Austin Marathon Partners with Hotels for Hope

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Hotels for Hope booking platform will boost contributions to Austin Gives Miles

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon simplifies event weekend hotel booking with the addition of the Hotels for Hope platform. The user-friendly technology provides exclusive rates for downtown hotels within walking distance of the start and finish lines. Additionally, Hotels for Hope will donate $2 for every actualized room night to the Austin Marathon’s philanthropic program, Austin Gives Miles presented by Moody Foundation. The 29th annual Austin Marathon, owned and produced by High Five Events, will take place on February 16, 2020.

“Hotels for Hope is based in Austin, so it’s great to work with the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon to highlight our technology and drive awareness and support to the Austin Gives Miles program,” said Neil Goldman, founder and CEO of Hotels for Hope.  “We look forward to a long-term relationship with an event in our own backyard, in which hotel guests benefit from this agreement.”

Stay downtown near the Austin Marathon start and finish lines

Hotels for Hope was founded and still remains in Austin, Texas. Their platform will allow participants to easily book their hotel stay and provide exclusive rates for downtown Austin hotels. When staying downtown, participants and their friends and family don’t have to worry about parking or leaving anything at home. They can sleep well knowing they’re near the Austin Marathon start and finish lines. The start line is located at Congress Avenue and 2nd Street. The finish line is located at Congress Avenue and 9th Street. As a company, they will donate $2 for every actualized room night. Funds raised during Austin Marathon weekend will be given to Austin Gives Miles.

“Annually, Austin Marathon participants come from around the world to run Austin’s streets, enjoy our restaurants, and soak up The Live Music Capital of the World,” said Stacy Keese, co-owner of High Five Events. “Hotels for Hope provides participants with exclusive rates and will ensure they stay near our start and finish lines and all the action of downtown Austin.”

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 29th year running in the capital of Texas in 2020. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 30+ countries around the world. Having start and finish locations just a few blocks apart, being within walking distance of many downtown hotels and restaurants, and finishing in front of the picturesque Texas State Capitol makes the Austin Marathon the perfect running weekend destination. Registration is currently open.

Austin Marathon, 3M Half Marathon Invite Elites to Austin for Final Trials Tune-Up

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Elites are invited to run Austin’s streets for their final Olympic Marathon Trials tune-up

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour and 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour invite elite runners to Austin for a final Olympic Marathon Trials tune-up. 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers are invited to run one of Austin’s two most beloved half marathons, fine-tune race strategy, and finalize hydration/nutrition plans. The 3M Half Marathon takes place on January 19th, that’s 41 days before the Trials. The Austin Half Marathon takes place on February 16th, that’s 13 days before the Olympic Marathon Trials. The Austin Half Marathon offers prize money and FloTrack live-streams coverage of the entire event. High Five Events operates both events.

Austin Half Marathon – February 16th

“Winning the 2019 Austin Marathon was awesome and a moment I will not forget,” said Heather Lieberg, 2019 Austin Marathon female champ (2:42:27). “ I can’t wait to participate in the half marathon as a tune-up race for the Trials in Atlanta. I know it’ll be a confidence builder!”

Runners accepted to the 2020 Austin Marathon/Half Marathon Elite Athlete Program will compete for a $20,000 prize purse. The Austin Marathon prize purse will total $15,000 and award the top five male and female finishers. The Austin Half Marathon purse will total $5,000 and award the top three male and female finishers. Interested athletes can review the program’s standards and submit an application on the website. High Five Events. owns and produces Austin Marathon. James Ngandu (1:04:32) and Caroline Rotich (1:13:24) won the 2019 Austin Half Marathon.

3M Half Marathon – January 19th

“Austin Half Marathon is the perfect final tune-up heading to the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials because it simulates what Olympic hopefuls will run in Atlanta,” said Joey Whelan, 2018-19 Austin Marathon and 2018 3M Half Marathon champ. “3M Half Marathon provides a fast course where elites who might want a longer recovery period can test race-day strategies.”

