Pikes Peak Marathon takes place on Sun, Sep 20, 2026 in Manitou Springs, United States. The main route is 42.2 km.
- Date
- Sun, Sep 20, 2026
- Start
- Manitou Springs 🇺🇸
- Distance
- 42.2 km
- Climbing
- 2,388 m
- Level
- Open to all
The Pikes Peak Marathon takes runners from Manitou Springs, Colorado, to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet and back down for a total of 26.2 grueling mountain miles.
Official event pageWhat this race demands
The Pikes Peak Marathon requires sustaining high-altitude output over a severe 42.2 km mountain profile with nearly 2,400 meters of vertical gain.
Altitude adaptation
Ascending to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet severely limits aerobic capacity and demands strong physiological tolerance to thin air.
Vertical climbing capacity
Accumulating 2,388 meters of elevation gain over a marathon distance requires sustained muscular strength and efficient uphill pacing.
Technical descending
Returning from the summit back down to Manitou Springs places immense eccentric loading on the quadriceps and requires high-speed mountain running skill.
Given a duration well exceeding 2.5 hours at high altitude, athletes should consume 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour to maintain energy output.
Estimated finish times
Estimates by level, not promises. Your own number depends on your fitness on the day.
Your road to race day
Race day at Pikes Peak Marathon is 4 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Peak1 week · Aug 24, 2026 – Aug 30, 2026
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
02Taper2 weeks · Aug 31, 2026 – Sep 13, 2026
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
03Race week1 week · Sep 14, 2026 – Sep 20, 2026
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
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