Your Journey Begins: Preparing for Your First 5K

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Running your first 5K can be an exhilarating adventure that sets the stage for your future in the world of running. Whether it’s a personal goal, a fitness challenge, or just an opportunity to embrace a healthy lifestyle, the Austin Marathon invites you to lace up your running shoes and take that first step towards your 5K finish line. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps to prepare for your inaugural 5K race.

1. Set Clear Goals

Begin your journey by setting specific and attainable goals. Whether you aim to complete the 5K, achieve a certain time, or simply enjoy the experience, defining your objectives will provide a sense of purpose throughout your training.

2. Get the Right Gear

Proper footwear and comfortable attire are essential. Invest in a good pair of running shoes that suit your foot type and visit a specialty running store for expert advice, we recommend going to Fleet Feet Austin. Dress in moisture-wicking fabrics to stay dry and comfortable during your training.

3. Create a Training Plan

A structured training plan will help you gradually build your endurance and confidence. Start with a walk/run program, and over time, increase your running intervals while reducing walking periods. The goal is to be able to run the entire 5K distance comfortably.

4. Cross-Train and Rest

Incorporate cross-training activities like swimming, cycling, or strength training to prevent overuse injuries and improve your overall fitness. Rest days are crucial for recovery, so don’t forget to schedule them into your training plan.

5. Nutrition and Hydration

Maintain a balanced diet to fuel your workouts. Consume a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats, and stay hydrated. Experiment with pre-race nutrition to determine what works best for you.

6. Join a Running Group

Running with a group can provide motivation, camaraderie, and valuable insights. Join a local running club or participate in community fun runs to connect with other runners and share your journey.

7. Register for Your 5K

Once you’ve built up your training and feel confident in your ability to complete the 5K distance, it’s time to register for the race. Signing up will give you a tangible goal to work toward.

8. Visualize Success

Mental preparation is just as important as physical training. Visualize yourself crossing the 5K finish line, imagining the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that comes with it.

9. Race Day Prep

On the day of your 5K, arrive early, warm up, and stay hydrated. Trust your training, maintain a comfortable pace, and remember to enjoy the experience.

10. Celebrate Your Achievement

After completing your first 5K, take a moment to savor your accomplishment. Whether you achieved your time goal or simply finished the race, celebrating your achievement is well-deserved.

Participating in your first 5K can be an incredible milestone on your running journey. The Austin Marathon encourages you to embrace the challenge, savor the experience, and embark on a path towards a healthier, active lifestyle. Whether you choose to run a 5K for fun, for fitness, or to test your limits, your first 5K race is a momentous occasion to be celebrated and cherished.

Ascension Seton Austin Marathon Offers Official Sponsorship Opportunities

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Elevate your brand with alignment to the running social event of the year

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5k is actively pursuing official sponsorships from companies interested in aligning their brand with the sport’s running social event of the year. The 2023 Austin Marathon boasted an impressive collective of 80,000 individuals, including participants, volunteers, and race-day spectators. It generated an economic impact of over $60 million for the vibrant City of Austin and garnered online impressions that reached into the millions. Official sponsorships with the Austin Marathon offer companies a unique opportunity to boost brand recognition and strengthen their position in the local and global health and fitness community. The Austin Marathon is owned and produced by High Five Events.

Drew Hays of the Austin Sports Commission stated that, “The Austin Marathon has solidified its status as a key event in Austin by making a significant economic contribution, leaving a global imprint, and effectively highlighting the city’s remarkable character.” He further emphasized that, “the continued expansion in 2023 and the projected growth in 2024 opens up new avenues for businesses to enhance their brand visibility not only in Austin but also within the global endurance community.”

Official sponsors can utilize corporate social responsibility benefits like large-scale volunteer opportunities, increased employee health and wellness through event participation, and enhanced community engagement both pre-race and race weekend.

Official sponsors of the Austin Marathon can benefit from being associated with

  • A world-class sporting event
  • Thousands of runners, spectators and volunteers from all 50 states and 38 countries
  • FloTrack’s world-class live broadcast of the Austin Marathon with millions of views
  • Raising almost $650k for nonprofits in 2023
  • An exciting Elite Athlete Program focused on showcasing the sport’s top athletes
  • The support of the Austin Sports Commission
  • Austin, Texas – The Live Music Capital of the World
  • A 4-block-long finish line festival complete with beer garden, recovery tent, live music, and more

“The Austin Marathon’s remarkable growth and community support have been paralleled with heightened sponsorship engagement,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “Brands are seizing this opportunity to engage with their target audience and associate with an event of global stature that extends its impact far beyond the confines of race day.”

The 33rd annual Austin Marathon will take place on Sunday, February 18, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Earlier this year, Austin’s premier running event featured more than 18,000 participants from all 50 states and 38 countries. Sponsorship and partnership inquiries can be sent directly to Megan Frausto at [email protected].

About the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon®: The Austin Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k will celebrate its 33rd year running in Austin, Texas on Feb. 18, 2024. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 30+ countries around the world. With start and finish locations just a few blocks apart, and within walking distance of many downtown hotels and restaurants, the Austin Marathon is the perfect running weekend destination. The event is owned and produced by High Five Events, one of the largest privately owned event production companies in the United States.