The 3M Half Marathon, produced by High Five Events, boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country and will celebrate its 26th year running in 2020. Runners will enjoy a point-to-point course that features a 300+ ft. elevation drop from start to finish. There is no official Elite Athlete Program nor is prize money awarded. Elites that wish to run must meet standards set forth by the Austin Marathon and email info@3mhalf.com. Michael “Slim” Morris (1:07:19) and Jessica Harper (1:14:23) won the 2019 3M Half Marathon.

Austin Marathon Named Champion of Economic Impact for Second Year

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Champion of Economic Impact designation stems from 2019 Austin Marathon’s $48.5 million economic impact

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour is proud to be named a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management. This is the second year in a row the Austin Marathon has received this designation. The Austin Marathon injected $48.5 million into the Austin economy during race weekend. That’s an $11 million (23 percent) increase from 2018. The Austin Marathon partnered with Dr. Ali Dadpay, Associate Professor of Finance at the Gupta College of Business at the University of Dallas. The 29th annual Austin Marathon, owned and produced by High Five Events, will take place on February 16, 2020.

“Austin is known as a great place to live, to visit, and now — to run a marathon,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “The recognition highlights the impact the race on the economic health of the city as more runners are realizing there’s no better city in which to recover!”

The 2019 impact was an $11 million increase from 2018

Other large-market champions include 2019 NCAA Final Four, BMW Championship, and TCS New York City Marathon. Sports Destination Management is the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market. They announced the 2019 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism in a special feature in their November/December issue. This year’s winners are responsible for contributing more than $1.2 billion to the national economy over the past year. The issue’s cover photo, taken by renowned photographer Patrick Wong, features the legendary Austin Marathon start line with the iconic Texas State Capitol in the background. 

“The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour is exactly what we have in mind when we use the term, Champion of Economic Impact,” said Mary Helen Sprecher, Managing Editor, Sports Destination Management. “The Austin Marathon generates a sizeable benefit to the City of Austin and showcases partnerships between multiple agencies, all working together to create a world-class event.”

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 29th year running in the capital of Texas in 2020. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 30+ countries around the world. Having start and finish locations just a few blocks apart, being within walking distance of many downtown hotels and restaurants, and finishing in front of the picturesque Texas State Capitol makes the Austin Marathon the perfect running weekend destination. Registration is currently open.

Austin Marathon and SPIbelt Continue 13-Year Partnership

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SPIbelt first launched at the 2007 Austin Marathon

Runner crosses 2019 Austin Half Marathon finish line wearing an American flag SPIbelt. SPIbelt returns as the Official Race Belt of the 2020 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon.The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon welcomes the return of SPIbelt as the Official Race Belt. They will partner with Austin Marathon for community activations, product giveaways, and race-week engagement. SPIbelt first launched their small personal item belt at the 2007 Austin Marathon. The 29th annual Austin Marathon, owned and produced by High Five Events, will take place on February 16, 2020.

“Austin Marathon weekend is a time when runners from all over the world travel to Austin to celebrate running,” said Kim Overton, SPIbelt founder and owner. “We love partnering with the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon and are proud of every runner who will toe the start line on February 16th.”

First launched at the 2007 Austin Marathon

SPIbelt, the leader in fitness accessories and creator of the original small personal item belt, was founded in 2006 by Austinite Kim Overton. Its bounce-free products are well-known within the endurance sports industry. They conveniently carry keys, bottles, gels, and your phone while on the go. SPIbelt and Austin Marathon will team up at community events to support the running community. Visit the SPIbelt booth at the Austin Marathon expo to see their entire range of accessories. They’ll also have the new 2020 color palette and the all-new Dual Pocket PRO. The Dual Pocket PRO is equipped with two larger pocket sizes for even more storage.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with SPIbelt and to see the growth of their company since their launch at the 2007 Austin Marathon,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “Their team brings extra energy to Austin Marathon weekend. It’s cool to see all the different SPIbelts cross the finish line.”

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 29th year running in the capital of Texas in 2020. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 30+ countries around the world. Having start and finish locations just a few blocks apart, being within walking distance of many downtown hotels and restaurants, and finishing in front of the picturesque Texas State Capitol makes the Austin Marathon the perfect running weekend destination. Registration is currently open.