Hundreds of runners race to the summit in Pikes Peak Marathon
It’s known as “America’s Ultimate Challenge,” but that didn’t runners from racing to the summit of Pikes Peak and back.
The 60th running of the Pikes Peak Marathon kicked off in Manitou on Sunday morning, attracting 800 athletes from around the world.
“There’s just nothing like it,” said Greg Schollmeier, a runner from Hawaii. “When you talk to people about doing a marathon, everybody says ‘it’s so challenging.’ But you’re running flat, maybe a little incline, maybe a little decline. There’s just nothing like running up and down a mountain.”
The marathon takes runners on a 26.21-mile course up Barr Trail to the top of Pikes Peak, including an 8,000-foot vertical climb. After reaching the summit, the course continues back down the mountain.
The terrain and elevation make it difficult for runners at sea level to train for the race.
“It’s very hard because where I live, it’s flat,” said Sharon Nellessen, a runner from Wisconsin. “I have a golf course and I would just run hills there.”
Colorado Springs resident Alex Nichols, 30, finished in first place with a time of 3:46:40.
New York City resident, Hirut Guangul, 23, was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 4:29:06.
