Pikes Peak Marathon + Ascent

Taking into account my personal experience of more than 60 (ultra) marathons Pikes Peak Marathon is the most beautiful nature marathon in the world - besides the Swiss Alpine. The course is extremely scenic, the organisation is perfect, and at Pikes Peak I enjoyed the best and most personal pasta party I ever had. Unfortunately you can never be sure that you can make the whole run, because the weather conditions at Pikes Peak a not calculable. If there is too much snow the organizer will stop the race for the runner's sake. Also you must be aware that the race usually is sold out within a few minutes.

You begin ascending from Manitou Springs at an altitude of 1918 meters and will arrive the summit at 4299 meters after a time which usually equals the runners finishing time in a flat city marathon. Even the the downhill part (at the same path) will take at least 30 minutes more than a usual half marathon.