Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Diganta Datta #679 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Pacing Strategy Adjusts at Higher Altitudes Diganta Datta completed the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon with an elapsed time of 5:52:33 over a 13.36-mile distance. Initially, his pace was promising, with a 9:57 min/mile at the Ruxton checkpoint, showing strong performance and positioning him at 964th place overall. As the race progressed, his pace tapered, reaching a pace of 20:14 min/mile at the Top of W's, where he held the 1111th position overall. Despite the challenging conditions, his pacing remained consistent until the later stages. In the final stretch above the tree line, the elevation gain impacted his pace significantly. The last 2.5 miles saw split paces such as 30:07 min/mile and 43:09 min/mile at the Finish, highlighting the altitude's effect on his speed. Despite this, he maintained position among his peers, finishing 905th in the gender category. Future altitude adjustment training and pacing strategy refinement can boost performance in similar high-altitude races.