Climbing a mountain certainly can take your breath away.

Just ask one of the 56 drivers who signed up to race to the summit of Pikes Peak for the first time Sunday at the 87th running of the Race to the Clouds.

Unlimited driver Mark Rennison, who came in with hopes of breaking the 10-minute mark, was humbled by his first encounter with the mountain as he finished in 12 minutes, 11.56 seconds. Still, the British driver said his experience was unparalleled.

“It’s a fantastic drive,” said Rennison, who finished third in his division. “It’s probably every driver’s dream in the world to come here.”

Of the first-timers, 43 completed the 12.42-mile course. But they weren’t the only ones celebrating at the summit.

There were also those drivers who had participated in the event before but finished for the first time this year.

After Joshua and Aaron Kennedy came to a stop past the finish line, a scene more typical of mixed martial arts broke out.

Aaron tackled Joshua to the ground and started playfully punching him in the sides.

“We didn’t make it up here last year,” Joshua Kennedy said while spitting out the rocks and mud that splashed in his mouth during the race.

“He told me he’d tackle me if we made it to the top. We’re brothers … that’s what we do.”

Unlimited competitor Mark Rennison makes his way around Olympic turn during the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Sunday, July 19, 2009. The Gazette, Bryan Oller Photo by BRYAN OLLER, THE GAZETTE

Bryan Oller