2024 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon Opens Elite Athlete Program

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$20,000 prize purse for Austin Marathon Winners

High Five Events, one of the largest privately owned event production companies in the United States, is accepting applications from elite runners for the 2024 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon. Returning for its seventh year, the Elite Athlete Program creates a competitive field of elite male and female runners while discovering emerging talent, pushing the entire talent pool to reach Olympic standards. 

Runners accepted to the 2024 Austin Marathon  Elite Athlete Field will compete for a $20,000 prize purse that will be divided amongst the top five male and female finishers. 

“We had a distinct vision for the Elite Athlete Program during its relaunch four years ago,” remarked Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “Since then, we’ve witnessed the competition intensify, impressive advancements in overall times, the emergence of Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers, and the spotlight truly illuminating talent as they seize the opportunity to showcase their skills on the vibrant streets of Austin.”

George Onyancha (02:16:32) won the 2023 Austin Marathon and hit the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials Standard. Brendan Gregg (01:04:45) and Allie Kieffer (01:16:49.0) took first in the Austin Half Marathon. Damaris Areba, Austin Marathon female champ, ran a 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials Standard qualifying time of 02:36:48.

Athletes accepted into the Elite Athlete Field must meet the program’s standards. Those that meet standards will receive a comped entry to the Austin Marathon or Half Marathon and to the 3M Half Marathon. Marathon elites are also eligible for standards bonuses. The deadline to apply for the Elite Athlete Program will be on December 31, 2023. 

To be eligible for prize money, athletes must be accepted into the Elite Full Marathon Athlete Program. All athletes are subject to random drug testing pre and post-race. Read more about program details, including eligibility standards, here. Interested athletes and coaches with questions can contact [email protected].

In 2024, the Austin Marathon will proudly celebrate its 33rd year in the capital of Texas. This premier running event draws participants from every U.S. state and over 30 countries worldwide. The convenience of start and finish locations with the proximity to downtown hotels and dining, creates an ideal running weekend. The captivating finish line against the backdrop of the iconic Texas State Capitol truly makes the Austin Marathon special. 

About the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon®: The Austin Marathon® will celebrate its 33rd year running in Austin on Feb. 18, 2024. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 30+ countries around the world. With start and finish locations just a few blocks apart, and within walking distance of many downtown hotels and restaurants, the Austin Marathon is the perfect running weekend destination. Participants can register on the website.

Earn Your Ticket to the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group Championship at the Austin Marathon

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2024 Austin Marathon participants can earn a spot at AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group Championships

Mark your calendars for February 18, 2024, because Austin, Texas, is where the action’s at. The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon is your passport to an adrenaline-fueled adventure as it returns as one of the selected qualifying marathons for the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Rankings. The AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings comprise over 375 qualifying races in over 90 different countries in which athletes in nine separate age groups can compete in marathons across the world to earn a global ranking. 

Compete against runners from around the world

The spread of the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group Qualifying Events creates a truly global series throughout the year. This gives runners across the world the chance to be part of a new era of age-group marathon running. 

The 2024 season will be the 6th edition of the rankings, with runners competing to earn an invitation to the 2025 AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships.

Dawna Stone, Abbott World Marathon Majors CEO said: “The Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Rankings continue to grow and welcome new races into the qualifying process every year. The geographical spread of runners and races shows the appetite for high level competition across all ages and an invite to the World Championships is becoming a much sought-after goal.” 

How it Works

Athletes will be ranked according to their single fastest time in a qualifying event. Any athlete achieving the Automatic Qualifying Time for their age group will receive an immediate invitation for the 2025 AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships.

Highly-ranked runners who do not achieve the Automatic Qualifying Time still have the opportunity to receive an invitation to enter the World Championship depending on the full field size and the number of athletes achieving the qualifying time.

In order to receive an invitation, runners must be registered at AbbottWMM.com. The date, location, and field size for the 2025 AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships will be announced in due course.

Age Group Qualifying Times 

Times are subject to final confirmation by AbbotWMM at the end of 2023.

 2024 Qualifying times Age Group 

Male 

Female 

40-44 

02:35 

03:05 

45-49 

02:42 

03:11 

50-54 

02:48 

03:21 

55-59 

02:57 

03:30 

60-64 

03:10 

03:48 

65-69 

03:26 

04:06 

70-74 

03:40 

04:35 

75-79 

04:06 

05:05 

80+ 

04:40 

05:25 

Qualifying for the 2025 AbbottWMM Age Group Championship

There are three ways to qualify for the championships.

1. Achieve the Automatic Qualifying Time for your age group

2. Other highly ranked athletes without an Automatic Qualifying Time may also receive an invitation, depending on the full field size and the number of athletes achieving the qualifying time.

3. The bi-annual AbbottWMM Global Marathon, held within the Global Run Club, has 200 places available for the fastest verified finishers. Visit the Global Run Club for full details.

Full details here.

So, as the Austin Marathon countdown begins, imagine the cheers of the crowd, the beat of your heart, and the thrill of knowing that you could earn a spot at the 2025 AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships. It’s not just a marathon; it’s a global celebration of running . The path to championship glory is paved with determination and a dash of fun. The Austin Marathon beckons and the world is your playground – get ready to run, laugh, and make memories that will last a lifetime. It’s marathon time, and the adventure begins here!