Megan Kimmel, 38, sprints to the finish of the 2018 Pikes Peak Marathon; her time of 4:15:04 beat the 1981 course record by 14 slim seconds. The race and its sister, the Pikes Peak Ascent, grace my little mountain town each August. They provide an unforgettable experience for runners, one I still dream — however implausibly — as I near 60 (new age group!). You can read an account of my 1999 Ascent, including an overview and history of the races, here.
Meditatio Ephemera 
incredible!
i wonder why
run when i can walk 🙂
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Well, most people do walk most of the uphill, anyway …
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I couldn’t even walk it … and I am an avid walker! I marvel at the human animal. Including you … having completed this race!
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The Ascent is an amazing experience, one you could have done, too — at least before they started requiring a half-marathon qualifier. For all but elite runners, it’s mostly a power hike. And I know you have the fortitude and determination to complete it, Rafiki!
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Your Denver Post account is a great read – the Ascent boggles the mind (I’m not a runner).
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Thank you; it was really kind of you to make the extra effort to read my Post story. Most of the Ascent is a gritty power hike; only a few miles of it are runnable for any but elite runners. Most of us, I think, feel a pull to this kind of challenge, these difficult and beautiful venues (physical or otherwise) in which we may test ourselves.
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