Pikes Peak Marathon

The Pikes Peak Marathon is the most challenging marathon in North America. The course travels from 6,300 feet to over 14,000 feet and then returns to the 6,300 feet for the finish.

The start is at 6,300' (1,920m) and the summit is 14,115' (4,302m). The elevation gain from the start to the summit turn around is 7,815' (2,382 meters). During the ascent, there are very few stretches which are not going uphill with the average percent grade being 11%.

The footing, or surface, of the trail varies. In the forested sections it is primarily decomposed rock with a mixture of dirt and loose gravel on the surface with the occasional root or rock. Above treeline, the trail is primarily loose gravel with one short section of broken rock and the section known as the 16 Golden Stairs being gravel with frequent step-ups of some 10 to 15 inches (the Golden Stairs refers to the 32 switch-backs remaining to the summit).