Greetings 2016 Pikes Peak Marathon and Pikes Peak Ascent Runners

With the 61^st running of the Pikes Peak Marathon and Pikes Peak Ascent around the corner, this is a good time to go over some key highlights and some new items. All the information you need is on our race website containing much greater detail with additional maps and photos.

Always of concern is the weather. Do not forget to bring appropriate clothing in preparation for the wide range of conditions that can be experienced while on Pikes Peak.  Should we experience adverse weather, you may be stopped from continuing above timberline, should you not have the appropriate clothing. See below for more information. Remember that both races are in their own right, mountaineering events, where you are not always guaranteed to summit.

Also of special note, we will again be doing a rolling wave start. Please pay special attention to the Start Procedures section below.

And please remember to come and celebrate 60 years of Pikes Peak running at the 2nd Pikes Peak Run Fest in downtown Colorado Springs on August 18^th, starting at 5:00 p.m.

I hope you enjoy your time in Manitou Springs and wish you the best when running this weekend.

Live to Run,

Ron Ilgen, Race Director

SAFETY FIRST -- Be Prepared:

First and foremost is your safety and the safety of our volunteers. In short, be prepared for adverse to severe weather, be it rain, hail, snow, lightning or cold temperatures. You veterans know how weather conditions can quickly change. For you first timers, be prepared. There may not be a cloud in the sky at the start. However as many learned in previous years, conditions may be treacherous by the time you reach timberline.  For Ascent runners, be sure to use the sweat check service and pack plenty of warm clothing.

 
El Paso County Search and Rescue, who provides our race rescue support, tells their members the following two things. First, historically on every race weekend there will be a period of rain, thunder, lightning, graupel, wind and perhaps snow. The second is that “cotton kills.” The following are their clothing and accessories recommendations:
1. Waterproof jacket, ideally with a hood.
2. Hat (running hat for the sun if desired and wool type cap for the cold).
3. Gloves, ideally a wind stopper although wool mittens can work.
4. Water-resistant pants, primarily as a wind barrier.  Everyone should consider them, especially for the three miles above tree line.
5. Sunscreen and sunglasses.
6. Consider water repellent barrier spray for your gear.

Packet Pickup:  

A photo ID is required to receive your packet and your wristband. You must appear in person with your photo ID in order to receive your packet and wristband. A friend or family member cannot pickup your packet for you.
 
Packet pickup will start on Thursday, August 18^th at the Run Fest, weather permitting from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It will then continue at Memorial Park on Friday, August 19 form 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:45 a.m.

No Bib Transfers:

If you will be a "no show", do not transfer your bib to another runner! This will seriously disrupt the results, as well as the awards. In addition, it could end your chances of running the race ever again.

Rules & Regulations:

Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. has a jury of appeals to handle any issues arising on race days. The following are grounds for disqualification, primarily regarding:

1) Visible course cutting, either noticed by race officials that will be stationed throughout the course or reported by other athletes in the race.

2) Issues related to an athlete hampering another athlete’s progress such as an uphill runner not yielding to the faster downhill.

3) Wearing headphones.

4) Unsportsmanlike or egregious conduct.
For a complete list, got to http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/Rules.shtml

Cut-off Times & Race Finish Times:

Also for your safety concerns, you must finish the race prior to all cutoff times in order to receive the finisher shirt and finisher medal. Cutoffs are strictly enforced so that neither runners nor support crews are exposed to the dangers of extreme afternoon thunderstorms – and after all, these are races. Cutoff times are:
  Ascent                                          Marathon
10:30am         Barr Camp           10:15am
11:45am         A-Frame               11:30am
                       Summit                1:45pm      

In order to receive a finisher’s jacket and be listed as a finisher, Ascent runners must complete the entire course in under 6h30m; Marathon runners must complete the course in under10 hours. These cutoffs are determined by your chip time (start time -> finish time).

Course Information Highlights:

Now for some general information, suggestions and guidelines. Water will be available at all aid stations. Gatorade Endurance Formula will be available at the start, finish and all but the Incline aid station. Plenty of fruit and other food items will be at No Name Creek, Bobs Road, Barr Camp and A-Frame.  We recommend carrying a water bottle to refill at each aid stations, as it could be a long time between stations based on your speed. See the website for a course description if you are not familiar with the aid-station locations.
 
