EMail from Kyle and Carl about their Pike's Peak Marathon experience.

Unfortunately, their pictures didn't survive the transition to the Roxbury web pages.  You'll have to ask them to show you the pix

---------------

Ed-

There is only one way to describe the Pike's Peak Marathon - totally awesome! This was the most relentless, gruelling and difficult run I've undertaken. At the same time, it was awe inspiring, magnificent and simply beautiful. Kyle and I ran together throughout and both were taken in by the beauty. The question as to why we do these crazy things was answered in spades. All one needed to do was take the time to look around at any point along the trail. There is no doubt that this is my favorite marathon and will remain that way for some time to come. It will be difficult to beat the feeling that we got after this one. John Denver's Rocky Mountain High is with us for sure. Although they won't do it justice, I'll forward some photos to you as soon as I get them back. Business will keep me from Roxbury this week, but, will see you on the 30th.

Take care

Carl

kyle

Carl-thought this was pretty cool! We just got home today-missed connection in Chicago so had to spend the night in Chicago again!!!!

Pikes Peak Marathon: A spectator's report (with Pictures)

It was a beautiful day in Colorado (like most other days; except it was not very hot!) and I made it down to Colorado Springs to see Kyle and her running partner Carl do the Pikes Peak Marathon. I drove up to the summit and cheered a whole bunch of people. Some of them looked happy and were having fun, some of them were in pain and some looked like death had warmed them over. Kyle and Carl looked great with smiles on their faces and enjoying themselves at the summit. I drove back down and saw them finish. Both of them looked so good after finishing that they could have done it all over again. Great race Kyle and Carl! Congratulations. You guys are amazing! You have got me all motivated to do this race in the next year or two or three or ....

	A view of the switchbacks about 600-800ft below the summit
	A couple of runners making it up to the summit turnaround
	Zoomed in to the switchbacks from picture 1. You can see a lot of runners down there.
	Another zoomed in picture of the switchbacks.
	Kyle and Carl (in the middle of the picture) coming back down from the summit.
	Kyle (with the raised hand) and Carl before they zoomed on down to the finish.
	Kyle (with the raised hand on the left edge of the picture). Unfortunately just as I was about to take the picture a car came in between and this was the best I could get when I moved to avoid the car.
	Kyle and Carl making the last left turn before running in to the finish tent.
	Don't they look great? They look like they could do it all over again.

-- Nattu Natraj, August 17, 2003

Answers

I ran Pike's Peak twice in the 1970's, only the up route. The first time I set a masters ascent record; the second time they had to dump me into the back of our station wagon and rush me down to below 12,000 feet before I could breathe again.

-- Hal Higdon, August 17, 2003

Thanks for the post Nattu. These guys are awesome!!!
Any word on how Judith did? Wasn't she running it too?

-- Alan Ford, August 17, 2003

hey, that's a kick-butt post. Thanks for effort you put into the pics, they were great. Congratulations to your friends as well...

-- Marky Mark Kirkland, August 17, 2003

Nice pictures Nattu. Great job on the race Kyle and Carl. Did Judy or anyone else run Pikes Peak? Nattu, how was Georgetown. Did I miss the race report?

-- Ruth Ness, August 18, 2003

Thanks for posting the pics Nattu!

Awesome job to Kyle & Carl! My jealousy continues . . . Just so everyone knows, the last 3 miles of this race are all above 11,000 feet and average probably a 16% grade or so. The whole climb averages 11% - so imagine 13.32 miles at 11% grade with declining oxygen the whole way . . .

Congrats to Judy too! She did the Ascent, which is the day before.

-- Melissa Vetricek, August 18, 2003

Nattu, Thanks for the pics of Pikes!

-- frank 4taap the secret is ours! walaitis, August 18, 2003

Wow - It takes your breath away! Thanks for the pictures!!! Congrats to everyone!!

-- Paula McKinney, August 18, 2003

Cool pictures, Nattu.

-- Russell Allwein, August 18, 2003

You guys are amazing! I would love to attempt this race someday...

And Kudos to Nattu for a great post!

-- Karl Kleiderer, August 18, 2003

Great pics, Nattu! I'm so jealous! That looks so cool, but I'd never make it. Where are those race reports!

-- Rick "Iceman" Neal, August 18, 2003

Very cool! Congrats to all!

-- Lisa Viane, August 18, 2003

Nice pictures!

-- Starrla Johnson, August 18, 2003

Beautiful pictures Nattu. Thanks!

-- John Shoulberg, August 18, 2003

I love the pictures!!!!

-- Daiva Cooper, August 18, 2003

I can't beleive that I totally fritzed and missed this! While I was boiling water in Cleveland - you guys were running up a darn mountain! Congrats to Judy, Kyle and Carl!! Awesome

-- Michele "4taap" Keane, August 18, 2003

FANTASTIC!

-- Bob Winter, August 19, 2003