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7 East Austin Restaurants Near the Austin Marathon Course

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Check out some of our favorite East Austin restaurants near the Austin Marathon course

East Austin has no shortage of amazing and delicious restaurants, from Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, Eater Austin’s 2017 Restaurant of the Year, to the legendary, no-frills Sam’s BBQ. We’re proud to have the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon course run through historic East Austin. Runners from around the world have a chance to visit and taste what we enjoy on a daily basis. Check out our list below of East Austin restaurants near the Austin Marathon course!

Kemuri Tatsu-Ya

A delicious spread at Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, one of the Austin Marathon's favorite East Austin restaurants.

A delicious spread at Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, don’t skip the Brisket Ramen!

This east Austin izakaya (informal Japanese pub) from the team behind Ramen Tatsu-Ya. Kemuri Tats-ya (2713 E. 2nd St.) was Eater Austin’s 2017 Restaurant of the Year. This spot marries Texas and Japanese ingredients and techniques. We recommend the Texas Ramen because it’s delicious and contains a Texas staple, brisket. Your tastebuds will thank you! Photo credit: Kemuri Tatsu-Ya Facebook page.

Sam’s BBQ

This no-frills, East Austin staple was started in 1957 by Sam Campbell. It has been serving Austin’s original hot sausage since then! Dan Mays Sr. took over after Sam’s death in 1976. Brian Mays, Dan’s son, forges ahead with Sam’s vision: to make delicious, high-quality, home-cooked meals for all appetites. Sam’s BBQ is located near Mile 19.5 of the Austin Marathon course (2000 E. 12th St. 78702). Carnivores can enjoy everything from brisket to mutton. The sides are delicious as well!

Buenos Aires Cafe, Este

The craft cocktails at Buenos Aires Cafe are top-notch, one of the Austin Marathon's favorite East Austin restaurants.

You have to try the specially crafted cocktails at Buenos Aires Cafe.

Buenos Aires Cafe is a must-add to your list! They celebrate the holy trinity of Argentine cuisine: meat, fire, and seasonal ingredients. They are particular about the ingredients they make and sell and responsibly source them to ensure only the finest products make it to your table. Pro tip: they’ll open for brunch soon and their drinks are refreshing! Photo credit: Buenos Aires Cafe, Este Facebook page.

Bufalina

Is pizza your thing? Grab a Neopolitan-style pie and a bottle of wine from Bufalina’s at 1519 E. Cesar Chavez. You can’t go wrong with any of their appetizers. Brush up on your wine knowledge, the list is quite extensive. Pro tip: pizzas are 50% off during happy hour (4:00 p.m. – 5:30)!

Pitchfork Pretty

Looking for a spot to grab some regional and seasonal food? Pitchfork Pretty (2708 E. Cesar Chavez) is your answer. Their menu consists of everything from vegan options to the enormous BBQ beef rib. Often what you see on their menu is what has been grown in their garden that’s about a mile away.

Sour Duck Market

The outdoor seating is perfect for a group of runners at Sour Duck Market, one of our favorite East Austin restaurants.

The outdoor seating is perfect for a group of runners at Sour Duck Market.

With an on-site smoker, Sour Duck (1814 E. MLK) smokes all of their meats in-house. Swing by for breakfast during the week to grab something from their coffee shop and bakery. Their outdoor seating is great when your friends want to get together for happy hour (Sunday – Thursday, 2:00 – 6:00). Check out the extensive list of who they work with in the local food community! Photo credit: Sour Duck Market Facebook page.

JuiceLand

JuiceLand (2601 E. Cesar Chavez) was founded in Austin in 2011. They now have 25 locations in or around Austin! Their menu is award-winning, offering a delicious array of cold-pressed bottled juices, vegan cuisine, smoothie bowls, shots, and cleanses. Take your pick of fresh-squeezed juices, they’re the perfect antidote for a hot, Texas day!

Was the above list of East Austin locations not enough? Visit these Google Maps of our favorite murals and other places we love around Austin!

2019 Austin Gives Miles Surpasses $1 Million Fundraising Goal

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2019 Austin Gives Miles provides an impactful platform for 36 Central Texas nonprofits

2019 Austin Gives Miles, the Official Charity Program of the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon® presented by Under Armour, raised $1,187,000. The 36 Central Texas nonprofit organizations accepted into the program worked tirelessly to exceed the program’s fundraising goal. They also increased awareness for their organization and recruited race weekend volunteers. Lance Armstrong, charity chaser, was the final participant to cross the Austin Marathon start line. He elevated the program’s profile, helped surpass the $1 million fundraising goal, and passed all but 59 marathoners (3:02:13).

“We were proud to be an Austin Gives Miles Official Charity and use Back on My Feet’s connection with running to raise more than $20,000,” said Scott Merritt, Back on My Feet Austin Chapter Director. “We love seeing the program’s continued growth and the Austin Marathon’s ability to positively impact more Central Texas nonprofits.”

The Moody Foundation’s continued support makes a huge difference

For the fourth year in a row, Austin Gives Miles was the beneficiary of a grant from The Moody Foundation that matched donations for each organization, up to $10,000. The 2019 grant totaled $252,819, bringing their four-year grant total to $963,044. The money raised significantly impacts Central Texas and the communities the charities serve. Learn more about Austin Gives Miles and how your nonprofit can get involved. The application process is open for nonprofits interested in being involved with 2020 Austin Gives Miles.

“Raising $1,187,000 in yet another record-breaking year shows the generosity and giving spirit of the running community,” said Carly Samuelson, Austin Gives Miles Charity Manager. “We wouldn’t have reached our goal if it weren’t for the everyday runners who gave their miles, the Moody Foundation for their gracious matching grant, and Lance being an amazing charity chaser.”

