Blog post Archives

Austin Marathon Invites Runners to Free Global Running Day Virtual 5K

May 19, 2020/in Blog post, Press Release /by Austin Marathon

The Austin Marathon’s free Global Running Day Virtual 5K will celebrate the sport we all love: running

Image of runners running during the 2019 free Global Running Day event on the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin with the Texas State Capitol in the background.

Runners finishing Austin’s free 2019 Global Running Day event. Credit – Ed Sparks.

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour invites runners from around the world to register for the free Global Running Day Virtual 5K. This is an excellent opportunity for everyone to come together to celebrate the sport we love and the entire running community. You can run with anyone from anywhere during the free Global Running Day Virtual 5K! Invite friends, family, neighbors, and your running group to join you. Plus, finishers could win some sweet prizes! Registration is open until Wednesday, June 3rd.

“I’m hyped that the Austin Marathon is offering a virtual 5K to celebrate Global Running Day,” said Will von Rosenberg, who attended last year’s Global Running Day event in Austin. “It was great to see the Austin running community come together at last year’s event. I’m ready to run the Global Running Day Virtual 5K with runners from around the world!”

Global Running Day Virtual 5K perks

Participants of the free Global Running Day Virtual 5K can submit their 5K results at any time between May 20th and June 4th. Every participant will receive:

Customizable, downloadable bib that can be printed at home
Limited-edition 2020 Global Running Day digital finisher medal
Official digital finisher’s certificate
Exclusive race discounts
Access to limited Global Running Day merch
Automatic entry into the giveaway to win 1 of 5 grand prizes including entry to the 2021 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon, or 5K + VIP Experience

“I’m delighted to celebrate Global Running Day with the Austin Marathon! Their 30th anniversary will be the North American leg of my attempt to be the first 6-time cancer survivor to run a marathon on every continent,” said Jonathan Acott, who will participate from London. “After 6 cancers, running is the way I manage both my mental and physical health. It gives me the time I need to manage my emotions but also to celebrate my body and what it’s been through and can still do.”

Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 35+ countries around the world. The start and finish locations are just a few blocks apart. They are within walking distance of many downtown hotels and restaurants. The finish line is in front of the picturesque Texas State Capitol. The Austin Marathon is the perfect running weekend destination. Registration opens on June 1st.

The 2020 May Running Playlist: Music to Your Ears

May 18, 2020/in Blog post, Running Playlist /by Austin Marathon

We curated the 2020 May Running Playlist just for you

You want music? We’ve got music! Austin is known as The Live Music Capital of the World and we are big music lovers. Every year, we showcase live music throughout the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon course and at the 3-block-long finish line festival. These monthly playlists will allow y’all to hear what we’re listening to. Each song can be found on its monthly playlist and our master #WeLiketheSoundofThat playlist! We also share every song on Twitter. Hit the ‘Follow’ button on Twitter so you know what’s next! The 2020 May Running Playlist has everything you need, from Austin’s own Gary Clark Jr. to the up-and-coming ball of energy that is Bishop Briggs. Having a playlist that you love is a great motivational tool to get you out of bed for your morning run!

Playlist pro tips:

1) In Spotify, drag the 2020 May Running Playlist to your ‘Playlists’ section for quick access

2) Then click the download button so you can listen even if you’re offline

Click play on the 2020 May Running Playlist before you take off for your next run. These songs can pump you up, allow you to catch your breath, or help you focus on the warm-up/cool-down. However you incorporate music, just make sure you can still hear your surroundings. It’s important to know what’s going on around you! Is there something you like that we didn’t list? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

Joe Priesnitz Curated Live Music for Austin’s Premier Running Events

May 2, 2020/in Blog post /by Austin Marathon

Runners from around the world enjoyed live music on Austin’s streets because of Joe Priesnitz’s efforts

Joe Priesnitz used music to positively impact the lives of others. Lucky for us, he did this for runners at the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon and the 3M Half Marathon. Since 2014, Joe worked with and booked local Austin acts to play live music on course. Hundreds of thousands of runners and spectators from around the world experienced why Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World because of Joe. Unfortunately, he passed away on Saturday, April 25th, after a seven-year battle with multiple myeloma. Joe is considered a legend in the music industry. He managed and booked legendary artists like Eric Johnson, Kelly Willis, and Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble to name a few. Below are a few tributes from those positively impacted by the efforts of Joe Priesnitz.

Image of Jack Murray and Joe Priesnitz chatting after the 2017 Austin Marathon.

Jack and Joe chat at an Austin Marathon after party. Courtesy of Barbara Nadalini Priesnitz.

Jack Murray – co-owner of High Five Events (owner of Austin Marathon)

Runners from around the world love the variation of live music along the Austin Marathon and 3M Half Marathon courses. Joe booked everything from rock bands to bagpipe players for these events. Austin is known as The Live Music Capital of the World. Participants and spectators experience that firsthand on Austin’s streets thanks to Joe’s efforts. We’re appreciative of his and Barbara’s contributions to our events, the music world, and the City of Austin. We felt lucky to have him as part of the team. Joe will be missed.

