Blog post Archives

Building an Unbreakable Bond through Running

August 30, 2019/in My Running Story /by tteichh5e

Running hundreds of miles has created an unbreakable bond between Samantha and her daughter

It’s no secret, running brings people together. They meet at a run club, on the roads, or at the Austin Half Marathon. Whether runners become fast friends or fall in love, it’s obvious running can build an unbreakable bond. Read Samantha’s edition of My Running Story to learn how running helped her and her daughter create their unbreakable bond. They’ve accomplished a lot and Samantha has her eyes set on a major goal on Austin’s streets on February 16, 2020!

Samantha's daughter loves running, it helps build their unbreakable bond.

The contagious smile of Samantha’s daughter when they’re running.

Never thought I would be a runner

I never thought I would be a runner, but my daughter changed all of that. I vividly remember our first run together. Lacing up a beat-up pair of sneakers, getting her little arms and legs inside her snowsuit (spring in Wisconsin), and slogging down the street just trying to sneak in one, maybe two miles. And why did I think that running with a stroller would be easy? Momentum or something? I was so wrong. I was also five months postpartum and had only ever gone for one intentional run before.

Sure, I ran here and there, but never had I set a mileage or pace goal. That morning in March 2017 was the start of it all. That April we ran our first 5K together and somehow snagged first in our age group. That June we ran our second 5K in our new home: California. Then the miles just kept adding up. We have seen so many miles of California coastline, the Midwest, and New York City strictly by stroller and street. We have completed 5Ks, 10Ks, and a half marathon together. For others, she has waited for me at the finish line.

Her smile is contagious

She has been my biggest cheerleader and coach. Her smile is contagious when she’s taking in the sights on a training run or amidst other runners in the middle of a race or listening to the cheering at the finish line. Running has brought so much joy to both of us. I am forever grateful for my daughter and the unexpected gift she has given to me with running.

Now here I am one month postpartum with our baby boy. We are moving to Austin soon. A new baby, a new home, and a new jogging stroller. There truly is no better way to see a city than by running through its streets. So much adventure, challenge, and joy lie ahead as we get ready to discover the streets of Austin by stroller and street. And what better goal to have than to run the Austin Half (or perhaps I will finally check that full marathon off my bucket list!). Update – Samantha has committed to the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon!

My Running Story is a series of blog submissions from runners just like yourself. They submitted their inspirational running stories as part of a contest to win an entry of their choice to the 2020 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon. Their stories range from crossing their first finish line to drastic lifestyle change due to running. Everyone’s story is different and unique, impacting them in a specific way. While each story is specific to the author, everyone can resonate in some form or fashion because of the power of running. Other My Running Story submissions include Kayleigh Williamson, Kirsten Pasha, and Michael Coffey.

6 Must-Try Austin Restaurants Along the Austin Marathon Course

August 23, 2019/in Blog post, Explore Austin /by tteichh5e

Get a preview of the Austin Marathon’s west segment and eat at these amazing Austin restaurants

Austin is jam-packed with delicious places to eat. From breakfast to a midnight snack, Austin restaurants can answer any grumbling stomach. We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for a new place to eat or have friends and family in town. Below are six of our favorite restaurants that can be found along miles 6-13 of the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon course.

ATX Cocina (Mile 6.5)

ATX Cocina, one of the Austin Marathon's favorite Austin restaurants on the course.

Picking your drink at ATX Cocina is easier than choosing what tequila you want! Credit – ATX Cocina

Austin has no shortage of Mexican food, but ATX Cocina (110 San Antonio St. Suite 170) takes their cuisine to another level. Corn, the foundation of their kitchen, is grown by small family farms in Mexico. Take a crowd so everyone can enjoy their tapas-style dishes. Happy hour is every day from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30. Don’t sleep on the Margarita de la Casa. All you have to do is decide what tequila you want!

68 Degrees Kitchen (Mile 8)

When you first sit down at 68 Degrees Kitchen (2401 Lake Austin Blvd.) start pouring over their extensive Italian wine list. The selection is pretty impressive. Their Mac & Cheese Balls are equally as impressive. Order some for the table or for yourself. We recommend the Penne with Spicy HouseMade Lamb Sausage. Get the half order so you can save room for dessert!

Magnolia Cafe (Mile 8)

Pancakes at Magnolia Cafe, one of the Austin Marathon's favorite Austin restaurants on the course.

