Pikes Peak Ascent & Marathon

The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon races begin in front of the City Hall in Manitou Springs, a city of some 5,000 population, located approximately 6 miles west of Colorado Springs, Colorado. While both races begin in the city (and the Marathon finishes in the city) the majority of both races are run on Barr Trail in Pike National Forest. Barr Trail is a US Forest Service trail that is on the east face of Pikes Peak. The race courses do not use any part of the famed Pikes Peak Highway (which is on the north and west flanks of the mountain). The trail is often narrow, winding, and may be gravel, rocks or dirt with sharp turns and abrupt changes in elevation or direction.

​Elevation gain (start to summit) is at 7,815′ (2,382m); the start is at 6,300′ (1,920m) and the summit is 14,115′ (4,302m). The Ascent finish/Marathon turnaround is at approximately 14,050′. The Ascent (and ascent leg of the Marathon) has very few stretches which are not going uphill, with the average grade being 11%.

There is a strong women’s history within the Pikes Peak Marathon as Arlene Pieper was the first documented woman to complete a marathon, the Pikes Peak Marathon, in 1959.

Join for either the Ascent (Saturday) or Marathon (Sunday) or if you are bold enough to complete the Double of both races back to back. This is a must do bucket list race!