Course Etiquette:

Registration limits are ultimately for safety reasons, as well as to keep crowding to a minimum. To pass slower runners announce, “on your left,” a couple of times to make sure they hear you. This is one reason why earphones are prohibited. If this does not work, gently tap them on the shoulder and go around. Likewise, if someone is trying to pass you please make an honest effort to let him or her pass. You will expect the same when it is your turn to pass.
 
Contrary to normal trail etiquette where uphill traffic has the right of way, during the Marathon the downhill runners own the right of way. The front-runners especially, will be going very fast and cannot make quick course adjustments. When you see a runner coming down; yell out, “trail,” so others know to be prepared. And again, this is another reason why earphones are prohibited. Overall, be sure to stay alert, as the lead Marathon runners on the descent are averaging 6-minute miles and you do not want to be in their way! See the website for further rules and guidelines.

Please be aware, that we do not have exclusive rights to limit Barr Trail access to only Pikes Peak runners. However, we do our best to inform the public and advise that they avoid Barr Trail on race weekend. Even still, you will encounter hikers; especially on the lower trail section. Give them plenty of verbal warning as you approach, so that they have time to get out of your way.

Leave No Trace:

Participants are to observe the same etiquette concerning litter, as we would on non-race days. The races are by permission of the U.S. Forest Service, which ask that we follow their “leave no trace behind” policy. We gladly comply by placing trash zones at each aid station for you to drop your cups, gel packs and such. Otherwise, throwing any form of litter outside of these zones is prohibited. The trash zones will be clearly marked. Blatant littering outside of the aid stations will be grounds for disqualification.

Ascent Transportation and Finisher Shirt:

To prevent crowding at the summit and to get runners off the mountain as soon as possible, we provide a post-race staging area at Glen Cove. This is 6 miles from the summit at 11,440 feet where there will be a tent and post-race refreshments. This is also where you will transfer from the vans to the school buses for your return to Manitou Springs. It is strongly advised that once you finish the Pikes Peak Ascent, you get your sweat check bag, change to your warm clothes, grab something to eat and drink, then load into the vans to Glen Cove. We want to avoid past situations where runners are stranded at the summit due to adverse weather by having you get off the summit as soon as possible. Note that you will receive your finisher shirt when you return to Memorial Park in Manitou.
  

Chip Timing:

Two chips are attached to the back of your bib. Do not damage or remove the chip. Scoring is based on chip time, meaning your time starts when you cross the start line, not when the starting gun goes off. This means that you can lineup according to your predicted time and not worry about missing the few seconds before you cross the start line.  Signs will be posted according to your predict time and we ask that you line up accordingly.

Chip Timing Accuracy:

Please help us to maximize the chip timing accuracy by doing the following:
• Do not damage the chip. The system won’t be able to read a damaged chip.

• Do not fold the bib in any way. It makes it harder for the spotters to see and you risk turning the chip around backwards, which will prevent the system from being able to read it.
• At the split timing locations, the patch panels will be mounted about chest high.  As you go by, make sure your bib has a clear line of sight with the patch panel. The patch panel cannot read a chip through other runners next to you.
• Especially at the finish line and at the summit of the Marathon, please make sure your bib is visible on the front of your clothing.  

Split Times:

Split-timing locations are located at one-mile, No Name Creek, Barr Camp, A-Frame and at one-mile to go to the summit, in addition to the Summit Turnaround for the Marathon.

Wave Start Procedures 

In order to help alleviate course crowding, we will use a rolling wave start procedure again for both the Ascent and the Marathon. Runners have been seeded into starting waves based on their qualification times. The runners bib number defines the wave with bib numbers 1 through 199 in wave one, bibs 200 to 299 in wave two, bibs 300 to 399 in wave 3, etc.

With the exception of runners in the 1st wave (bibs #1 -> 199) who will start at 7:00 AM, to determine your assigned starting time, simply drop the last two numbers of you bib number (available on the confirmation list). For example bib number 645 will start at 7:06, bib number 1347 will start at 7:13.  Note that any runner who starts prior to their assigned start time will be disqualified. See wave start procedures for further details.

