events.