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Pikes Peak Marathon
The Pikes Peak Marathon is a hilly course of 42.2 km (26.2 miles) with 2,313 m (7,589 ft) of climbing. Its lowest point is 1,929 m (6,329 ft) and its highest 4,243 m (13,921 ft) above sea level. Next race: Sunday 19 September 2027, starting at 7:00 AM.
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2027 race
- Start
- 07:007:00 AM
- Distance
- 42.2 km26.2 mi
- Marathon
- Total climb
- 2313 m7589 ft
- Highest point 2314 m7592 ft above lowest
- Time limit
- 10 hours
The course
Pick a place, or drag along the profileThe marathon climbs about 2,313 m from Manitou Springs at 1,930 m to the summit area at 4,243 m at 21.0 km, then returns down the same trail to a finish at 1,929 m.
Start, finish
© OpenStreetMap contributors
- Photo: Bob Burch: Serious Noticing, CC0
km 1.7mile 1.1
The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway
The organiser's course page takes runners west on Ruxton Avenue to and past the Cog Railway Depot before the trail starts.
Photo: Bob Burch: Serious Noticing, CC0
Height drawn many times taller than life · GEDTM30
0 10 20 30 40 km
0 10 20 26.2 mi
Your 5 gels, at the orange marksFor a 4:00 finish, one every 40 minutes
- km 7mile 4.4
- km 14.1mile 8.7
- km 21.1mile 13.1
- km 28.1mile 17.5
- km 35.2mile 21.8
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- From 1,930 m to 4,243 m and back downAbout 2,313 m up to the turnaround at 21 km, then the same way down.
- Manitou Avenue, Ruxton Avenue, then Barr TrailBarr Trail to the summit; the climb averages 13.4% from Hydro Street.
- Turnaround at 6:15, finish by 10 hoursSummit turnaround 6:15:00, finish cutoff 10:00:00, start 7:00 AM.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
Whole courseGradientFrom 1,930 m to 4,243 m and back downAbout 2,313 m up to the turnaround at 21 km, then the same way down.
The organiser’s own figures are a start at 6,300 ft (1,920 m), a summit at 14,115 ft (4,302 m) and 7,815 ft (2,382 m) of gain from start to summit.
Measured
Whole courseLandmarkManitou Avenue, Ruxton Avenue, then Barr TrailBarr Trail to the summit; the climb averages 13.4% from Hydro Street.
The organiser puts 3 miles and 2,150 ft of gain between Hydro Street and No Name Creek, an average grade of 13.4%, and about 3.3 miles and 1,450 ft from there to Barr Camp, averaging 8.3%. It calls that last stretch the fastest section of the course on the way up. The marathon covers the same route as the 13.32 mile Ascent and returns down the trail from the summit.
Sourced
Whole courseTacticsTurnaround at 6:15, finish by 10 hoursSummit turnaround 6:15:00, finish cutoff 10:00:00, start 7:00 AM.
Runners must be at least 16 on race day. The organiser says the weather can differ by as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit (23 C) between Manitou Springs and the upper mountain, and requires mandatory gear for that reason.
Sourced
Entry
The forecast for Sunday
Race morning, on the record
We hold no start time for this race, so the record is read at 09:009:00 AM, local time.
Race fuel
Energy gel
5 gels for Manitou Springs, plus 1 spare
Finish
One every 40 minutes, the orange marks on the profile, by the clock:
Under about 75 minutes most runners need no gel: water at the aid stations does it.
- km 7mile 4.4
- km 14.1mile 8.7
- km 21.1mile 13.1
- km 28.1mile 17.5
- km 35.2mile 21.8
For your long training runs:
Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side. Enough for race day and two test long runs.
Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.
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In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.
Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.
Anti-chafe
Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml
An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.
Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.
Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.
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Number belt
Compressport Race Belt
Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.
Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.
Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.
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Electrolytes
SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20
One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.
One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.
Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.
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Blister plasters
Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6
One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.
Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.
Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.
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We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Questions about the Pikes Peak Marathon
- Is the Pikes Peak Marathon course flat?
- No, it is a hilly course: 2,313 m (7,589 ft) of climbing over 42.2 km (26.2 miles). The highest point is 2,314 m (7,592 ft) above the lowest.
- When is the Pikes Peak Marathon 2027?
- Sunday 19 September 2027. The start is at 7:00 AM.
- What is the time limit at the Pikes Peak Marathon?
- Runners have 10 hours to finish.
Keep exploring
More races to look at after the Pikes Peak Marathon.
