Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Leia Bernhard #1653 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Consistent Strong Climb to New Heights Leia Bernhard completed the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent with an elapsed time of 6:18:16, covering 13.36 miles and achieving an average pace of 28:18 min/mile. Starting at 617th overall, she finished 1550th out of 2049 participants, ranking 567th among females and 88th in her division, F40-44. Significant pacing variations were observed through the course, attributed to the increasing elevation. She started strong with a 11:10 min/mile pace in the initial 0.43 miles at "Ruxton." However, as elevation rose to above 14000 feet, her pace slowed significantly, with the most challenging split at "2 Miles To Go" at a 47:15 min/mile pace. Noteworthy was her resilience and ability to finish strong, particularly across the final mile where she improved her place in division from 92nd to 88th. Focusing on pacing strategies in high altitudes could further enhance future performance.