Dealing with Race Day Nerves: Tips for Staying Calm and Focused

in

Race day is finally here! Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned marathoner, it’s completely normal to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety as you prepare to take on the Austin Marathon. Nerves can be a sign that you care about your performance, but too much anxiety can get in the way of your best run. Here are some practical tips to help you stay calm, focused, and ready to enjoy every mile:

1. Trust Your Training

You’ve put in the miles, followed your plan, and made sacrifices to get to this point. Remind yourself that you are prepared. Trusting your training is one of the best ways to quiet last-minute doubts.

2. Visualize Success

Take a few moments before race day to visualize yourself crossing the finish line strong. Picture the course, the cheering crowds, and how you’ll feel at each stage. Visualization can help reduce anxiety and boost your confidence.

3. Stick to Your Routine

Race morning isn’t the time to try anything new. Eat the breakfast you’ve practiced with, wear your tried-and-true gear, and follow your usual warm-up. Familiar routines help calm nerves and set you up for success.

4. Practice Deep Breathing

If you feel anxiety creeping in, pause and take a few slow, deep breaths. Inhale for four counts, hold for four, and exhale for four. This simple technique can lower your heart rate and help you regain focus.

5. Break the Race Into Sections

Instead of thinking about the entire marathon, break it down into smaller, manageable parts—like 5K segments or aid station to aid station. Celebrate each milestone and stay present in the moment.

6. Focus on What You Can Control

You can’t control the weather or other runners, but you can control your attitude, effort, and pacing. Focus on your own race and let go of things outside your control.

7. Use Positive Self-Talk

Replace negative thoughts with encouraging words. Remind yourself of your strengths and past achievements. Phrases like “I am strong,” “I’ve got this,” and “One step at a time” can keep you motivated.

8. Embrace the Austin Energy

The Austin Marathon is known for its vibrant atmosphere and supportive community. Soak in the cheers, enjoy the live music, and let the city’s energy carry you forward.

9. Have a Race Day Plan—But Stay Flexible

Have a pacing and fueling strategy, but be ready to adapt if things don’t go exactly as planned. Flexibility can help you stay calm and make smart decisions on the fly.

10. Remember Your Why

When nerves hit, remind yourself why you signed up for the Austin Marathon. Whether it’s for a personal goal, a charity, or the love of running, reconnecting with your purpose can help you push through tough moments.

 

Race day nerves are normal, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can channel that energy into a memorable and successful Austin Marathon experience. Good luck, and see you at the finish line!

Final Long Run: How to Nail It Without Overdoing It

in

As the Austin Marathon approaches, runners everywhere are gearing up for their final long run—a crucial milestone in any marathon training plan. This last big effort can make or break your race day experience. Here’s how to nail your final long run without overdoing it, ensuring you arrive at the starting line feeling strong, confident, and injury-free.

Why the Final Long Run Matters

The final long run is more than just a physical test; it’s a mental rehearsal for race day. It helps you practice your pacing, nutrition, and hydration strategies while building the endurance needed to conquer 26.2 miles. But pushing too hard or going too far can lead to fatigue, burnout, or even injury.

How Far Should Your Final Long Run Be?

Aim for a distance between 16 and 22 miles, depending on your experience and training history. If you’re a first-time marathoner, 16-18 miles is plenty. More experienced runners may go up to 20-22 miles, but there’s no need to run the full marathon distance in training.

Tips to Nail Your Final Long Run

1. Stick to Your Plan:

Don’t be tempted to run farther or faster than your training plan suggests. Trust the process and remember that the goal is to finish strong, not exhausted.

2. Practice Race Day Nutrition:

Use your final long run to test your fueling and hydration strategy. Practice with the gels, chews, or drinks you’ll use on race day to avoid surprises.

3. Mimic Race Conditions:

Try to run at the same time of day as the Austin Marathon and on similar terrain if possible. This helps your body and mind adjust to what you’ll face on race day.

4. Listen to Your Body:

If you feel pain or excessive fatigue, cut the run short. It’s better to arrive at the starting line healthy than to risk injury.

5. Recover Properly:

After your final long run, focus on recovery. Hydrate, refuel with a balanced meal, stretch, and get plenty of rest.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Running Too Hard: The final long run isn’t a race. Keep your pace comfortable and conversational.
  • Skipping Recovery: Don’t neglect post-run recovery. Your body needs time to repair and strengthen.
  • Ignoring Warning Signs: If you feel pain, don’t push through it. Address any issues early to avoid race day problems.

Tapering: The Secret to Race Day Success

After your final long run, it’s time to taper. Gradually reduce your mileage and intensity in the weeks leading up to the Austin Marathon. This allows your body to recover fully and store up energy for race day.

Final Thoughts

Your final long run is a key part of your Austin Marathon journey. Approach it with confidence, stick to your plan, and prioritize recovery. By nailing your last big run without overdoing it, you’ll set yourself up for a successful, enjoyable marathon experience.

Ready to conquer the Austin Marathon? Trust your training, enjoy the journey, and we’ll see you at the finish line!

The Final Week: Tapering Strategies for Peak Performance

in

As the Austin Marathon approaches, you’ve put in months of hard work, dedication, and countless miles. Now, it’s time to make the most of your training by tapering effectively during the final week. Tapering isn’t just about doing less—it’s a strategic reduction in training intensity and volume to ensure you arrive at the start line rested, healthy, and ready to perform at your best.

Why Taper?

Tapering allows your body to recover from the cumulative fatigue of training. It helps repair muscle tissue, replenish glycogen stores, and sharpen your mental focus. Skipping or mismanaging your taper can leave you feeling sluggish or, worse, lead to injury.

