This weekend was the Pikes Peak Ascent half marathon on Saturday - up only - and the Pikes Peak Marathon - up and back down. The vertical climb up is about 7,600 feet, topping out at 14,115 feet. These races are mostly on a trail with only a short area of pavement where the race starts. The weather here has been in the upper 80s to low 90s, and on top of the peak it’s usually at least 30 degrees cooler, but not this year. Incredibly, for the second time, local running legend Matt Carpenter won both races. He didn’t set any records this year other than to add to his collection of Pikes Peak wins, which I think now stands at 14 between the two races. He holds the course records for both races as well. This guy is now 43 and still winning over much younger competition. Of the total of about 2600 racers between the two races, only about 130 or so run both. In the women’s races, a woman from Peru won the Ascent and a woman from Gunnison, Colorado won the Marathon. One of these years I’m going to have to do one of these races - if I can get in the registration on Active.com that sold out both races in a few hours this year. I’m amazed by Matt Carpenter. The article in the paper today indicated he wasn’t even tired after his Ascent win, and the guy he passed about halfway up to take the lead said he looked like he was just out for a casual jog. He did get IV fluids after the marathon though.