The Pikes Peak Ascent will take place Saturday, Aug. 21, and the Pikes Peak Marathon will follow on Sunday, Aug. 22. Both races will start in downtown Manitou and runners will take Ruxton Avenue and Barr Trail.
The Ascent will start at 7 a.m. in front of City Hall, 606 Manitou Ave., and the first runners, male and female, are expected to reach the summit 9-9:30 a.m. The awards ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. in Memorial Park.
The Marathon will start at 7 a.m., also in front of City Hall. The top finishers are expected to return to the Ruxton Avenue finish line between 10:05 and 11:15 a.m.
Marathon awards will be given in Soda Springs Park at 1 p.m. to the top 5 overall runners and at 4 p.m. to the top 5 masters and top 3 finishers in their age groups.
Race organizers are planning related events in Memorial Park. They include:
5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19 — Race Expo, merchandise sales, vendors, beer and music;
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20 —Race Expo, merchandise sales and vendors;
3-6 p.m. Aug. 20 — Elite runners including Joseph Gray and Seth DeMoor will talk about their experiences winning the Ascent and Marathon, respectively. Also, four-time Ascent winner and two-time Marathon winner Donna Messenger will speak; at age 78, she’s running the Ascent with her daughter.
3-7 p.m. Aug. 20 — Beer and music;
5:30-7 a.m. Aug. 21 — Ascent bib pick-up, sweat checks and pre-race staging;
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 21 — Marathon bib pick-up, Race Expo, merchandise sales and vendors;
Noon-6 p.m. Aug. 21 — Beer and music; and
5:30-7 a.m. Aug. 22 — Marathon bib pick-up, sweat check and pre-race staging.
Events at Soda Springs Park include:
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 22 — Merchandise sales;
10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Aug. 22 — Music and beer.
The Manitou Incline will be closed 6 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Aug. 21 and Aug. 22. The Incline closures are intended to ensure safety for both runners and hikers.
The Pikes Peak Highway will be closed to visitors from Devil’s Playground to the summit until noon
Aug. 21.
Information: www.pikespeakmarathon.org.