SIKORA’S HAVE THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES AT PIKES PEAK
Between them, Joe Sikora, 53, and his twin daughters Lisa and Sherry, 24, of Succasunna can claim 150 marathons completed. Joe Sikora claims 142 of those. Two years ago the threesome ran in the same race, the Steamtown Marathon in Pennsylvania and this November they are entered in the New York City Marathon. Last Sunday they completed the grueling Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado.
“I would not have entered except for Lisa,” said Joe Sikora. “I did not need a long distance race in the summer.”
Actually some of the race was more winter-like than summer. A storm the day before had brought ice and near freezing temperatures above the tree line, three miles from the top. The Pikes Peak Marathon begins at Manitou Springs on a paved road that takes the runners to a hiking trail known as the Barr Trail that takes them to the check point at the top. Temperatures were balmy at the start, but dropped as the runners climbed.
Below is Lisa Sikora’s account of the race.
When I found out that this was going to be the 50th Anniversary of the Pikes Peak Marathon, I knew that this was the year to do it so I told Sherry and Dad. Before I knew it, we were all signed up. Then, three weeks before the race I developed tendonitis in my left foot. I did not run one step for three weeks.
So I was determined to run a smart and safe race. I figured that this would be the only chance I had of finishing. Dad reminded me that if my foot hurt at any point I could turn around and walk back down. I knew that once I started I was not coming down until I reached the top so I decided taking it slow would be my best bet.
I started out with the intent of getting to the top in 4:45. I figured with a 2:40 return trip I could easily break my goal time of 7:30. The first few miles had been very difficult; in the sun; already climbing to altitudes higher than I had ever been.
I had a disposable camera with me so I took quick breaks to enjoy the gorgeous sight, take pictures and drink a lot of Gatorade. I also began yelling out my time at each of the checkpoints a book on the race had talked about and telling the runners around me what our pace was and that we were on target to reach the top in less than 4 1/2 hours.
They were very appreciative and I soon had a posse of middle-aged men that told me their trail stories and asked me my goals. When hearing that I was a flatlander, which is what the locals called us lower altitude folks, the men, who had nicknamed me "Jersey", began to show a lot of concern.
They asked me every 15 minutes or so how I was feeling or if I felt any light headedness and reminded me to keep drinking. We reached mile ten in 3 hours and 10 minutes giving us plenty of time to meet our goal.
Little did we know what was in store. At this point we climbed above the tree line, into the highest "Alpine" region of the mountain, categorized by lack of trees and vegetation, very little oxygen and freezing cold temperatures. I put on my gloves and jacket and kept pressing onward. The switchbacks were getting steeper and the runners in front of me were getting slower. I continued to hike behind them being careful of rocks and keeping in mind that I still had the return trip to think about.
As I got higher, the lead runners began coming down the mountain making the already tight trail even more cramped. Getting to see the winners blaze down the mountain was very exciting and inspiring knowing that I would soon be behind them.
Then I saw Sherry coming at me and could see how great she looked. I knew that she was going to do well, and I knew that she would be excited to see me so high up on the mountain already since she had been concerned about my foot and whether or not I could run on it. She kissed me as she flew by and my "posse" was very impressed at how fast my twin sister was.
About half an hour later, as the runners in front of me continued to slowly hike up the mountain, it began to lightly snow. We had already been hiking through snow and icy rivers from the run-off for a while, but I knew that more snow would only make our path more difficult to climb. I had already seen a few runners slip but no serious injuries ensued.
When Dad passed me, he was also very excited to see me so near the top but also strongly cautioned me about the conditions at the top, and I knew it must be bad. Again, my posse of runners was quite surprised at how well my 53 year-old father was doing and figured that it would be a good idea to stick with me because obviously us Jersey-runners knew what we were doing.
As we neared the summit, conditions became really treacherous and the pace slowed to a crawl. The mountain was now covered in fog, making it impossible to see the snowy rocks that we were attempting to climb while being pelted by hail and trying not to fall. Everyone worked together and by holding on to each other for balance and pulling each other up the really tricky spots, we made it to the top in 5 hours and 5 minutes.
I took my last photo of myself at the top and began the slow climb down. I was cautious for the first three miles above the tree line, taking another hour plus to reach the 16 mile mark. I still had 10 miles of rocky-mountain trail running ahead of me, but I felt great! I had been very inspired and moved by the sights and camaraderie that I had seen on the top of the mountain, and I felt like I had a lot left in me that I wanted to leave on this mountain.
I began running faster and before long had picked up a considerable amount of speed as I careened down the mountain. At this point I hit some gravel and dove hands first onto the rocks ahead of me. Cut up and bruised, I was quickly picked up and brushed off by my fellow runners and I gingerly ran on.
I thought about my family, two of whom were out there with me and my friends that were thinking of me back home. One of my best friends was an avid skier and had advised me when I first started skiing to point my skis downward, bend my knees, and have no fear. I thought of him and his advice and started running faster again. Before I knew it I had picked up the perfect rhythm that I kept up the rest of the way.
I didn't stop to walk once and finished 121st woman overall. I was incredibly pleased as I came through the chute to hear the announcer and Dad and Sherry yelling my name.
This is the most difficult marathon I have ever run, and I will remember every second of it.
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“You had to be pretty fearless,” said Sherry Sikora who did not walk, but ran down the icy trail. “You had to take some risks and I slid once or twice but I didn’t go down.”
“We’re hooked on it,” said Joe Sikora, who said he had two memorable moments in the race.
“Going up when I saw Sherry come tooling on down,” he said. “Then when I was coming down and seeing Lisa with her big smile and wave. Seeing her very near the ascent and feeling great. I would say that was the highlight.”
Pikes Peak Marathon Results show:
Sherry Sikora 3:37:37 ascent 1:59:32 descent total time 5:37:09
Joe Sikora 4:04:38 ascent 2:37:15 descent total time 6:41:53
Lisa Sikora 5:04:22 ascent 2:41:31 descent total time 7:45:53
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First Published in the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, Sunday, August 28, 2005
Copyright, Madeline Bost 2005