Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Jacob Schmitz #1015 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Consistent Pace with a Strong Finish Despite Altitude Challenges Jacob Schmitz finished the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent with an elapsed time of 5:44:45 and an average pace of 25:48 min/mile over the 13.36-mile course. Compared to last year's event, Jacob's overall placement decreased from 1221 to 1347, but despite this, he maintained a close performance to his previous elapsed time of 5:38:55. In his age group (Open 20-24), he placed 53rd, a change from 38th in 2024. His starting pace at Ruxton was 9:46 min/mile, but this understandably slowed as altitude increased, culminating in a 41:08 min/mile pace at the finish. The final stretch above the tree line saw significant altitude gain, making the split from "1 Mile to Go" to "Finish" particularly challenging with a decrease in pace. Nonetheless, each segment was approached with commendable effort. Going forward, aiming to maintain composure during the steep altitude climbs could help improve overall performance.