Danny Spoonts – Austin Marathon Course Crew, long-time friend

Joe and I both grew up in New Mexico and became friends after high school. We both moved to Austin in the 70s and became close friends for 40+ years. Joe was all about music. I became a runner in the mid-80s and began working as Course Manager for the Austin Marathon in 2012. The event had an opening to book and organize bands. I knew Joe would be great and he came on board. After years of doing what we both loved, we now got to work together! Anyone who knew Joe knew he was far from being a runner, but he was always the one to help out. I believe he really enjoyed going back a bit to his roots of booking bands again.

Gemma Kitson – Australian runner, 2020 Austin Marathon finisher

Traveling to the other side of the world and lining up for a marathon, suddenly full of doubt, I wore my headphones like a toddler clutching tightly to a security blanket. I was ready to be powered along by a playlist carefully curated by the friends who would typically run beside me as if I were home in Melbourne. It took minutes for it to be discarded while simultaneously falling in love with Austin. Eventually, I hit pause mid-song as I discovered a local group rocking out on a street corner. “How quirky,” I thought. By the third music pit-stop, I knew I had stumbled onto something pretty special.

I shared videos with everyone back home as I ran past yet another music group – and again, a totally different genre and different setup. I happily sacrificed my finish time as I stopped to capture the diverse range of gatherings with my phone. My feet found a new beat every handful of kilometers as the next band came into earshot. Never before had I seen SO much music on a run course. I hadn’t paid much attention to Austin’s reputation as The Live Music Capital of the World in my travel research until I found myself hanging onto the memories of each band I passed. Like any great soundtrack, the Austin Marathon’s music accompanied me on a journey that changed me forever. Austin and its amazing musical pulse will always be a part of my heartbeat now.

John and Stacey Conley – former owners of the Austin Marathon

Joe joined our team in 2014. He not only knew all of the major Austin musicians, but he also knew every garage band, bongo drummer, and bagpipe player in town. Joe worked side-by-side with our course manager, Danny Spoonts, to place the musicians and Joe delivered meals to them while they were on the course. He made sure that the acts had as good a time supporting the Austin Marathon as our participants had running the race. Joe was an unassuming professional who knew music, the musicians, the city, and our team. He will be sorely missed.

Thanks, Joe

Joe Priesnitz’s impact on the music industry is undeniable, but his impact didn’t stop there. Hundreds of thousands of runners and spectators from around the world saw and heard why Austin is The Live Music Capital of the World. The Austin Marathon is grateful for Joe’s contributions. Our thoughts are with Barbara and his family and friends.

Courtesy of Bells and Whistles.

Feature and social images courtesy of Barbara Nadalini Priesnitz.

Free Download! Mother’s Day Coupon Book for Runners

April 29, 2020/in Blog post /by Austin Marathon

Surprise the person you call Mom with this free, downloadable Mother’s Day Coupon Book

Moms make the world go round. They keep us in line, out of trouble, and on the straight and narrow. Moms provide comfort and a calming voice when needed. They make your favorite meal when you least expect it and provide the hug you needed that you didn’t know you needed. All while setting running goals and crushing them! Say “Thank You” to whomever you call mom with this free, downloadable Mother’s Day Coupon Book. It’s full of goodies that she can redeem whenever she’s ready, from a family hike/picnic to a much-needed post-long run nap. BONUS: these coupons have no expiration date and there’s a blank set so mom can write in whatever she wants!

Get a sneak peek of what Mom can expect! Then enter your email to download the Mother’s Day Coupon Book. To all the moms out there who keep their family’s world running while running themselves: we thank you and hope you enjoy your Mother’s Day Coupon Book. Pro tip: these coupons work best when training for the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon’s 30th anniversary on February 14, 2021!

These coupons don’t expire!

1) jog a marathon over time as a family

2) ride bikes with mom on her run

3) 2-hour-long family walk/hike/picnic

4) dinner + dessert + movie

5) one uninterrupted post-long run nap

6) rinse off dishes you use and put them in the dishwasher

7) sleep in on one Saturday morning with time for a run later

8) one uninterrupted afternoon with a book/podcast + bottle of wine (or drink of choice)

9) do laundry all week (younger kids collect and separate, older kids collect, separate, wash, dry, and fold)

10) Wine Night with the Ladies (or drink of choice)

11) take out the trash/recycling/compost all week

12) one post-long run leg/foot massage

13) no arguing/complaining for an entire month

13.1) Mom’s Choice

Alright moms, what coupon will you redeem first? Tag Austin Marathon on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram when you redeem your coupons so we can see them in action! Now excuse us while we download the Mother’s Day coupon book for our moms.