Matt Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Matthew Edwin Carpenter is an American
trail runner
. He has won the Pikes Peak Marathon
on twelve occasions, the Vail Hill Climb eight times, the Imogene Pass
Run six times, the Barr Trail
Mountain Race, Everest SkyMarathon Tibet, and Aspen
SkyMarathon five times each, and holds the course record for all of these events. He is also the record holder for running the fastest flat marathon
s run at altitude at both 14,000 and 17,000 feet. His success in the sport has been so extensive and dominant that he has been compared to Lance Armstrong
, and described as "one of the greatest mountain runners of all time".
Carpenter was born in North Carolina, before moving to Kentucky
and then Mississippi
while in high school
. He took up running while living there, because he had "nothing else to do". Over time it became a way to fund his college education, and subsequently an escape from bereavement in the period following the death of his mother.
As a student at the University of Southern Mississippi
he frequently visited Colorado
, and moved there after graduation, first to Vail in 1987, then to Colorado Springs four years later, before settling in Manitou Springs in 1998, where he now lives with his Brazil
ian-born wife Yvonne and their daughter Kyla, born in 2002. The couple are both members of the Incline Club, their local trail-running group, and are so dedicated to their sport that their wedding was held during a Sunday morning training run along the Waldo Canyon Trail in February 2000.
In 1990, his VO2 max
, a measure of the body's ability to intake oxygen, was calculated to be 90.2 during tests at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the highest they had recorded. This, and his rigorous training regime—he claims to have run daily for over five years between 1997 and his daughter's birth in 2002—are credited as the keys to his enduring success.
After signing with Fila
Skyrunners in 1993, he won either thirteen or fifteen of the seventeen high altitude marathons he entered, setting records at both 14350 feet (4,373.9 m) (with a time of 2:52:57) and 17060 feet (5,199.9 m) (a time of 3:22:25). Later in his career he moved to ultrarunning, and sustained his previous success, setting course records in the San Juan Solstice 50-mile race in Lake City, Colorado
in 2004, and breaking the record for the Leadville Trail 100
race in 2005 by over an hour and a half.
Carpenter's greatest dominance has been on Pikes Peak
. He has won sixteen races; six ascents and ten marathons, including an unprecedented double, winning both on consecutive days in 2001. On the ascent he holds the age group record for both 40–44 year olds, and 25–29 year olds, the latter the outright record with a time of 2:01:06, set during the 1993 marathon. In the marathon itself, he holds the record for the 20–24, 25–29, 35–39 and 40–44 year old age groups, as well as the outright fastest time of 3:16:39, also in 1993.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
trail runner
Trail running
Trail running is a variant on running that differs markedly from road running and track running. Trail running generally takes place on hiking trails, most commonly single track trails, although fire roads are not uncommon. A distinguishing characteristic of the trails is that they are often...
. He has won the Pikes Peak Marathon
Pikes Peak Marathon
The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon is a racing event that begins at the base of Pikes Peak, in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and climbs over 7,700 feet to the top of the 14,115 foot peak...
on twelve occasions, the Vail Hill Climb eight times, the Imogene Pass
Imogene Pass
Imogene Pass is a high mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains in the southwest part of the US state of Colorado....
Run six times, the Barr Trail
Barr Trail
Barr Trail is a popular trail that climbs from Manitou Springs, Colorado, USA to the top of Pikes Peak. The trail is rated more difficult because of its long sustained grade rising to an especially high elevation...
Mountain Race, Everest SkyMarathon Tibet, and Aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
SkyMarathon five times each, and holds the course record for all of these events. He is also the record holder for running the fastest flat marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
s run at altitude at both 14,000 and 17,000 feet. His success in the sport has been so extensive and dominant that he has been compared to Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
, and described as "one of the greatest mountain runners of all time".
Carpenter was born in North Carolina, before moving to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and then Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
while in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. He took up running while living there, because he had "nothing else to do". Over time it became a way to fund his college education, and subsequently an escape from bereavement in the period following the death of his mother.
As a student at the University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, informally known as Southern Miss, is a large public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is situated north of Gulfport, Mississippi and northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana...
he frequently visited Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and moved there after graduation, first to Vail in 1987, then to Colorado Springs four years later, before settling in Manitou Springs in 1998, where he now lives with his Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian-born wife Yvonne and their daughter Kyla, born in 2002. The couple are both members of the Incline Club, their local trail-running group, and are so dedicated to their sport that their wedding was held during a Sunday morning training run along the Waldo Canyon Trail in February 2000.
In 1990, his VO2 max
VO2 max
VO2 max is the maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and use oxygen during incremental exercise, which reflects the physical fitness of the individual...
, a measure of the body's ability to intake oxygen, was calculated to be 90.2 during tests at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the highest they had recorded. This, and his rigorous training regime—he claims to have run daily for over five years between 1997 and his daughter's birth in 2002—are credited as the keys to his enduring success.
After signing with Fila
Fila (company)
Fila is one of the world's largest sportswear manufacturing companies. Founded in 1911 in Italy, Fila has been owned and operated from South Korea since a takeover in 2007. Headed by chairman and CEO Yoon-Soo Yoon, Fila now has offices in 11 countries worldwide....
Skyrunners in 1993, he won either thirteen or fifteen of the seventeen high altitude marathons he entered, setting records at both 14350 feet (4,373.9 m) (with a time of 2:52:57) and 17060 feet (5,199.9 m) (a time of 3:22:25). Later in his career he moved to ultrarunning, and sustained his previous success, setting course records in the San Juan Solstice 50-mile race in Lake City, Colorado
Lake City, Colorado
The Town of Lake City is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 375 at the U.S. Census 2000...
in 2004, and breaking the record for the Leadville Trail 100
Leadville Trail 100
Leadville Trail 100 Ultramarathon is an ultramarathon held annually on trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado, through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. First run in 1983, runners in the race climb and descend , with elevations ranging between 9,200-12,620 feet...
race in 2005 by over an hour and a half.
Carpenter's greatest dominance has been on Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak is a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County in the United States of America....
. He has won sixteen races; six ascents and ten marathons, including an unprecedented double, winning both on consecutive days in 2001. On the ascent he holds the age group record for both 40–44 year olds, and 25–29 year olds, the latter the outright record with a time of 2:01:06, set during the 1993 marathon. In the marathon itself, he holds the record for the 20–24, 25–29, 35–39 and 40–44 year old age groups, as well as the outright fastest time of 3:16:39, also in 1993.