Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Chris Small #997 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Steady Improvement on a Demanding Ascent Chris Small tackled the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent, finishing the 13.36-mile race in 4:29:49 with an average pace of 20:11 min/mile. Notably, Chris moved up significantly from 1090th place at the start to 652nd overall, advancing amidst 2049 participants. Key splits included starting strong at Ruxton with a 9:57 pace, indicating potential for even faster early performance. The race revealed consistent effort across climbing sections, especially as Chris climbed to the "Top of W's" in 686th, up to 7934 feet. An increase in elevation led to slower paces averaging 27:22 to 31:16 min/mile in the final miles above 12000 feet. As elevation gains required additional output, focusing on elevation-specific endurance could further aid late-stage pacing. Chris’s 59th place finish in the M45-49 category indicates a solid performance among peers, with opportunities to cultivate even better endurance in high elevation conditions.