Training Highlights - The Focus Right Now

Brandon Stapanowich

Pikes Peak Marathon

​As I type these words, there are 191 days, 16 hours, 57 minutes, and 10 seconds until the 2026 Pikes Peak Marathon (countdown courtesy of skyrunner.com). By the time you read this, those numbers will be different…and, well, smaller.

For those of us who trend toward procrastination or maybe a glass-half-full outlook, that’s encouraging. Six months feels like a long time to prepare for race day. Of course, not everyone feels that way. For some runners, a September race already feels frighteningly close. We’ve had an unseasonably warm and dry winter here in Colorado this year, and perhaps more than in past seasons, it’s easy to think, I’m already behind. Maybe you’re wondering if you’ve done enough, or if you’ll ever feel ready.
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And then there’s life. Injuries happen. Work gets busy. Kids get sick. Unexpected challenges pop up at the most inconvenient times and can obscure the path to race day. Training for an event like the Pikes Peak Ascent or Marathon is a bit like solving a puzzle. Of course it involves the usual pieces. Speed work, hills, and long runs. But there’s another piece that’s just as important: figuring out how it all fits within the framework of your life.

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There's nothing like Barr Trail above treeline.

Discovering how training fits within the framework of life with infants and toddlers.

​One of the ideas I’m exploring this year as I ramp up training is challenging my definition of minimally effective training. Years ago, before having kids, I had an unspoken rule: it wasn’t worth running unless it lasted at least an hour. No coach told me this. I didn’t read it in a book. It was just a subconscious assumption I carried around. A run had to be at least 60 minutes or it didn’t count. Looking back, that idea seems a little ridiculous. These days, with two kids under five and a lot more life complexity, holding myself to that standard would mean missing a lot of opportunities to run. What once felt motivating would now be incredibly limiting.

Most of my runs this time of year are under 60 minutes and they still hold tremendous value. If I can get out for 20 to 30 minutes before school drop-off for an easy recovery run or even a short speed workout, I’ll take it. Those small efforts add up.
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The most important thing right now isn’t perfection, it’s consistency and staying healthy.
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Signing up for the Pikes Peak Ascent or Marathon is a meaningful commitment even before you hit the registration button. You have to ask yourself whether it aligns with your goals for the year and whether it fits within your work, family, and personal life. Whether you’ve run the race before and are chasing a top finish or you’re lining up for the first time, the goal is the same: to arrive at the start line confident that this will be your day. A day where you push yourself, have fun, and create a memory you’ll carry with you long after the race is over.
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That’s what makes committing to big goals like the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon so special. They give us the chance to create experiences we’ll remember for years and stories we’ll still be telling long after the finish line.
And the good news is this: wherever you are right now in your training, there’s still time.
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Right now, the most important things to focus on are simple:
Believe that you can accomplish what you want to accomplish in September.
Create a short- and long-term plan to guide your training.
Build habits and do small things (no matter how small) to reinforce that belief.

If you’re looking for structure, there are several great training resources available. The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon website has helpful material under the Plan/Training tab that can serve as a starting point.

Matt Carpenter’s skyrunner website is another treasure trove of information about the mountain and how to train for it. Connecting with a local running group (like the Incline Club here in Manitou Springs) can also make a huge difference. Even showing up once a week can provide motivation and accountability.

Some runners also like to map out a season with preparation races that act as stepping stones toward their “A-Race.” Others find that working with a coach helps remove uncertainty and lowers the barrier to getting started.
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And if you’re looking for an immersive experience, camps like the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon Training Camp through Tava Lodge offer course knowledge and a chance to connect with other runners chasing similar goals.
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Day 2 of the 2025 Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon Training Camp, presented by Tava Lodge.

​But above all else, the most important thing is to start where you are and do what you can do, not what you think you should do. Establish a routine, whether that means running two days a week, three days, or four. Focus on consistency, and don’t stress if life occasionally gets in the way. The runway to race day is long, and you don’t need to be overly specific yet. Add in a few faster days, some hillier runs when you can, and gradually extend your longer efforts. Over time, those pieces will come together. Fitness will build. Confidence will grow. And before you know it, you’ll be ready for the mountain!