Magnolia Cafe’s pancakes are the perfect pre-Austin Marathon meal. Credit – Magnolia Cafe

This Austin original is celebrating their 40th anniversary during 2019. Breakfast is served anytime at Magnolia Cafe (2304 Lake Austin Blvd.), but their bread and butter is literally bread and butter, PANCAKES! They’re open 24 hours a day, perfect for spectators watching loved ones run Austin’s streets on February 16th. Order the Kitchen Sink Burger if you find yourself looking over the Late Night Menu, trust us. It’s smothered in their famous queso. Pro tip – they also have a location near Mile 1.5.

Hula Hut (Mile 9)

Hula Hut has overlooked Lake Austin since 1993 (3825 Lake Austin Blvd.). Their Tex-Mex food has a Hawaiian twist and their island vibe pairs perfectly when you sit near the water. If you’re ordering for two, get the Hawaiian Fajitas. If you’re not, get the Grilled Fresh Fish Tacos. Whatever you decide, save room for Manual’s Fried Ice Cream!

Texas Chili Parlor (Mile 12.5)

Walk through the door at 1409 Lavaca St. and you’ll step back in time while your senses are overwhelmed with the scent of chili and booze. Texas Chili Parlor has been mostly lit with neon signs since 1976. The menu is littered with delicious options, but we recommend you keep it simple. Order a Chili Dog or Frito Pie. Or both! Pro tip – don’t drink mad dog margaritas and eat chili the night before the Austin Marathon.

Clay Pit (Mile 12.5)

Inside of Clay Pit, one of the Austin Marathon's favorite Austin restaurants on the course.

Clay Pit has called the Bertram House home since 1998. Credit – Clay Pit

Clay Pit (1601 Guadalupe St.) has called the Bertram House their home since 1998. They offer exquisite Indian food in the two-story stone building that was built in 1853 as a trading post on the outskirts of Austin. They make the best Chicken Tikka Masala you’ll ever eat. Make sure you save room for dessert. Their Mango Cheesecake was featured in Bon Appetit magazine!

There are many delicious places to eat along miles 6-13 of the Austin Marathon course. Did we miss your favorite Austin restaurant? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter. If you find yourself in East Austin, check out these restaurants and places to visit!

7 Tips to Help You Run Your Best

August 12, 2019/in Blog post /by tteichh5e

These 7 tips will help you run your best and get the most out of training

Run your best when you follow these 7 tips! There are some things that are out of our control, like the weather. But when you execute the things you can control, you truly run your best. These tips are as easy as relaxing while you run and as technical as checking your cadence. Keep these tips in mind when you’re training for the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon.

Stay relaxed and keep your body loose during your run.

Relax

Sounds simple, but we can unknowingly put a strain on our body in an effort to produce mileage or a certain pace. Really focus on relaxing your body. Unclench your fists and loosen your shoulders and jaw. You can even begin your run or workout at a slightly slower than normal pace to really dial in your breathing. Slowly increasing your heart rate at the beginning will help with relaxation.

Take time off

Listen to your body, whether you suspect an injury or just don’t feel good. The last thing you want is to have something minor become a major issue. If you have to take more than a day or two off, visit a specialist and get checked out. Ascension Seton’s Dr. Martha Pyron specializes in sports performance. If there’s something wrong she’ll diagnose it and help you build a plan to get back to running.

Get more sleep

Feeling a little sluggish since you’ve increased your mileage? Add one extra minute of sleep per night for every mile you run that week. If you run 30 miles per week, add 30 minutes of sleep. Your body repairs itself when you sleep. Make sure you give your body enough time to do what it needs when you begin asking more of it.

People try different nuun hydration flavors at the 2019 Austin Marathon expo.

Hydrate

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s extremely vital. At a minimum, you should drink 30-50 ounces every day. The more active the are, the more you should increase that amount. Make sure you have a good balance of water and an electrolyte-infused fluid, like nuun hydration.

Lift weights

Don’t run every day, mix it up. Cross-training is important to prevent overuse injuries. You work your muscles differently and build strength when you lift weights. When lifting weights, focus on a lighter weight with more reps. If you can’t make it to the gym, build your own workout that includes push ups, sit ups, squats, and lunges. Not a fan of lifting weights? Cross-train with these five non-running activities.

