Tag Archive for: Austin Half Marathon

2018 Austin Marathon Showcases Revamped Marathon Course to the World

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Allison Macsas qualifies for 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials with 2:43:11 on revamped marathon course

The Austin Marathon unveiled the revamped marathon course for marathoners and the entire world on Sunday, February 18th, showcasing the city of Austin throughout the entire FloTrack livestream. More than 15,000 participants registered for the Austin Marathon, half marathon, and 5K, coming to Austin from all 50 states and 35 countries. Tens of thousands of spectators lined the Austin streets cheering on runners, waving hilarious signs, and providing endless energy. The highlight of the day featured Allison Macsas qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials on the revamped marathon course, finishing in 2:43:11, in front of family and friends.

Allison Macsas, 2018 Austin Marathon female champion (2:43:11)

“Winning the Austin Marathon for the second time was even more magical than the first,” said Macsas. “The amount of hometown support coupled with a deeper field and cool weather helped me feel stronger than I had thought possible, and ended with an OTQ which was a huge surprise! The entire event was incredibly well-executed and I can’t think of a more rewarding place to win a marathon than here in Austin.”

FloTrack’s live coverage followed the men’s and women’s elite fields for the marathon and half marathon. The forecasted rain stayed away and start time temperatures hovered in the low 50s. Drizzle was on and off and low-hanging clouds helped keep race temperatures ideal for great times and hundreds of PRs. Aid stations hydrated runners with nuun performance, Clif Bar handed out Clif Shots at two Clif Zones on course, and runners celebrated with friends and family in the Oskar Blues beer garden at the finish line festival.

Syracuse alumnus Joey Whelan (2:21:37) crossed the finish line first, besting 2017 Austin Marathon champion Joe Thorne’s time of 2:32:05. Craig Leon (2:23:24) and Daniel Bishop (2:26:27) rounded out the men’s marathon field, respectively. The male half marathoners finishing in the top three consisted of Patrick Smyth (1:04:16), Ryan Root (1:08:51), Luke Humphrey (1:08:54).

Joey Whelan, 2018 Austin Marathon male champion (2:21:37)

“I kept it simple and tried to keep an even pace while working the hills on the course. I make ranch roads in the Texas Hill Country for a living so I do a lot of hill training,” said Whelan, who also won the 2018 3M Half Marathon (1:09:06). “It was great to have people yelling my name on the course; I love the Austin running community!”

Austinite Allison Macsas (2:43:11) shaved more than five minutes off her 2017 winning time.  Ashley Paulson (2:46:11) and D’Ann Arthur (2:49:37) finished second and third respectively. The top three female half marathon finishers were Hillary Montgomery (1:16:15), Allison Mendez-Cleaver (1:16:19), and Jocelyn Todd (1:17:19).

Participants can see their results on the Austin Marathon website and continue to share their memorable experiences on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Runners can expect their FinisherPix race day photos to be ready in 24-48 hours after the race.

The Austin Marathon would like to thank the volunteers, spectators, and participants who made the race so special. They would also like to thank the City of Austin, Austin Police Department, Department of Public Safety, CapMetro, Travis County EMS, Under Armour, H-E-B, Under Armour, Clif Bar, nuun, Dole, Medicine in Motion, Oskar Blues Brewery, Ben Phillips – Engel & Völkers Austin, Qualcomm, SPIbelt, ALVIES, FloTrack, Austin Sports Commission, FitRankings, Keep Austin Beautiful, Goodwill Central Texas, and Austin Massage Company.

2018 Austin Marathon Set to Debut New Marathon Course

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High Five Events is ready to showcase the revamped Austin Marathon® course. The race will begin at 7 a.m., feature a highly-competitive elite field, and be livestreamed by FloSports so spectators and loved ones around the globe can watch. Runners from all 50 states and 34 countries will run the 27th annual Austin Marathon on Sunday, Feb. 18th.

“The new Austin Marathon course will present different challenges and require a different strategy than the old course,” said Allison Macsas, 2017 Austin Marathon female champion. “I’m really looking forward to racing through a new mix of neighborhoods and more of the awesome hometown support that helped get me to the win last year!”

The new Austin Marathon course was designed to provide a better participant and spectator experience and allow enhanced traffic flow along the new marathon course, while still finishing with the picturesque Texas State Capitol as every runner’s backdrop. The first half of the Austin Marathon will remain unchanged. After Mile 12, half marathoners will head south to the finish line while marathoners continue east before turning north and running on Guadalupe St. through the heart of the University of Texas campus. The new marathon course will highlight Austin attractions like the University of Texas Tower and historic Hyde Park neighborhood, while taking marathoners on a tour of East Austin’s restaurants, murals, and landmarks.

new marathon courseFloSports, a sports media based in Austin, Texas, will highlight the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon’s Elite Athlete Program by following the men’s and women’s elite leaders throughout the race. They will also have a camera capturing finishers as they cross the finish line. In addition to being available to watch online for free, the feed will be displayed on the finish line Jumbotrons.

