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Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent
Race Details:
- Location: Manitou Springs, CO, USA
- Race Date: 09/19/2026
- Race Distances: Full Marathon, Half Marathon
What This Race Counts Toward:
Boston: No
World Marathon Majors: No
Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent Description
The Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent starts in front of City Hall in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and sends runners up Barr Trail to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak, one of the most demanding trail races anywhere. The Ascent (13.32 miles) finishes at the summit, while the Marathon (26.21 miles) continues back down the same trail to finish in Manitou Springs. With more than 7,800 feet of elevation gain, narrow single-track footing, and fast-changing mountain weather, it’s less a road race than a mountain expedition, and one of the longest-running trail races in the country, dating back to 1956.
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Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent Additional Details:
Eight aid stations dot Barr Trail, stocked with water, Gatorade, energy bars, fruit, cookies, and pretzels, though the real landmark stop is Barr Camp at 7.6 miles, a century-old cabin that supplies backcountry hikers year-round and turns into a full-service aid station on race weekend. A-Frame, perched even higher, is the last major resupply before the thinning air takes over. Rewards scale with the challenge: Ascent finishers who reach the summit within the cutoff earn a finisher’s jacket, while Marathon finishers who complete the full out-and-back get a shirt and medal. Few races let you stand above 14,000 feet at the finish line, and reaching Pikes Peak’s summit under your own power remains the defining reward in itself.
Course Information
Profile: Very Hilly
Type: Out and Back
Surface: Trails
Pace Groups: No
Time Limit: 6.5 hours (Ascent to summit), 10 hours (Marathon)
# of Finishers
1,700 to 1,800 Half Marathon
700 to 750 Marathon
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: 7,815 ft (Marathon), 7,815 ft (Half)
Elevation Loss: 7,815 ft (Marathon), 0 ft (Half)
Average Temperature
- Low: 40°F
- High: 70°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
Things to Do in Manitou Springs, CO, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
Scenic Drives & Viewpoints
Garden of the Gods
Take in red-rock formations and mountain views at Garden of the Gods, just outside Manitou Springs — a relaxed, mostly-flat way to spend a rest day.
Museums & History
Historic Manitou Springs
Wander Historic Manitou Springs, a Victorian-era spa town with mineral springs and preserved 19th-century architecture — an easy, flat, low-impact stop after race day.
Landmark
Pikes Peak
Ride the historic Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the 14,115-foot summit of America’s Mountain for epic views and alpine air — a relaxed, low-impact way to take in the scenery.
Shopping
Downtown Manitou Springs
Browse boutique shops and galleries in downtown Manitou Springs, a walkable arts colony at the base of Pikes Peak — an easy, flat stroll for a post-race souvenir.
Sports & Entertainment
Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
Take an underground cave tour or a thrill ride above a scenic gorge at Cave of the Winds Mountain Park — a relaxed way to spend an afternoon after race day.
Outdoors & Trails
Barr Trail
Hike a portion of the Barr Trail, a 12-plus-mile route gaining 7,800 vertical feet from Manitou Springs to the summit of Pikes Peak — choose an easy lower segment for tired legs.
Food & Drink
Manitou Mineral Springs
Sip from one of Manitou Springs’s free public mineral springs fountains, scattered throughout the historic downtown — a relaxed, low-impact way to refuel after race day.
Hotels & Lodging Near the Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent
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