Pikes Peak Marathon

Race strategy

Run the climb at race pace, build your speed on the downhill, and go all out at the finish.

• High point at 4280m. Control your HR at altitude.
• Final 2351m descent. Save your legs to go all out on it.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, and start the final descent from 21.3km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• Start · 0.0km–1.9km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.9km–21.3km · Climb of 2365m, high point 4280m. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine.
• Home · 21.3km–41.8km · Descent of 2351m averaging 11%. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Very long descent: first half under control, then even, let go only near the end. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine.

Course

The course climbs 2377m+. With 56m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 47% of the distance is uphill, 46% downhill and 7% flat. The longest climb runs 21.3km at an average 11.1% grade (2365m of vertical). The longest descent runs 20.6km at an average 11.4% grade (2351m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 19.2% over 0.4km. The steepest descent drops at 19.0% over 0.4km. Surface: 92% trail and 7% road.

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 14.1km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 34 of 100), with 0% of the load in the first half: 0 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, and start the final descent from 21.3km under control, then go all out near the bottom.
• 21.3–41.8 km · 2351 m D−, -11.4% · 0.0 km ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end