All Videos Tagged Matt (Pikes Peak Sports) - Pikes Peak Sports

Matt Novakovich clocks blistering 20:13 on Incline, but misses record

2014-07-26T23:47:50.827Z

Matt Novakovich who was the first to the top of the brutal Mount Marathon race this year in Seward, Alaska, came up short in his bid to beat Matt Carpenter's best time of 18 minutes, 31 seconds, on the Manitou Incline, an abandoned mile-long railway bed that ascends 2,000 feet at the base of Pikes Peak.
One of the the top men in the 2014 Spartan race series, the Beetelite-sponsored Novakovich, 40, lined up at the base of the Incline at 7 p.m on Friday, July 26. The heat of the day had given way to cooler temps as he charged up the first section of railroad ties.
After the halfway point, he said the Incline's tough 45 percent-plus grade began to tax his energy and any chances at a record slipped away.
He still finished in 20 minutes, 13 seconds, one of the best times recorded on the Incline in years, and made more impressive by the rugged condition of the trail, which has been damaged by heavy rains.
Novakovich, who lives in Anchorage, Alaska, beat Ricky Gates and Eric Strabel to the top of 3,022-foot Mount Marathon this year in the famous up-and-down race. He eventually finished third, covering the 3 1/2-mile course in 45 minutes, 46 seconds.
There have been faster times recorded on the Incline. Pro triathlete Mark Fretta claimed a 16:42, but received a four-year sanction in 2012 - after he had retired - for suspected use of performance enhancing drugs. Fretta contests that his Incline record, set in 2006, should still stand since he never tested positive.
And Olympic short track speed skating gold medalist Apolo Ohno has recorded a 17:45, but it's uncertain where he started his climb and he may have traveled a shorter distance than others.

Matt Carpenter at the Colorado Springs Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

2013-10-30T04:33:51.342Z

The 12-time winner of the Pikes Peak Marathon, Matt Carpenter was inducted into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday at the Colorado Springs World Arena.
Carpenter was training in Vail in 1987 when he learned about the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent. Like many runners, he said his first attempt at Pikes Peak was a humbling experience.
"I thought it sounded interesting and I was kind of ignorant at the time," Carpenter said. "So I came down and looked up at the mountain and said, 'I am Pikes Peak.' And I got my butt kicked really bad that first race. In fact, I was riding down the mountain with my friend, and I said, 'Harold, you need to pull the car over.' So I'm on the side of the road puking up my grapes and bananas, and he says, 'yeah, you are Pikes Peak.'"
Carpenter was inducted along with five-time Olympic gold medalist speed skater Bonnie Blair, former Colorado Springs Sky Sox great Luis Medina, former Colorado College and University of Wisconsin hockey coach Jeff Sauer, former Wasson High School coach Dick Westbay, the late Nick Sanborn, five time winner of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, and the 1986-87 state champion Rampart High School boys basketball team.
For more video, blogs, photos and stories about running and cycling in the Pikes Peak Region, check out http://www.pikespeaksports.us/.

Start of the inaugural Mine to Mine 9K

2012-10-13T23:15:58.380Z

Runners in the inaugural Mine to Mine 9K in Cripple Creek sprinted down the hill at the start of the race on Oct. 13, 2012, in Cripple Creek. Matt Levassuir and Brandy Erholtz took the wins. Levassuir ran shoulder-to-shoulder with his Boulder Running Company/Adidas teammate Adam Rich for the first two miles before pulling away on the then took the rolling road course to win in 29:17.76. The women's race became a battle between two of the country's top mountain runners. Michele Suszek took an early lead, but Erholtz reeled her in to win in 34:55.69. Suszek finished in 35:05.

Start of Race Against Suicide 5K

2011-09-25T23:19:40.648Z

Twelve-time Pikes Peak Marathon champion Matt Carpenter served as the honorary starter for Sunday's Race Against Suicide 5K and 15K races. Carpenter shared a...

Matt Carpenter tags the summit in the Pikes Peak Marathon

2011-08-22T14:13:45.276Z

When the alarm rang at 5 a.m., Matt Carpenter's first thought was "I don't want to do this." But by 7 a.m. he was at the starting line of the Pikes Peak Marathon in Manitou Springs. Three hours and 48 minutes later, he won for the 12th time.