Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Dana Gruenbacher #439 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Impressive Age Group Performance at High Elevation Dana Gruenbacher, 61, from Hamilton, OH, participated in the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent, finishing with an elapsed time of 4:00:12 over a distance of 13.36 miles. Her average pace was 17:58 min/mile. She placed 5th in the Division O60-64. Starting off strongly, Dana managed a fast 8:16 min/mile pace by the first checkpoint at Ruxton. Even though the race's increasing elevation made pacing difficult, she maintained an impressive performance through to the challenging final miles above 12,000 feet. She experienced notable difficulty as the course elevation increased, especially in the final miles, where her pacing slowed considerably, notably between the "1 Mile To Go" and the "Finish" line. A consistent approach to training at varying elevations might enhance future performances. Dana improved her position slightly throughout the race, moving from a divisional ranking of 7th at the start to 5th at the finish, highlighting her resilience and ability to maintain pace amidst challenging conditions.