A Colorado Springs runner made history on Pikes Peak Saturday, becoming a six-time champion of one of the region's most demanding mountain races — and doing it in his early 40s.
Gray reached the summit after covering the race's 13.36-mile course in a winning time of 2 hours, 15 minutes and 14 seconds. He edged runner-up Cam Smith by a margin of seven seconds; Smith is slated to represent his country in ski mountaineering at the 2026 Olympics.
The win was Gray's sixth in a competition that drew more than 2,000 entries, and he has said the emotional weight of victory has actually grown stronger as he has aged — not diminished through familiarity. "It means everything, especially, you know, I'm in my 40s, so to win against these young bucks, it means a lot," he said, noting that the five runners who finished behind him had an average age of just 26.4.
Gray recognized from the start that a course record was not in play — morning moisture had made the footing hazardous, and he understood that negotiating the terrain carefully would add to his finishing time. He directed his focus toward route management rather than the clock, which proved sufficient to hold Smith at bay. Jeremiah Vaille, competing in the event for the first time, took third in 2:19:34, with Meikael Beaudoin-Rousseau fourth in 2:27:06 and Grant Colligan fifth in 2:28:22.
Despite the competitive pressure from behind, Gray said his thoughts during the race centered on his son Isaiah, 8, and daughter Leila, 7, rather than on the athletes chasing him. Both children have become involved in soccer, basketball and other sports, with Gray accompanying and encouraging them along the way. He said Saturday's result gives him credibility when he talks to them about effort and perseverance. "You push them to do their best and not necessarily to always win, but to get the most out of yourself," he said. "This validates that spiel, if you will."
The lesson carries particular weight coming from a father whose competitive record includes wins in cross country, marathon, ultramarathon and a range of other distances at events around the world. Gray said he has not yet begun formal training with his children, but is offering small amounts of guidance as they find their footing, with more structured preparation expected once their interests become clearer in a few years.
Official age-group results from the full Pikes Peak Ascent field are still to be published.