Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Jill Hessek #1250 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Steady Advance Through Elevation Jill Hessek tackled the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent completing the race in 5:07:16 at an average pace of 22:59 min/mile. At 61, she showed resilience in her division, placing 11th among females aged 60-64. Starting strong, Jill moved from 15th at the start to as high as 3rd in her division at the "1.5 Miles To Go" mark, though ultimately she finished at 11th position, showing determination throughout. Her performance was consistent despite the increasing elevation pressure. Her splits showed a methodical approach; beginning with a brisk pace of 13:49 min/mile at the "Ruxton" checkpoint and slowing in the later stages, with a notable 34:49 min/mile pace in the final stretch. Jill held a strategic pace early on, gained relative improvement in placement after "Bottomless Pit", and managed the upper altitude well. Focus on adapting pace strategies for high-altitude sections could help enhance performance in future events.