The virtual race

For fans of the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent, here's who will win if everyone runs the time they predicted for themselves when they entered: (time first, then name, then home town)

2:00:00 Colling, David Russell Sand UT

2:00:00 Kercher, Kristina Marie Wauke IA

2:00:00 Ohmes, Kimberly Olathe KS

2:00:00 Riley, Heather Denver

2:05:00 Call, Hobie S Laverki UT

2:05:00 Gutierrez, Simon B Alamosa

2:08:00 Carpenter, Matt Manitou Springs

2:10:00 Ilfrey, Campbell McIntyre Boulder

2:14:28 Silvis, Jeffrey Alllen Green Mtn Falls CO

2:15:00 Booth, Christopher Craig

2:15:00 Parker, Daryn Manitou Springs

OK, now for some discussion. The four people who predict they will beat Matt Carpenter's all-time record of 2:01:06, which has stood for 14 years, are deluded. Especially the ladies from Iowa and Kansas. But look at Simon Gutierrez, who holds a few course age group records, and has won the race a few times. He's predicting coming in ahead of Carpenter by three minutes. Should be a great race, especially with cash prizes to push the competitors.

Of course, predictions are worthless. If predictions were right, I would finish the Ascent in 3 hours, in 192nd place. In fact, I hope to finish in under 2 hours, 50 minutes, which will probably put me in the top 25. Let's hope. My plan is to try to hang with the top women, who will finish in about 2:45.

Good luck to all!