This was my first marathon in over 7 years, capping off my first year back running. I'd done a few halves, and prior to running the 26.2 here, my longest run was 13.1, so I was excited, but also a little concerned.

The race starts up at a trail head several hundred feet above Breck in September. If your picturing that in your head, you'll see fall colors, high mountain peaks, and vast views of the valley below. Its pretty spectacular. It starts out with a sweet downhill into and thru Breckenridge up until around mile 8 or so. At this point, I was running Boston qualifying time, so I was having a great time! Then you cross the highway over into a very fancy neighborhood, where I'm assuming every house is owned by movie stars or CEOs. Fun scenery, for sure, but the uphills began. The uphill went all the way around the neighborhood. I'm pretty sure we didn't ever come back down. I don't know how that even is possible (I know...it's not possible)!

At 13.1, there is an aid station. A few people I'd seen throughout were running along this straightaway, and the overall feel of this race was felt here. Everyone was friendly, waved, cheered each other on. This was motivating, because after that (neverending) uphill, having some encouragement was a game changer.

But alas, this didn't last long, and I was getting tired. We ran back to the highway we'd crossed and continued down the path, which is actually a bike path that goes from Breck to Frisco (maybe further, we only went partway)

We ran several more miles and came to what was probably a school, but by this time, I don't actually think I was processing what my eyes were seeing. We got to turn around, and I am excited to say, return the run back to the start/finish line!

The run back to the starting line was a grueling beast of a trek. I don't think anyone killed this section, other than the winner, WOW, a girl that finished this in a time that most would be happy to do a flat marathon at sea level in.

At the finish, we were given really cool hand made finished medals. This, along with our half sleeve tees were pretty solid swag. We also got a reusable grocery type bag to hold our stuff, with art made by a local artist who also ran the race and was a pretty nice guy.

I ended up winning my age group. 1st out of 5 in about 4 hours and 10 mins, which I must say, I was beyond happy with. I had never won an age group award, so I took off and ate with my mom and niece who came up to meet me at the finish line. I reached out to the race director and they agreed to meet up the next day, and I got an awesome trophy, again, hand made of wood, which I'm tempted to carry with me in my pocket everywhere I go and show off how this 215lb guy won his age group in a marathon at 10k feet!

I will most certainly be back in '19, but this time, I'll be shooting for 3:45 or faster, which would match my best "flat" marathon time!

This last year the course was cut in half, only raced to barr camp, which was disappointing, but perhaps necessary (depending who you talk to), so I will review my previous experience on the race.

This race is in mid August, a time of year that is notorious in Colorado for unpredictable weather up at 14,000ft. The day before this race was ran, I heard there was snow and wind, with the snow basically going parallel to the ground due to such heavy winds. I woke up to a sunny perfect day. Welcome to Colorado!

The race begins in downtown Manitou and you start right off running up Ruxton Ave, which is a farily solid hill in itself. We run around a mile or so up to where the trail and the switchbacks begin. This trail is around 14-25% incliine on overage the whole way up, and fairly narrow, particularly down at the beginning, so this is a real bottleneck, with most people walking at as fast a clip as their legs and lungs will allow. Some people rush by, some try to run, but in the end, we all walk at some point on this portion. This goes on for around 3 miles, then the trail gets a little wider and there are more opportunities to do a little decent jogging. Barr Camp marks about the halfway point, and will either crush you since your hurting so bad already, or spurr you on since your halfway to the top!

The trail continues up in elevation until well, the top at a little over 14,100 ft. About a mile or so before the top, the real challenge begins. The 16 golden stairs is a particularly brutally steep portion which marks almost the end, but also some of the steepest grades of the race. I don't actually know what "marks" a stair. At this point in the race, I did think about that, a lot. But I never was able to pick out how they got 16, even after being on this part of the trail numerous times.

Either way, once the 16, or 50 golden stairs are complete, you reach the top! You are welcomed by your adoring fans, an amazing view, and donuts in the shop!

Finishers get a jacket which they will wear with huge pride, as there are not too many races like this, or people that finish! Bravo!