Forsberg sets downhill record, is first woman to finish Pikes Peak Marathon

It was an exciting finish for the top winning running the Pikes Peak Marathon on Sunday.

Tina Forsberg was more than a mile behind the leaders at the summit. So she was as shocked as anyone when she pulled off the women’s victory.

“I didn’t think I’d see the (two leaders) again,” she said. “When I did with about two miles left, I was shocked – I didn’t believe it at first.”

But she wasn’t seeing things.

She shrunk a nearly 8-minute window to pass Kasie Enman and Mireia Varela in her winning effort of 4 hours, 28 minutes and 7 seconds.

“I wasn’t that surprised,” Enman said. “(Forsberg) is a great downhill runner and I knew she’d be up there.”

See photos from the 2012 Pikes Peak Marathon!

With about two miles left, Varela, who controlled the lead for most of the race, suddenly lost it to Enman.

“I had it for about 30 seconds,” Enman laughed.

Varela took back the lead momentarily before, seemingly out of nowhere, Forsberg passed both women.

“I just tried to stay strong until the end,” Forsberg said, “didn’t think that would happen though.”

With Forsberg, Varela and Enman running at one, two, three respectively; Enman then leapfrogged past Varela, but couldn’t catch the lead.

Forsberg, who set a descent record, would end up beating Enman (4:28:25) by seconds and Varela (4:32:13) by minutes.

The men's leader, Kilian Jornet, also set a descent record in the second half of the race. Read about the men's race.