Allie McLaughlin wins Pikes Peak Ascent, then places 2nd in the marathon
After falling on the course last year, Allie McLaughlin bounced back to complete the Pikes Peak double
2019 U.S. trail running champion Allie McLaughlin had an incredible weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo., winning the Pikes Peak Ascent race on Saturday in 2:49:40. On Sunday, she followed it up with a second-place finish in the Pikes Peak Marathon in 4:38:06.
McLaughlin is a former track and cross-country runner from the University of Colorado, and intended to complete the double last year, but wasn’t able to, due to a fall on the downhill portion of the course. This year she bounced back, completing her goal of the Pikes Peak double, the Ascent (21 km) and marathon on back-to-back days.
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When we asked McLaughlin about her Pikes Peak double, she said, “The key was sticking to my routine and staying relaxed. Both seemed to really help me mentally. I felt way less pressure on the second day and just ran. There were times I could’ve pushed harder but first and foremost I wanted to complete my goal and finish healthy.”
The Ascent and the marathon distances require runners to climb 1,690-metres across 21 km to reach the summit of Pikes Peak.
Trail running veteran Stevie Kremer won the Pikes Peak marathon in 4:34:35. The 2014 Sierre-Zinal champion has made a return to trail racing after becoming a mother in 2018.
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In the men’s race, Seth DeMoor won his second straight Pikes Peak Marathon in 3:36:31, setting the record for the masters’ age group. DeMoor decided at the last minute that he try to defend his title. DeMoor is a well-known YouTuber/runner with over 140,000 subscribers, with videos on training, shoes and a glimpse inside his trail races.
Pikes Peak Marathon is the second race in the North American Golden Trail World Series and the next race is at Whistler Alpine Meadows 50K on Sept. 24, in Whistler B.C
RELATED: Golden Trail World Series sets 2021 calendar, announces bi-yearly championship.
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