Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Ari Ballonoff #596 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Consistent Improvement with Strategic Pacing Ari Ballonoff demonstrated consistent improvement at the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent. Ari completed the half marathon in 4:04:27, showing a reduction of 4 minutes and 53 seconds from the previous year's time. The average pace was 18:17 min/mile, a noticeable gain from the 18:39 min/mile pace in 2024. Ari placed 19th in the O50-54 division out of a substantial 2049 participants, highlighting a strong performance. The early part of the race showed strategic pacing with a fast split at Ruxton, clocking in at an 8:49 min/mile pace. As Ari progressed past Barr Camp, the splits were slower, particularly the final half-mile, with a pace of 29:49 min/mile at high altitude. This is expected in the challenging terrain. Consistency through the first three-quarters, with a strong performance in moving standings, suggests continued focus on maintaining pace in later stages could yield even stronger results.