Pikes Peak Ascent + Marathon:  39.5 tough miles

Before finishing the 2021 Pikes Peak Ascent, I already convinced myself I would be back to complete the Double in 2022.  The Pikes Peak Ascent is a 13.15 mile run to the top of Pikes Peak on day one of a two-day event.  The altitude at finish is 14,115 feet making it hard to breath while gaining almost 8,000 feet of vertical climb during the event.  You return to Manitou Springs by bus after completing the Ascent.  The first half of the Pikes Peak Marathon is the same as the Ascent—you run 13.15 miles to the top of the mountain.  Instead of returning by bus, marathoners turn around and run down the mountain to the finish line to make Sunday’s distance 26.3 miles.  The Double requires you to complete both events on back-to-back days. 

Preparation and Training:

• Weekly 90-minute training runs on the treadmill with a 12% incline while wearing an oxygen deprivation mask
• Average of 45 miles per week
• Bi-weekly 30+ mile runs with at least 12 miles above 85 degrees
• 300 body-weight squats per week
• 90 minutes per week infrared sauna to increase red blood cell production
• 5 weekly cryotherapy sessions
• 1 hip compression and 1 leg compression therapy session per week
• Weekly iVs (Pregame from iCRYO), including one before leaving for Colorado
• 17-mile training run on course + Manitou incline two weeks prior to race
• 4 hours of DDP Yoga per week

I showed up in Manitou Springs feeling more prepared for these races than any other long run of my career.  I also felt strongest physically without any aches/pains anywhere.  I was in my room early both nights and in bed by 8:30pm.  I ordered delivery for dinner and never turned the TV on to help keep me focused and ensure I received enough sleep.  Both mornings started at 4:05AM and included a half hour of DDP Yoga to loosen up.

Day 1 of Pikes Peak went as planned.  2021’s race was completed in 4 hours, 35 minutes so my 2022 goal was to be slightly slower to save energy for Day 2.  I finished in 4 hours, 42 minutes and felt strong after the run.  I hammered out a little DDP Yoga in my hotel room in addition to 2 hours of compression therapy (hips and legs).  I also took in an IV to re-hydrate as I was feeling completely dried out after crossing the finish line.

I called my good friend Tony after the Ascent.  I had a pacing plan in place for day 2:  move quickly during miles 1-8, slow down until 19 due to terrain and altitude, speed up at mile 19 and then turn on the afterburners at mile 21.  Tony agreed it was a good plan and I would execute it the following day.

Day 2 was brutal.  I set a goal of 9 hours or less.  My thought was I should be able to complete the summit 30 minutes slower than day 1 and I should be able to go down the mountain at least 30 minutes quicker.  My pace was on point, but things went south as I passed the tree line.  My quads, knees and glutes were completely shot and I was exhausted.  This is when I entered the “pain cave” for the next 3.5 hours.  The pain cave is what ultrarunners call the part of the race where everything hurts and you’re exhausted but leverage mental toughness to continue moving.  While moving through the pain cave I constantly questioned my ambition for doing the Double and wondered if I would finish.  My confidence increased when I hit the summit in 5 hours 12 minutes.  I knew I would hit the 10 hour cut-off for sure.  Or would I?  Around this time my stomach began to hurt and I could no longer consume food, water or any nutrition.

Many people think running downhill should be easier than uphill, but it presents a different set of challenges.  The terrain on this trail is difficult once passing mile 8 and it was not any easier running it downhill than it was uphill.  In fact, some spots proved to be more difficult.  The view going downhill was interesting.  At this point I had summited 3 times (once in 2021 and twice in 2022), but this was my first trek downhill.  While running uphill, you really don’t look down the mountain to see how high up you are.  But I did notice while running down and felt very small.  The mountain is tall and steep and us runners are mere ants.  Colorado Springs looks like a couple of dots and Garden of the Gods looks like a stack of pebbles.  And while taking in the view, I was also running on a rocky trail as fast as I could move while avoiding a slip, trip or fall.  My pace remained slow while traveling down the hill.  I was not able to consume any water or food for almost 3 hours and I was fading.  This is the point of the race where I went really deep into the pain cave.  I felt miserable and determined simultaneously.  

I re-calculated my pace around mile 19 and realized if I didn’t increase my speed, I would never break 9 hours.  In fact, I was on pace for a 10 hour, 10 minute finish at one point.  The cutoff for the race is 10 hours so it was time to turn things around.  My pace picked up after moving below 12,000 feet but the terrain was still difficult.  The terrain improved around 10,000 feet and my pace picked up.  I slowly ate some peanuts and eventually my stomach felt better.  I began to hydrate and started feeling much stronger.  I was tired and ready to be done but had to increase my pace to make the finish.  I would run miles 21-26 faster than any other portion of the races over 2 days and crossed the finish line at 8 hours, 52 minutes.  My goal was accomplished and I was humbled and happy to see so many of my Wichita friends waiting for me at the finish line.

This course is very scenic, difficult and humbling…yet some of the most fun you’ll ever have while doing something hard.  The field of other runners are friendly and the volunteers at aid stations are second to none.  If you haven’t done either race before, sign up in 2023.  You won’t regret it.

Of any challenge I’ve ever done, I felt most prepared for this race series.  I stuck with my training and recovery plan to a T.  The races were difficult, but the preparation made it easier than it would have been.  The preparation boosted my confidence on the hill.

What’s next?  I’m planning to run 24 hours straight in November’s KUS 6/12/24 hour race.  My plan is to set new personal bests for time running and total distance. 

I have 45 days to prepare.  Time to get busy.

Go get it.