America's Ultimate Challenge - 70th Pikes Peak Marathon September 21, 2025
Known as "America's Ultimate Challenge" the Pikes Peak Marathon is a race like no other! With a 7,800 foot vertical climb, the course takes runners from Manitou Springs, Colorado, along Barr Trail to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet —and back— for a total of 26.2 grueling mountain miles. The course begins in downtown Manitou Springs with 1.5 miles of road before joining Barr Trail. With an average 11% grade, the trail winds through pine and aspen forests before climbing above tree line into breathtaking alpine views. Returning down Barr Trail, the descent challenges runners with terrain that tests endurance, focus and determination. Pikes Peak Marathon invites Elite Competitors, offers cash prizes to winners as well as free entries to past winners! Are you ready to take the challenge? |
Pikes Peak Marathon - 2025 Registration Fees
$200 Early Bird Registration March 1
Online registration opens at 5:00am MST on Saturday, March 1, 2025
$200 Early Bird Registration March 1
Online registration opens at 5:00am MST on Saturday, March 1, 2025
Date |
Registration Fee |
March 1 |
$200 |
April 1 |
$225 |
July 1 |
$250 |
August 1 |
Last day for runner shirt option! |
Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. is an equal opportunity service provider and a permittee of the Pike National Forest. Entry limits are set by the Forest Service for the runners on the course.
2025 Dates to RememberJanuary 15, 2025 - Pre-Registration open to 2024 runners that deferred to 2025; registration by invitation only. NOTE: If you deferred your entry fee in 2024, your entry is guaranteed through February 28, 2025; after that time, your entry cannot be guaranteed if the race sells out. You must claim your deferred entry by registering by February 28. March 1, 2025 - General Registration opens - 5:00am MST Registration will be closed when each race sells out, and a waitlist may be available for interested parties. July 31, 2025 - Deferral Deadline for 2026 - Runners are strongly encouraged to purchase the optional race insurance at checkout to protect against their inability to participate due to injury, illness (including covid), family emergency, or job-related issues that are beyond their control. |
Estimating your Marathon TimeWhen registering for the Pikes Peak Ascent or Marathon, all runners must supply a qualifier. We then take these qualifiers and compare them with the results from previous runners with similar qualifiers. This produces an "Estimated Ascent Time" that is then used to determine which starting wave you will be placed into.
The top 90 men and top 90 women are placed in the 1st starting wave. Subsequent waves are filled based on a runners estimated ascent time. Use the link below to calculate your estimated ascent time based on your qualifier. If you have several possible qualifiers, we suggest that you use the one that produces the fastest estimated ascent time. Runners have until August 1st to update their qualifier with a "better" one. To do so, edit your registration. We will also automatically factor in the current year Garden 10 Mile and BTMR results as long as you used the same RunSignUp account to register for all of your races. If your GoG or BTMR result produces a faster estimated ascent time, it will be used in place of your other qualifier. |
2025 Pikes Peak Marathon Wave Placement Qualifications
Overview
Submitted results will be verified by the registrar for wave placement purposes. If we are unable to validate your results, they will not be used for wave placements. Submitting verified results will help to place registered runners in the proper start wave.
Self-Timed
Sanctioned Event
Any organized and permitted event with publicly posted results.
- Runners may submit one of the following for wave placement purposes when registering.
- Runners must be at least 16 years old on race day to register.
Submitted results will be verified by the registrar for wave placement purposes. If we are unable to validate your results, they will not be used for wave placements. Submitting verified results will help to place registered runners in the proper start wave.
Self-Timed
- A self-timed run of 10 miles. Wave placement qualifier run must be from January 1, 2024 or newer.
- There are no restrictions on the surface or elevation gain/loss.
- Longer distances may be used.
- For a self-timed run, the run must be done outdoors and recorded with a GPS enabled device or smartphone. Post the share link from Strava, Garmin Connect, or other system you used to record the run when registering.
Sanctioned Event
Any organized and permitted event with publicly posted results.
Pikes Peak Finishers
- If you have completed the Pikes Peak Ascent or Pikes Peak Marathon in the past 4 years (2021+) with a time under the cutoff of 6:30:00 for the Ascent or 10:00:00 for the Marathon. Your fastest Ascent time in the past 4 years is used for wave placement purposes.
- If you have previously finished either the Ascent or Marathon but have not done so in the past 4 years, we will use your most recent Ascent or Marathon time for wave placement purposes.
Event |
Time |
Date |
Barr Trail Mountain Race |
Under 4:00:00 |
Within the last 4 years (2021 - Present) |
Pikes Peak Ascent |
Under 6:30:00 |
Within the last 4 years (2021 - Present) |
Pikes Peak Marathon |
Under 10:00:00 |
Within the last 4 years (2021 - Present) |
Marathon (26.2 miles) |
Under 6:30:00 |
Within the last 3 years (2022 - Present) |
Ultra / Trail / Other Race* |
Within 3x the overall winner’s time without regard for sex/gender |
Within the last 3 years (2022 - Present) |
*Other Race Types - any running event that meets at least one of the following criteria may be used as a wave placement qualifier:
- Any race over 50k
- Any trail race over 20 miles on predominantly unimproved dirt trails (no concrete paths, dirt roads, rails to trails, or similar)
- Any race with an ITRA point value of 2 or higher ("S" Category)
- Any race over 15 miles long with a point over 12,000ft
- Any race over 20 miles with a point over 9,000ft
- Any race where there is at least 4,000ft between the lowest point on the course and the highest point on the course and you travel from lowest point to highest point.
- Any Xterra "Long", Half Ironman (70.3), or longer Triathlons
- Any Obstacle (e.g. Spartan) Race over 30k
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Pikes Peak Marathon