Words I repeat while Running + Pikes Peak Ascent Workout - Seth James DeMoor

Aug 13, 2025

Intro: This is a quick summary of “Words I repeat while Running + Pikes Peak Ascent Workout” from Seth James DeMoor. It’s a great watch — we’re breaking it down so you can try the workout today. Be sure to watch the full video for all the details.

Key Points:

The workout is the final hard‑hard session before tapering for the Pikes Peak Ascent race (2 weeks away). This pre-race sharpening is a critical phase of any training cycle. Tapering means cutting volume, not intensity, until the final week—a strategy that’s just as important when you’re mastering the 10K as it is for an ultra.
Use a lightweight setup (handheld, two gels, GoPro, debit card for a snack) and run without music or phone to simulate race‑day focus.
Mantras: “eyes up, quick feet, pump your arms” and “float, don’t fight” help maintain form on long climbs.

Workout Example:

Ascent – Run 13 mi (≈21 km) up Pikes Peak on the race course (≈20 800 m vertical gain).
Descent – Run back down 3 mi (≈5 km) to the tree line (≈11 800 ft).
Fartlek – From tree line back up to the summit: 3 min on / 1 min off intervals (8 repeats) at a hard effort, then jog the remaining distance to the top. To understand the science behind why this type of session is so effective for building fitness, you can explore our complete guide to mastering interval training.
Total distance ≈ 19 mi (≈30 km) with ~20 800 m vertical gain.

Practical Tips:

Keep the run “quiet” – no music/podcasts; focus on your mantra.
Carry minimal gear (handheld, water, gels) to stay light.
If you need to hide gear (e.g., water bottle) during the fart‑lek, plan a safe spot.
Adjust paces to your current race-pace or use the Pacing app to convert the effort to your own speeds. The core principle—hard repeats on tired legs—is a powerful training tool. While this workout is mountain-specific, the intervals themselves are similar to the ones used for mastering 5K speed, proving that strength and speed work go hand-in-hand.

Closing Note: Give this mountain‑specific workout a try, tweak the intervals and distances to match your own paces in the Pacing app, and keep repeating those empowering mantras. You’ve got this—onward and upward