Nearly 600 runners competed in the 2023 Pikes Peak Marathon on Sunday, vying for an opportunity to dethrone last year’s winners.
But Jonathan Aziz and Kristina Mascarenas refused to relinquish their titles in Manitou Springs for the 68th annual event.
Aziz and Mascarenas repeated as champions in the male and female categories with Aziz clocking in at 3 hours, 43 minutes and 45 seconds.
Mascarenas also finished seventh overall and set a personal-best time of 4:31.33, crushing her previous best of 4:37.34 set last year.
Both runners crossed the finished line sporting painful keepsakes all over their bodies courtesy of the race. For Aziz, his minor injuries briefly stopped his race.
Aziz fights through fall for victory
This is nothing compared to last year. Last year, I had to come down and get my chin stitched up.
Jonathan Aziz, pointing to a pair of bandages on his right kneecap and another pair between his right wrist and elbow.
Aziz didn’t require sutures this year. But the fall, which he said happened around Barr Camp, caused the Colorado Springs runner discomfort.
Mascarenas sets new personal record
Mascarenas crossed the finish line, her hands dropped toward the ground, making some spectators and workers believe she would throw up.
Nope, Mascarenas just needed room for a cartwheel to celebrate her finish.
Before the race, I promised a couple of people that I’d do a cartwheel when I finished. It started as a joke and almost ended with a cramped leg. I did gymnastics for a decade, so a cartwheel is something I can still do.
Kristina Mascarenas
Like Aziz, Mascarenas ran a portion of the marathon with an injury as she sported blisters on her feet.
Following her cartwheel and a plethora of congratulations from spectators and friends, Mascarenas sat, removed her right shoe and revealed a dark red, quarter-sized blister on her big toe.
Click here to read the full article on the Colorado Springs Gazette.