Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Shelly Gruenbacher #1881 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Achieving Heights with Persistence Shelly Gruenbacher tackled the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent with an official time of 5:42:01 over the 13.36-mile course, achieving a pace of 25:36 min/mile. Notably, her performance placed her 34th in the Women's 50-54 division and 453rd among all female runners. Elevation gains throughout the race led to fluctuating paces, where she maintained a steady effort despite the challenging final miles above the tree line. Shelly made a strong start with a split pace of 11:01 at Ruxton. The steep climb to Hydro Street saw a noticeable adjustment to a 14:20 pace. Her strategy of consistency bore fruit at Barr Camp, improving her overall position by over 100 spots. However, the high-altitude miles present opportunities to hone pace sustainability, specifically targeting the sections beyond 10,000 feet. Continuing to focus on maintaining her endurance in such segments could refine her future performances.