Check your cadence

The average runner’s cadence should be 150 steps per minute. You don’t have to count this in your head! Every runner is different, especially if you’re just starting out of have been running all your life. Under Armour makes knowing your cadence seamless. Their bluetooth connected shoes, like the UA HOVR Velociti 2, sends the information from your run directly to their MapMyFitness app. The app even provides personalized coaching tips! Tracking your cadence, mileage, pace, and other running-related data will help you see improvement.

Focus on your stride

This coincides with the first tip to relax. Your stride improves when you relax. Don’t overstride or run on your tippy toes. You want your stride to be smooth and comfortable. This better optimizes the energy your body uses and helps avoid injury.

You will ask more of your body as you increase your mileage. It’s important that you take care of your body. Incorporate these tips so that you can run your best. Do you have a tip that helps you run your best? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

9 Beginner Running Tips to Get You Started

August 7, 2019/in Blog post /by tteichh5e

Get on the right track with these beginner running tips

Every runner begins at square one. Whether you’re just starting out or returning from a long break from running, these nine beginner runner tips will get you started. Some might not need all nine, but everyone will use at least one to get them going. Remember to have fun, running should be enjoyable!

Don’t track distance

Run on the Boardwalk to track your time, a helpful beginner running tip!

Austin has a massive amount of places to implement these beginner running tips!

Track time instead. Focus on time on your feet when you begin. Start off with a time that’s comfortable for you and increase that amount over time. For your first time out, try running/walking for 15 minutes and see how that feels. If you feel fine, increase it by 3-5 minutes next time! After a few weeks when you get more comfortable being on your feet you can begin tracking mileage.

Take walk breaks

When starting out, your heart rate will increase quickly. You’re asking a lot of your body when you first begin running. Your body will adjust accordingly. Taking walk breaks will allow your heart rate to come back down and catch your breath. When you’re on your first 15-minute run, alternate running and walking every 60 seconds. The next time you’re out, run for 90 seconds and walk for 60. Eventually you’ll eliminate walking altogether!

Run in a location you’ll love

Austin runners can run on the Greenbelt, trail running is a helpful beginner running tip.

If you love nature, try running/walking on the trail when you first start out.

Love nature? Go to the trails. Like a certain coffee shop? Run near the shop and reward yourself. Enjoy being near water? Check out the Boardwalk. Running at a location you love helps you have a better experience when you first start out.

Get fit for running shoes

You’re running, get running shoes! Fit matters. You want shoes that fit your feet, provide comfort, and look good. Visit our friends at Fleet Feet Austin. They’re the Official Running Store of the Austin Marathon. You can use their state-of-the-art foot scanning machine to get fitted with the shoes that’s best for you.

Start slow

Don’t start like you’ve been shot out of a cannon. Begin at an easy, comfortable pace. You don’t want to wear yourself out or elevate your heart rate too soon. Your effort shouldn’t be stressful. Starting slow allows your body to warm up and helps prevent injury.

Track your progress

Group photo of friends before running the 2019 Austin Half Marathon. Running with friends is a great beginning running tip.

Run with friends and track your progress all the way to the finish line.

As mentioned above, don’t track distance, track time. Keep a log of the amount of time you spent on your feet. Track the amount of jogging and walking and how many times you alternate. This will inform you what your next workout should be, how much you run/walk, and how much time you spend on your feet.

Lower your expectations

If you’re just starting out, you won’t run a 5K right off the bat. Every runner, from elites to beginners, starts at square one. Make sure your expectations and goals are attainable. If you set lofty goals and don’t achieve them you can get burned out and lose interest. Start off small and work your way up!

Listen to music you love

Make a running playlist that you’ll love! Don’t have the time? Check out our #WeLiketheSoundofThat playlist on Spotify! Listening to music you love will help pass the time, act as a timer for your workout, and help distract from the task at hand. Feel free to sing out loud if needed! If using headphones, make sure the volume is low enough to hear your surroundings.

Run with a friend who is at your level

This tip is beneficial for two reasons: accountability and camaraderie. You’ll hold each other accountable, meaning you’re less likely to hit snooze for that early morning run if you know your friend is waiting for you. Additionally, you can push one another when needed, compare training progress, and congratulate one another when you do something great!

Beginning to run can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t break it down. The benefits of running are endless and these beginning runner tips will get you on the right track. Did you use a specific beginner running tip when you first started running? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.