Brothers hooked by Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon

The gesture seemed innocent enough.

Ten years ago, Dale Eldridge received an application for the Pikes Peak Ascent from his younger brother, Gary, and thought, “Why not?”

After one Ascent, Eldridge was hooked on running — and Pikes Peak.

“It’s been something to look forward to,” the 49-year-old Fort Collins resident said. “It’s pretty much the highlight of my summer. It’s the thing that I most look forward to and plan for. It’s kind of a vacation and kind of a conquest all in one.”

On Saturday, Eldridge will join 1,799 other runners, including Gary, in the Ascent, a 13.32-mile run from Manitou Springs to the summit of Pikes Peak.

Despite a stress fracture in his right leg, Eldridge will wake up next Sunday and chase his fifth double — completing both of the weekend’s races — in six years by running the Pikes Peak Marathon.

“I’m good to go for a whole lot of years, I hope,” Eldridge said. “I’m going to do it whether I have trouble or not. I intend to finish both of them. If I end up in a cast, oh well.”

The brothers are among 158[CQ] people attempting the double.

Because of their desire to run both the Ascent and the Marathon this year, both brothers had to enter the races via the Triple Crown of Running Series, which includes June’s Garden of the Gods 10-mile run and the Summer Roundup Trail Run 12K in Bear Creek Park, run in July.

Gary, 46, flew from California to run in both races and “beat me handily,” said Eldridge, who had been the faster brother during the past few years. Eldridge said he “fully expects” Gary to come out on top this year.

PIKES PEAK ASCENT AND MARATHON INFO

Start is at Memorial Park in Manitou Springs

Saturday

Ascent Wave 1: 7 a.m.

Ascent Wave 2: 7:30 a.m.

Aug. 19

Marathon: 7 a.m.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-4803 or kate.crandall@gazette.com