Pikes Peak Ascent
18 August 2007
Race Report
This was my 10th running of the Pikes Peak Ascent. Like last year, I set my goal at breaking 3 hours and 30 minutes. And also like last year, I came up short of that goal. I got in some training on Barr Trail this year including several runs up to Barr Camp, two full 3-2-1's and an Elk Park run to the summit. However, my last 3-2-1 on 4 August was 12 minutes slower than my 14 July 3-2-1. Also, my last run on Barr trail, from the race start to Noname Creek, was slower than I had hoped. I attributed my regression in part to my summer vacation, a week and a half in late July at lower elevation and way too much eating.
I made sure I got plenty of carbs and ate bananas (in hopes of preventing cramps) two days before the race. The morning of the race I weighed in at 148 and had a small bowl of raisin bran, a banana, and coffee. I parked near my usual spot near the race start by 5:30 am, took care of business, and drank plenty of water and half a bottle of Gatorade before the race. This year I didn't carry water, a jacket or sun glasses and that all seemed worked out fine. All I carried was 3 PowerGels (caffeinated) and a pair of glove liners which I never put on. I used the same target splits that I used for the Ascent last year hoping to do better on the Barr Camp to A Frame section.
I got off to a good start staying close to my target splits all the way up to Barr Camp (3:20 Ruxton Ave, 10:41 Hydro St., 38:04 Top of the W's, 56:39 Noname Creek, 1:40:01 Barr Camp). I hiked fast in a few places - on the spur past Hydro and in a few steeper places on and above the Ws. I downed one PowerGel at Noname Creek and the next at Barr Camp. However, even after washing them down with water or Gatorade, the PowerGels seemed to stick in my throat a bit. I moved pretty well on the flats, but far from full out running. At Barr Camp I was feeling pretty good and cautiously optimistic of my changes of breaking 3:30.
I knew the section of Barr Camp would be my crux and I tried to push it a bit. However, didn't jog nearly as much of this section as I had hoped. When I reached the Bottomless Pit turnoff 2:15 behind my target pace, I knew breaking 3:30 would be difficult. Still, I hoped that I'd be able to keep a good pace above tree line and have a chance a making my goal. At the 3-miles to go sign just above A-Frame, I was 5:14 behind my target pace. Still, I could make my goal by covering the last 3 miles in an hour which I had done (fresh) on my 14 July 3-2-1. I downed my last PowerGel at the A-Frame aid station.
Above tree line, cramping in my calves and feet killed my chances of keeping a good pace. Every time I tried to jog, my calves or feet would begin to cramp badly and I had to back off. This problem persisted for the final three miles. At 2 miles to go I was 6:30 behind my target pace and knew I wasn't going to break 3:30. At one point my right calf cramped badly and I had to stop briefly for it to recover. I lost another 1:16 on the second to last mile and was definitely feeling the altitude. As in past years, quite a few more people passed me in the last two miles than I passed. Surprisingly, I actually covered the final mile 13 seconds faster than my target pace. I did very little jogging on this section and was very careful on the step ups to avoid setting off a calf cramp. I may have been pushing a bit harder because I didn't want to get passed.
I crossed the finish line at 3 hours, 37 minutes, and 8 seconds. I was disappointed at missing my goal by over 7 minutes and especially at being over 5 minutes slower than last year. Still, I knew this was a decent time for me, especially given how much training I got in. My time was good for 242nd out of 1647 finishers and 37th of 199 in m 46-50 age bracket. I was surprised at how bad my cramping had been this year and would love to figure out how to avoid this problem in future Ascents. Apparently a banana before the race doesn't do the trick. I suspect longer training runs would help. I talked to several friends on top and cramping was a common theme. So, once again, note to self: train longer and higher next year if you want to break 3:30!