Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 20, 2025 Participant: Steven Merritt #667 Race: 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Chilly start. Heavy winds (tail/cross wind). Sunny at the finish.

Significant Time Improvement on Pikes Peak Steven Merritt, 48, from Colorado Springs, CO, demonstrated notable progress at the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon. Completing the 13.36-mile course in 4:01:55, he achieved an impressive 57-minute improvement from his previous year's time of 4:59:37. Merritt's overall pace for the race was 18:06 min/mile, placing him 26th in his division (O45-49), out of a total of 2049 participants. Steven's initial pace at Ruxton was a swift 7:19, highlighting a strong start before gradually transitioning to more deliberate efforts. At the higher altitude sections, his pace slowed to 27:09 at the finish, consistent with the changing elevation and fatigue. Notably, Steven maintained consistent vertical pacing at various checkpoints, including 16:29 at the Top of W's and 22:14 at A-Frame. His strategic pacing and resilience on the steep incline contributed to a well-rounded improvement from the previous year. Focusing on hill training could further enhance his performance.