“Excitement has been building around the new Austin Marathon course and we’re ready to host thousands of runners from around the world during race weekend,” said Stacy Keese, co-owner of High Five Events. “With the addition of the Manzano Mile we’ve expanded race weekend to further showcase the city of Austin as a true running destination.”

The following is a sample of the athletes in the Elite Field competing for the $20,000 prize purse: Allison Macsas (2016 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier), Craig Leon (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier), David Fuentes (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier), Becki Spellman (3-time Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier, 2008, 2012, 2016), Luke Humphrey (3-time Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier, 2008, 2012, 2016), Patrick Smyth (8th place 2016 Olympic Trials – 2:15:26), Allison Mendez-Cleaver (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier), Amanda Scott (2-time Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier, 2012, 2016), Hillary Montgomery (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier).

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 27th year running in the capital of Texas on February 18, 2018. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 34 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 marathon, half marathon, or 5K.

Austin Marathon Finish Line Festival Food Trucks

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Make sure your running shoes are ready and cheer signs are hilarious because the Austin Marathon is on Sunday, Feb. 18th! Thousands of people are looking forward to that unbeatable feeling of crossing the Austin Marathon or Half Marathon finish line. Tens of thousands more will cheer on their favorite runners. Whether you’re racing or watching, it’s safe to say that everyone will be hungry at some point. As if you needed more reasons to come to the Austin Marathon, here are some food trucks to visit! Which I’m sure many are equipt with great POS systems which you can learn more about at this resource. The food trucks will be on 5th St. in between Congress Ave. and Brazos St. Look for the WELCOME arch!

food trucks

Four Brothers

Burro Cheese Kitchen

Take things that make Austin great, personify it in artisan grilled cheese form, and you get Burro Cheese Kitchen. If you’ve been there you know what we mean, and if you haven’t, you soon will. Look for it on February 18th. You can’t miss it; it’s big, it’s yellow, and it’s cheesy!

Four Brothers

Mis hermanos y hermanas, no matter what you’re craving, the Austin Marathon will have your hunger fix! Oh, you want arepas? Four Brothers has it. You’re in the mood for an authentic cachupa? Go to the big yellow and red food truck. If you’ve never been to Four Brothers, make your Austin Marathon experience that much more unforgettable by eating there!

Juice Austin

We’re going to have something for everyone! If you just want to cool off and rehydrate with a tasty and refreshing drink, Juice Austin has you covered! So come down, have a good time, and get your juice on!

food trucks

Southside Flying Pizza

Southside Flying Pizza

You just ran a marathon, you deserve pizza. Bottom line. You just cheered at the Austin Marathon for a few hours, you deserve pizza. No questions asked. Scratch that, you never need to justify eating pizza. Swing by the Southside Flying Pizza Truck while you’re at the Austin Marathon!

Lucky Lab Coffee Co.

What type of coffee is best? Lucky Lab Coffee Co.! The Austin Marathon starts at 7:00 a.m. and you’re up to cheer on your friends. Of course, you’re going to need some coffee. Fortunately, Lucky Lab Coffee Co. will be there to supply you with some freshly-brewed liquid energy!

Slab BBQ

You really didn’t think we were going to leave out BBQ did you? If there is anything Austin knows how to do right (other than marathons) it’s BBQ. After the race, let your nose control where your legs take you next. We promise you will not be disappointed.

food trucks

Slab BBQ.

Ladies and gentleman, runners and spectators, we just gave you six more reasons to get pumped about the Austin Marathon. Look for (or smell for) the food trucks that will be located on 5th St. in between Congress Ave. and Brazos St.! If you want to learn more about how you can get your own food truck, you may want to learn about guarantor loans here for extra information and hopefully you’ll be approved! Maybe we’ll see you next year?

Austin Marathon Finish Line Festival to Feature the Peterson Brothers

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High Five Events presents the Peterson Brothers as the main act for the Austin Marathon finish line festival. The Peterson Brothers will play two 45-minute, energetic sets for thousands of finishers and spectators on Feb. 18, 2018.

Peterson Brothers

Glenn Jr. (left) and Alex Peterson (right).

“We’re honored to be part of this great day in the city of Austin and look forward to what is always an inspiring event with incredible energy,” said Glenn Peterson Jr.

The Peterson Brothers, one of music’s most talented up-and-coming acts, have opened for artists like Austinite Gary Clark Jr., Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Buddy Guy, and the late B.B. King. The Peterson Brothers are led by Glenn Jr. and Alex and have a current residency at Austin’s famed music hall, The Continental Club. They have also performed at major music festivals like Austin City Limits, Chicago Blues Festival, and Old Settler’s Music Fest. Their two 45-minute sets will consist of original songs and well-known covers and take place from 9:00 – 9:45 and 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.

“The buzz the Peterson Brothers have generated within the Austin music scene is undeniable,” said Stacy Keese, co-owner of High Five Events. “We’re thrilled to have them headline the Austin Marathon finish line festival and know that their endless energy will keep the party going for our participants.”

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 27th year running in the capital of Texas on February 18, 2018. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 20+ 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 marathon, half marathon, or 5K.