![]() “Kílian Jornet has said that along with Zegama and Sierre-Zinal, Pikes Peak is the toughest,” boasts Pikes Peak Marathon race director Ron Ilgen. ![]() Because of the rapid elevation gain, ending where the partial pressure of oxygen is only about sixty percent of that at sea level, and the potential for storms that can roll in and turn a blue-skied August day into a struggle for survival, it’s considered by many world-class mountain runners to be one of the hardest races of its kind in the world. It was late summer 2005, and at thirty-eight I was attempting to complete my second Pikes Peak Ascent, a race that gains nearly 8,000 feet over thirteen miles, from Manitou Springs, Colorado - elevation 6,320 feet - to the top of Pikes Peak, at 14,114 feet. But when the lightning came, the strikes were quick, loud cracks that boomed as they hit the ground and made the dirt fly. Heavy snow was falling, the flakes in my eyelashes making it hard to see. I stood up only when the trail snaked between large granite boulders that I had to reach to climb up and over. I was crouched over, head down, in a half-run shuffle, eyes on my muddy running shoes. Stick with it, and you’ll find yourself running longer and longer sections.I’ll never forget the Gatorade bottle. If you want to improve your time, try running some of the flatter sections. Many people also bring an extra hat to put on at the top.īottom line: Don’t let the cold, ice and snow keep you off of the Incline! A good warmup, the right footwear and versatile clothes can make the Incline a year-round workout. A base layer with a light jacket makes for a good combination you can take off and put on the jacket as needed. You want layers that will keep you warm before you hit the stairs, something you can peel off as you generate more heat, and something you can put back on for the cooler descent. Think about your clothing choices in these three stages. Then the trip back down Barr Trail can be frigid as moisture from the ascent either evaporates or freezes to your clothes either way, you lose body heat. The ascent usually feels relatively warm as you generate body heat. ![]() One of the most challenging things about winter Inclining is the temperature change from start to finish. Screw shoes, Microspikes and Yaktrax are all good options to provide traction while climbing the steps and during the descent down Barr Trail. Don’t be that person who has to have Search and Rescue come pull you off on a sled. I’ve witnessed countless Incliners hopelessly fall and flail due to poor traction on their feet. Traction on ice- and snow-covered ties is important. If you are crunched for time, go slower on the “flatter” initial part of the Incline as your warmup. Whether you take the free shuttle or run or hike up Ruxton Avenue, take 10 to 20 minutes of easy running or hiking to warm up properly. While convenient, it sometimes robs Incliners of a proper warmup. The free shuttle runs to within a couple hundred yards of the first tie. If you play your cards right, the Incline can be a great and diverse workout all winter long. Why? Traffic counts are lower, and the snow and ice covering the ties present additional obstacles to negotiate. While some shudder at the prospect of bundling up in the bitter cold, for some sadistic reason I head out to the steps whenever I can in cold weather. Winter is the best season for the Incline.
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