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 29th year running in the capital of Texas on February 16, 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. Participants can register for the Austin Marathon, Austin Half Marathon, or Austin Marathon 5K beginning June 1st.

Why Your Nonprofit Should Join Austin Gives Miles

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Join Austin Gives Miles to further your nonprofit’s mission

Raising funds for your charity’s mission in partnership with an endurance race is a popular way to generate revenue for your organization. The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour is proud of our charity program, Austin Gives Miles. For the 2019 event, 36 charities raised more than $1.1 million for their causes. We love Austin Gives Miles and are always looking for new charities to join our growing program.  Join Austin Gives Miles in 2020 and further your mission!

Austin Gives Miles

Austin Gives Miles has two ways to get involved, as an Official Charity Partner or as a Charity Team. We’re proud to offer the option of how you want to participate in Austin Gives Miles. Our goal is to be as inclusive to every type of charity that has a desire to participate. Whether you are an Official Charity Partner or a Charity Team, here are the benefits all charities receive from Austin Gives Miles:

  • Free participation in the Austin Gives Miles Program
  • Access to charity pricing on race bibs with group billing options
  • Online fundraising website powered by GoFundMe by Crowdrise
  • Listing as an Austin Gives Miles Charity on the Austin Marathon website
  • Marketing materials and guidance from the Austin Gives Miles Charity Manager

Official Charity Partners

The Official Charity Partner program gives Central Texas charities the opportunity to combine efforts with the Austin Gives Miles program on a more committed level.  The Official Charity Partners commit to having at least 35 runners on their team and raise at least $15,000 for their mission. Official Charity Partners take an active role in volunteer recruitment. They’re assigned an aid station on race day or a shift that must be filled with 50-100 dedicated volunteers.  

Additional perks include listing in the registration path with the opportunity to have a fundraising page created at checkout, opportunity to take part in the Charity Chaser promotion, and eligibility for any matching gift funds received for the program.  

Charity Teams

We think Charity Teams are a great way to try out endurance fundraising without any risk. We welcome teams of all sizes to Austin. Charity Teams can participate without any goals. They’ll have access to the amazing benefits of the program without any of the requirements. Austin Gives Miles doesn’t charge a participation fee and you only pay for race bibs used by your Team. We welcome programs of all sizes, from large, national programs to small, local charities looking for a way to be active in the community.

Are you a charity interested in taking part in the 2020 Austin Gives Miles Program? If so, we ask that you fill out the charity application or contact Carly Samuelson, Austin Gives Miles Charity Manager at carly@highfiveevents.com or 301-602-2604. The application process opens on June 1st.

5 Summertime Running Tips to Beat the Heat

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Stay in shape and beat the heat with these summertime running tips

They say Austin is the opposite of Winterfell… summer is coming. Some days it might feel like it’s already here! Make sure you take advantage of the few cool days and mornings that we have left. When summer finally arrives you’ll know it by the humidity in the mornings and the soaring heat in the afternoons. But that doesn’t mean you have to completely stop running. Implement our 5 summertime running tips to beat the heat. You’ll be that much more prepared for Ascension Seton Austin Marathon training when fall rolls around!

Hydrate

Oftentimes the most overlooked tip. Not because people don’t hydrate, but because people underhydrate. 30-50 fluid ounces is recommended daily. If you’re more active you’ll need to increase the amount. Make sure to incorporate a nice balance of water and a liquid with electrolytes. This 3M Half Marathon blog post will teach you more about the reasoning for proper hydration.

Protect yourself

If you run when the sun is out, protect yourself from its rays.

  • apply sweat-proof sunscreen before your run or workout
  • put on a hat or visor to protect your face
  • wear lighter colored clothes (dark colors absorb more heat) and sweat-wicking material
  • rock the shades (protect your eyes from the sun’s rays and glares from other objects)

Adjust schedule

It’s no secret that the mornings and evenings are cooler than the afternoon. Running/working out when it’s 15-20 degrees cooler can make all the difference. The last thing you want to do is overheat your body.

Pro tip: start your morning run from Barton Springs Pool and jump in after. Entrance is free before 8:00 a.m. This is a great way to cool your body down and relax your muscles.

Cross-train

You don’t have to stop running, but your mileage will decrease when you implement cross-training. This can be as simple as riding your bike on these shaded trails or swimming laps in one of Austin’s amazing pools. You could try goat yoga, Camp Gladiator workouts, or rock climbing. Remember to apply sunscreen if you’re outdoors. Feel like you’ve run out of things to do in Austin? These 5 non-running activities will get you going again!

Hit the trails

Get off the roads and hit the trails! Austin is crawling with amazing trails that you can run on. Running with nature gets you away from the asphalt (absorbs heat), away from cars and their exhaust, and closer to the trees (that provide shade) and creeks (where you can cool off if needed).

Pro tip: if you run with your dog on the trails, obey all city ordinances and make sure you pack water and a bowl (or that the creeks have running water).

Recommendations from Twitter

We asked Twitter “what’s one thing you always do/have/eat/drink before, during, or after your summer runs?” and received some great responses. We listed a few of them below!

@TheBeerRunner – Beer

@fashionablemile – Drink: nuun – Do: change shoes/socks mid run + jump in pool post run

@Msnazzy – black coffee before, water during, and beer after

As you can see, there are many ways to beat the summer heat and stay in shape. Feel like you’ve run out of things to do in Austin? These 5 non-running activities will get you going again! You can apply all of these summertime running tips if you live outside of Austin.