Pikes Peak Marathon record

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Pikes Peak was a brief conversation with the guy scooping Colorado Custard (ice cream).  Our guide on the cog train had mentioned the record holder for the Pikes Peak ascent...I couldn't believe anyone could run a half marathon with 7000' elevation gain in 2:01.  I was even more surprised later that day when I realized he was scooping my ice cream cone!  And then I found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Carpenter_(runner)  I almost went back for more ice cream just so I could spend a few more minutes talking with him. 

We did a short hike in the area the first morning and then I got up early the next day for a 6.5 mile run to see the sunrise in the Garden of the Gods.  It was hilly and a portion was on some pretty rough trail but it was fun!  No wonder the elites train there...it's tough and would definitely make you stronger!


I just tried the link above and it didn't work but it looks right...someone smarter than me may be able to provide a link that actually works...

Cool! That is a great race. The link didn't work for me, but this works.

The closing parenthesis gets left off from the original link, so you just have to type it manually.  How funny - ultrarunners always seem to have interesting side jobs (Tim Olson used to do massage therapy) and live very humbly.  

Not only does Matt have the ascent record, but the overall record from that same race. 

And a VO2max of 90+.  Wow.