After runner-up finishes in 2012 and 2013, Alex Nichols (3:46:40) finally broke through to take the top spot in the Pikes Peak Marathon along the Barr trail in Manitou Springs, Colorado.
Close to 800 runners participated in the Rocky Mountain run up Pikes Peak and back, which climbs a total of 7,815 feet in elevation.
Abu Diriba secured second in the 60th running of the event just a few miles west of Colorado Springs with a time of 3:54:04.
Third-place finisher Rickey Gates (3:55:29) was the only other runner to come in under four hours.
For the women, it was Hirut Guangul (4:29:06) finishing first by more than 15 minutes.
Runner-up Hayley Benson (4:45:19) also had what it takes to best one of Pikes Peak’s most dominate competitors, Kim Dobson (4:46:59), who came in third a day after winning her fourth Pikes Peak Half Marathon.
More than 1,700 runners participated in the Pikes Peak main event.
None faster than Touru Miyahara (2:15:42), who now has victories in both the full (2013) and half.
Andy Wacker was next with a time of 2:18:36.
Tim Parr (2:23:52) finished less than a minute ahead of Simon Gutierrez (2:24:30) for third.
For the women, it was Kim Dobson (2:40:44) winning her fourth title in five years.
She set the course record in 2012 with a time of 2:24:58.
Former winner Brandy Erholtz (2:51:38) was back on the podium for the first time since placing third in 2012.
Erholtz is the only runner to ever beat Dobson (2009 and 2010).
Sophia Torres rounded out the top three with a time 3:03:01.