Key Tapering Strategies

1. Reduce Mileage, Not Intensity

Cut your weekly mileage by 40-60%, but keep some intensity in your workouts. Short, race-pace intervals or strides help maintain your speed and keep your legs feeling fresh.

2. Prioritize Rest and Sleep

Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. Your body does most of its repair work while you sleep, so don’t skimp on rest.

3. Fine-Tune Nutrition

Focus on balanced meals with plenty of carbohydrates to top off your glycogen stores. Stay hydrated, but avoid overdrinking, which can dilute electrolytes.

4. Trust Your Training

It’s normal to feel anxious or tempted to squeeze in one last hard workout. Resist the urge! Trust the process and remember that fitness is built over weeks and months, not days.

5. Stay Mentally Sharp

Visualize race day success. Review the course map, plan your race-day logistics, and set realistic goals. Positive self-talk can help calm nerves and boost confidence.

6. Take Care of Your Body

Light stretching, foam rolling, and gentle yoga can help keep your muscles loose. Avoid trying anything new—stick to routines your body knows.

Sample Taper Week Schedule

  • Monday: Easy run (3-5 miles) + strides
  • Tuesday: Rest or cross-train
  • Wednesday: Short intervals at race pace (e.g., 3 x 1 mile)
  • Thursday: Easy run (3 miles)
  • Friday: Rest
  • Saturday: Shakeout run (2 miles, easy pace)
  • Sunday: Race Day!

The final week is about arriving at the Austin Marathon start line feeling energized and confident. Embrace the taper, trust your preparation, and get ready to enjoy the race you’ve worked so hard for. Good luck, and see you at the finish line!

Ascension Seton Austin Marathon Marks 35th Anniversary With Record Participation

in

More than 30,000 registered participants and 100,000 spectators expected on Austin streets Sunday, Feb. 15

AUSTIN, Texas, February 9, 2026 — The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K returns to downtown Austin on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, celebrating its 35th anniversary with record-breaking participation and a full slate of race-week events that bring runners, spectators and volunteers together over Presidents Day weekend.

Organizers expect more than 100,000 spectators and 30,000 registered participants representing all 50 states and 50 countries, continuing the event’s legacy as one of the nation’s premier destination race weekends. With race distances for every ability, a two-day Health & Fitness Expo, elite competition broadcast live on FloTrack, and a multi-block finish line festival, race weekend will spotlight the energy, culture and community spirit that have defined the Austin Marathon since its start in 1992.

“This event has always been bigger than the miles,” said Stacy Keese, co-owner of the Austin Marathon. “It’s the first-time finisher who trained through a tough season. It’s the volunteer who shows up before sunrise. It’s the neighborhoods that turn Austin into one big cheer squad. It’s the local businesses that offer runner perks and parties.  And we don’t call it “the running social event of the year” for no reason. Our 35th year is special—but what matters most is watching thousands of people find their moment out on these streets and then celebrating together afterwards.”

Race-week events: shakeout run + Health & Fitness Expo

Austin Marathon weekend officially begins Friday, Feb. 13, with the Official Shakeout Run at 7:00 a.m., hosted by the Austin Marathon, Fleet Feet and BPN, giving participants an opportunity to connect and loosen up ahead of race day.

Later Friday, the Health & Fitness Expo presented by PNC Bank opens at the Palmer Events Center. The two-day Expo is free and open to the public:

  • Friday: 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Attendees can pick up race packets, explore the latest running gear, meet Austin Marathon pacers, sample food and beverages, and shop official 35th anniversary Austin Marathon merchandise at the Fleet Feet store.  

A long line up of other official and unofficial Marathon week activities are happening around town and can be found HERE.

Race-day schedule and course experience

Race day begins Sunday with the elite marathon corral at 7:00 a.m., followed by staggered marathon and half marathon corrals through 8:15 a.m., and the sold-out 5K benefiting the Paramount Theatre starting at 8:40 a.m., generating a $30,800 donation for the Theatre in 2026. All distances highlight Austin’s iconic neighborhoods, live music, and crowd support, with each race starting and finishing near the Texas State Capitol.

Course highlights include two energy zones, 22 live bands, 11 official cheering stations and 22 aid stations designed to keep runners motivated and supported. After the finish, runners and fans will gather at the multi-block finish line festival featuring live music, sponsor activations, local food trucks, official merchandise and celebratory beverages in the Meanwhile Beer Garden.

Giving back: Austin Marathon Gives

The Austin Marathon Gives Program, presented by the Moody Foundation, will again emphasize the event’s commitment to giving back. Twenty-nine local nonprofit organizations are participating, with the Moody Foundation matching donations up to $10,000 per organization. Many participating nonprofits also provide a significant portion of the volunteers who power race weekend.

Elite field featured live on FloTrack

Elite competition will be featured in the FloTrack live broadcast, showcasing the Austin Marathon Elite Athlete Program. Athletes will compete for a $20,000 prize purse, with live coverage beginning at 6:30 a.m. on race morning. The broadcast will include expert commentary and highlight top finishers as they cross the line.

Registration

Registration is still open for the 2026 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon and Half Marathon. The 5k is sold out.

About the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon®: Since its inception in 1992, the Austin Marathon® has emerged as a world-class running event, attracting participants from all 50 states and over 50 countries. With a course that spans every quadrant of this dynamic city, offering a festive atmosphere with live music throughout, the marathon culminates in a vibrant finisher party. The event also serves as a powerful force for good, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for various non-profit organizations. The Austin Marathon elevates Presidents Day weekend into a grand showcase of athleticism and community spirit, making it a bucket-list event for athletes, enthusiasts, and supporters from all over the world.