(MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo.) — The Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent is happening this weekend and ahead of the festivities, celebrations will take place in Manitou Springs beginning on Thursday, Sept. 19, as the community gathers together to celebrate runners and the beloved adventure enthusiast tradition. On Thursday, the public is invited to Memorial Park, located at 502 Manitou Avenue, at 4:30 p.m. for the Race Expo, which goes until 7:30 p.m. that evening, and then again on Friday, Sept. 20 beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing all day. ​The Pikes Peak Ascent is on Saturday, Sept. 21, and is a 13.3-mile race from Manitou Springs to the summit of Pikes Peak. The Pikes Peak Marathon will take place on Sunday, Sept. 22, and is 26.2 miles. "It is the most continuously run marathon; we were able to run the marathon in 2020 with Covid, so it's never taken a break since 1956," said Jordan Linder, Race Director for the Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent. According to Linder, 1,800 runners will take part in the Ascent and 800 will give it their all on Sunday for the Marathon. While registration is now closed, there are several volunteer opportunities still available. "We rely on hundreds of volunteers every year for this event; from van drivers who are driving our runners off the mountain to aid station volunteers who are providing snacks and hydration to our runners, or even people who can help us set up the Expo," said Abby Kappeo, Partnership Director for the Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent. Due to the Pikes Peak Ascent activities, on Saturday, the summit of America's Mountain will be closed until 2 p.m., and guests will only be able to drive to Mile 7. PARKING DETAILS: Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent Manitou Springs High School and Middle School 401 El Monte Place $10 to park for the full day on Saturday or Sunday Cash only Money goes to supporting MSHS Athletics Teams Schryver Park (Also known as the Manitou Springs Pool parking lot) 300 Garden of the Gods Place Limited amount of reserved spots 0.9 miles from the start line $15 for the day Reservations can be made here Wichita Lot 708 Manitou Avenue $20 for the day Smishney Lot 1134 Manitou Avenue $20 for the day On-street parking and the Canon Parking Lot 135 Canon Avenue According to a post on the Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent's Facebook page, the Hiawatha Lot is already sold out, but you can purchase tickets for Sunday, here. "Manitou Avenue will remain open from U.S. 24 to the 400 block of Manitou Avenue," according to the Facebook post. "At that point, a runner drop-off lane is available for runners to exit a vehicle; vehicles then make a U-turn and can take Manitou Avenue east out of town." Due to the race, there will also be impacts to Mountain Metropolitan Transit on Routes 3 and 33, and those details can be found here. According to Linder, the weather call for the race happens on Friday night in coordination with El Paso County Search and Rescue and the weather service providers in Pueblo, so that runners and community members will be informed of the most up-to-date, on-the-mountain forecast. Runners are required, according to Linder, to carry a waterproof jacket with a hood. Aside from the tradition spanning nearly 70 years and being loved by locals and visitors alike, donations and money raised from the Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent go right back into the community. "The Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. is a nonprofit organization and we donate a lot of our revenue back to El Paso County Search and Rescue, Trails and Open Spaces, [and the] Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Association," added Linder. For more information about the Pikes Peak Marathon & Ascent, click on the links above.