Race Rules

Mandatory Gear Requirements

All runners in the Pikes Peak Ascent or Marathon must carry the following:

• JACKET:  A hooded, windproof, water-resistant (or waterproof), breathable outer layer. Plastic ponchos are not acceptable.
• WATER:  A 12-ounce or larger refillable water bottle or similar. This may be a combination of multiple containers, flasks, hydration packs, or similar. Single use disposable bottles are not acceptable. ​

Please note the mandatory gear requirement for ALL Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon runners and race rules below have been designed to enhance everyone's overall race experience, enjoyment, and safety. Any runner who fails to comply with the gear requirement or race rules will be subject to disqualification from the race(s). ​

Race Rules

• ​​Runners must start in their assigned wave or any wave following their assigned wave.
• Race bibs are not transferrable.
• Headphones, earbuds (both regular and bone conduction), and external speakers are prohibited.
• You must be at least 16 years old on race day to compete.
• Poles, walking sticks, and similar accessories are prohibited. An allowance will be made for visually impaired athletes to use a pole as an assistive device to gauge the depth of step ups and downs.
• External accessories to include flags, flag poles, or other items extending 12" beyond a runner's person are prohibited. 
• We highly encourage runners to pack out their trash they bring on course; alternatively aid stations will have trash receptacles. 
• No dogs, horses, or animals of any type are permitted.
• Marathon runners may change apparel/gear at the summit. However, the race committee will not and can not be involved in providing or transporting the apparel/gear.
• The Race Director, may, at their discretion, grant exceptions to any of the above rules to account for unusual or extraordinary circumstances.

Disqualification

• Failing to comply with the mandatory gear requirement.
• Starting in an earlier than assigned wave.
• Using a race number assigned to another person. Both the runner and the person who gave away their number will be banned from future races.
• Wearing headphones or use of external speakers.
• Failing to submit to drug testing if requested.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Verbal abuse of other runners or volunteers.
• Completing only the ascent portion of the Marathon.
• Failing to comply with directives of race officials.
• Cutting switchbacks or any course cutting.
• Taking oxygen prior to the completion of the race (even if medically necessary).

Drug Testing

• All runners are subject to drug testing pursuant to USADA or WADA standards and procedures, and you acknowledge this notification and your willingness to be tested.
• For the purposes of USADA, WADA, USATF, WMRA and any other sanctioning bodies, athletes may be subject to sanctions consistent with the policies of these various​ bodies. ​

Deferrals

Entry fees for the Pikes Peak Marathon or Ascent are non-refundable and may not be transferred to another individual.
For a $25 fee, runners may defer their 2024 entry to 2025 for any reason. Runners have until 7/31/2024 to defer their registration by logging in to their RunSignUp account and selecting the defer registration option for the event.
​
Runners may request a FREE special circumstances deferment to 2025 until 9/9/2024 for the following events only:

• Military Deployments/TDY/PCS/etc. for either the registered runner or their spouse
• If the Registered runner becomes pregnant

Non-Binary and Transgender Policy

(Applies to all Garden to Peak Challenge races: Garden of the Gods races, Barr Trail Mountain Race, Pikes Peak Ascent, Pikes Peak Marathon)

​The goal of this policy is to encourage the participation in Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. (PPM, Inc.) races by non-binary and transgender participants. It defines rules with an emphasis on inclusion while respecting the rights and dignity of all participants and preserving the integrity of competition (awards and records). 

This policy will apply to the 2024 Garden to Peak Challenge races. PPM, Inc. reserves the right to reevaluate this policy as needed to ensure it is current and equitable based upon any updated scientific research or policies of athletic governing bodies. 
 
Rules
PARTICIPANT SELF-DETERMINATION

• A participant’s self-declared gender at registration will be accepted at face value. This policy is intended to promote integrity in competition for prize money, overall awards, master’s awards, age group awards, and all course records. 

GENERAL RULES

• Participants may compete in the category of their sex assigned at birth if they have not undergone hormone treatment. 
• Non-binary participants may enter the non-binary category as described below.
• A male-to-female transgender participant:
  • can register and compete in the female category, provided the participant has undergone continuous, medically supervised hormone treatment for gender transition for at least two years prior to the race. 
• A female-to-male transgender participant: 
  • can register to compete as a male with no restrictions. 
  • may not register to compete in the female category if they have begun hormone treatment related to their gender transition that includes testosterone or any other banned substance.
• There shall be no basis for, nor tolerance of, any challenge to a runner’s self-declared gender unless a top 10 overall finish, master’s award, age group award, or any course record is at stake.​

NON-BINARY CATEGORY

• We recognize that for some participants gender identity cannot be defined by the binary terms of man or woman. We refer to this group of participants as being non-binary.       
• Our use of the term non-binary refers to persons:
  • identifying as either having a gender which is in-between or beyond the two categories of man or woman, 
  • identifying as fluctuating between man or woman, 
  • identifying as having no gender, either permanently or some of the time.
• PPM, Inc. offers a non-binary category for all races. Our registration platform Runsignup.com supports a non-binary category, which will appear as an option when creating a Runsignup.com account. If you already have an account, you may need to edit your account.  

POLICY ENFORCEMENT

• The PPM, Inc. race organization is the sole authority to review any challenge regarding the gender status of a top 10 finisher, master’s award, age group award winner, or any course record. 
• There shall be no basis for, nor tolerance of, any challenge to a runner’s self-declared gender unless a top 10 finish, master’s award, age group award, or any course record is at stake. Only individuals who have been directly impacted (by loss of prize money, age group award, master’s award, top-10 placing, or course record) shall have standing to submit a challenge. 
• Challenges must be submitted online via the Challenge Form located on the website within three days of race completion. Challenges must be submitted with discretion and with utmost respect for the privacy of all parties involved.
• PPM, Inc. in its sole discretion, will determine whether there is a legitimate basis for challenges presented. Additionally, PPM, Inc. will verify all race results according to established policies and may initiate a challenge where warranted.

Challenge to an Award Winner

• In the event of a challenge to any award winners, PPM, Inc. is the sole authority to review any challenge regarding the award of a top 10 finisher, master’s award, age group award winner, or any course record. 
• An award challenge regarding the gender status of a runner, PPM, Inc. may ask the participant for documentation from a medical professional certifying that the entrant has undergone continuous medically supervised hormone treatment for gender transition for at least two years prior to the race. 
• Transgender participants, at their option, may provide medical documentation related to their gender transition to the PPM, Inc. organization prior to the race. 
• If the challenge is upheld (the runner in question does not meet the rules above), then the runner’s result will be vacated: a top 10 finisher award, age group award, master’s award, or course record shall be forfeited. 
• All decisions regarding any challenge shall be in the sole discretion of the PPM, Inc. ​
• The online challenge form will be made available during race week here: (The time period to challenge an awards result, has closed. Challenges must be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024.)