Race Expo:

Be sure to check out the expo displays. As always, many of your favorite Pikes Peak Marathon & Pikes Peak Ascent merchandise items will be available, but supplies are limited. Colorado Running Company will also have various items for your last minute racing needs.  And Salomon will be displaying their latest running shoes. Expo dates are Friday, 9:00am to 7:00pm, Saturday, noon to 7:00pm.

 
Press Conference:
Again we will have a Competitive Runners Press Conference: Everyone is invited to the press conference on Friday, August 19, at 1:00pm in Memorial Park. So come to see and listen to the top competitive runners from all over the world.

Spaghetti Dinner and Speaker Program:

The Kiwanis start serving at 4:30pm so that you can enjoy their famous spaghetti dinner and watch the speaker program, as well as the Ascent awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Sadly, there will not be a Peak Busters program this year. However, Friday’s program will feature long-time Pikes Peak runners, providing Pikes Peak rookies a chance to learn from these veterans.

Parking:

Parking in Manitou Springs can be difficult during large events. Please do your best to park East of the race start line using the high school and middle school lots. It is just not a good time to be parking all over Manitou Springs. Even though the Incline will be closed for both race days, parking will still be at a premium. And yes, your warm-up jog and cool-down crawl may be a little longer but please consider the residents of Manitou Springs! Parking direction can be found at: http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/Parking.shtml.

 
Post-Race:

After both races, please join fellow runners for a post-race celebration and snack consisting of pizza, beer and other beverages. Note that the snack is for runners only.

Prize Money:

In order to continually attract the world’s best runners, prize money remains the same as last year, along with course records and challenge time bonuses. See details at: http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/awards.htm.
 

Race Results:

There will be race updates near real time during the races and displayed on our race website.

To reiterate:

Be sure to have appropriate clothing in preparation for the wide range of weather conditions that can be experienced while on Pikes Peak. Your safety, the safety of your fellow runners and that of the race support volunteers takes precedent over anything else.

 
We hope you have an enjoyable, memorable and safe race. The Race Committee along with all 800 volunteers and support personnel, look forward to seeing you soon. And please show your appreciation to the Manitou Springs residence, our volunteers and to our sponsors.

Thank you and have a great race,
The Pikes Peak Marathon & Pikes Peak Ascent Race Committee

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Course Tips:
Matt Carpenter, holder of both the Pikes Peak Ascent and Pikes Peak Marathon course records, offers the following strategies and helpful tips:
 
The single most important thing to remember is pacing! The goal of a mountain runner is to maintain an even effort over all types of terrain. Effort is not the same thing as speed and that is where people often get into trouble. Remember to vary your speed, sometimes by a lot, if the terrain dictates it. Walking the really steep sections and running the flatter sections can often produce much better results than trying to run up the first several miles of the course only to be too tired to take advantage of the relatively flatter sections getting to Barr Camp. The next thing to consider is hydration. As the saying goes, "drink early and drink often." Running up hills and in altitude makes this all the more important! This goes doubly so if the temperatures get into the 80s.
 
Uphill tips
1) The first section is the steepest - don't go out too hard!
2) Taking "baby steps" will help you maintain a good cadence. It's like switching to granny gear on a mountain bike.
3) On long, steady hills, switching often between walking and running is tempting, but it makes you lose momentum and cadence. Pick one or the other and go with it. Switch only when the terrain switches.
4) Posture is everything. Leaning forward from the hips puts too much pressure on your back, an erect posture will provide a better push-off.
5) Look uphill, not at your feet. This will allow you to pick the best line and free up your airway.
 
Downhill tips
1) Don't over-stride, each landing will put extreme stress on your legs.
2) Lean forward not backward keeping your whole body perpendicular to the ground. Again, this will save your quads and allow you to run faster.
3) If you need to control your speed cut your stride length and increase your cadence. Like using low gear in a car.
4) Like a hurdler, step over, not on rocks and other obstacles. Keep your body level and lift your legs.
5) Pick as straight a line as possible down the hill. The more you move left and right, the more you stress your legs and increase the distance.