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5 Tips for the Best Austin Runcation

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Travel + Leisure recently ranked Austin #8 on their list of Top 15 Cities in the US. This confirms what we’ve known for some time: Austin is an amazing city. This list will give you a headstart on planning the best 2018 Austin Marathon runcation!

Looking west from Mount Bonnell at sunset.

#1 – Mount Bonnell

Grab breakfast or lunch to go and head a few miles west of downtown to Mount Bonnell. There is a 102-stair climb, but when you reach the top you’ll encounter a tremendous view at Austin’s highest point. Enjoy your food and the view after your ascent. Then check out the view deck and some of the surrounding trails!

#2 – Breakfast tacos!

This blog isn’t long enough to list all the places to consume deliciously overstuffed breakfast tacos. Just follow these three easy steps: 1) visit taco place(s), 2) purchase taco(s) of choice, 3) consume taco(s). Simple as that.

Staff Favs: Check out Veracruz All Natural, Valentina’s TexMex

Sunrise from atop Hope Outdoor Gallery.

#3 – Hope Outdoor Gallery

Do you like art? Visit Austin’s ever-changing art gallery, Hope Outdoor Gallery (1101 Baylor St.). This multi-storied canvas features some of Austin’s top muralists and street artists. Search for their handle and give them a shout out on social media. Pro tip: a quick climb to the top will provide you with an unencumbered view of downtown.

#4 – Live music

You didn’t think we’d make this list without mentioning live music, did you? Don’t forget: Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World! From walk-in joints to ticketed venues, you can’t throw a guitar pick in this city without live music filling your eardrums. Let this guide discover what tickles your fancy.

Texas State Capitol.

#5 – State Capitol (and Finish Line setup!)

While you’re in town for the Austin Marathon, don’t miss the Texas State Capitol! Built in 1885, the Texas State Capitol is one of the most recognizable buildings in the state. Read about Texas State history in addition to the Capitol’s history. Pro tip: check out the construction of the Austin Marathon’s Finish Line Festival starting Friday evening and visualize crossing the finish line!

 

Now that you have jump started all your fun side activities, don’t forget the main event. Register!

2018 Austin Marathon Opens Team Registration

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Start putting together your team today!

Team registration for the 2018 Austin Marathon is now open. The 27th Austin Marathon will take place on Sunday, February 18, 2018, in Austin, Texas. The Early Bird Pricing structure follows: marathon ($100), half marathon ($80), 5K ($35). Team registration will include three different team size options, with perks for each option. The Team Registration deadline is January 5, 2018.

Team sizes range from fewer than 34 participants, 35 – 49 participants, and greater than 50 participants. Teams can be public or private and they can pay individually or in bulk. All groups will have access to the Team Management system, have their Team Name printed on their bib, and have the option for early team packet pick up. Teams of 35+ will have the option to have a 10×10 space at the Finish Line Festival. Teams with more than 50 participants will have the option to have a 10×20 at the Finish Line Festival. Interested team captains can learn more about team registration, perks, and payment on the Team Registration page. Team captains are advised to follow these helpful instructions when setting up their team.

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 27th year running in the capital of Texas. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 20+ countries around the world. With start and finish locations just a few blocks apart, and within walking distance of many downtown hotels and restaurants, the Austin Marathon is the perfect running weekend destination. Participants can register for the marathon, half marathon, or 5K.

2018 Austin Marathon Opens Elite Athlete Program

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The 2018 Austin Marathon® Elite Athlete Program application process is now open. In its second year since being reintroduced, the Elite Athlete Program focuses on creating a field of elite male and female runners with a competitive nature and discovering emerging marathon talent while helping the existing talent pool reach Olympic standards.

The 2018 Elite Athlete Program’s $20,000 prize purse is twice as much as last year’s total and will include prize money for the half marathon. The marathon prize purse will total $15,000 and award the top five male and female finishers while the half marathon purse will total $5,000 and award the top three male and female finishers. Athlete’s applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until December 31, 2017.

Former Austinite Joe Thorne (2:32:05) and Austinite Allison Macsas (2:48:16) both won the 2017 Austin Marathon; while South Africa’s Sphamandla Nyembe (1:11:36) and former Austinite Allison Mendez (1:21:42) won the half marathon.

“The Austin Marathon is a world-class event,” said Thorne. “A scenic, yet challenging course through a host city that captivates all who visit is but one of the many reasons I’m looking forward to coming back to take part in the 2018 Austin Marathon. Outstanding staff with wonderful volunteers provide full support from start to finish – which truly places the entire event into a class second to none.”

Athletes accepted into the Elite Athlete Program must meet the program’s standards. Those that meet standards will receive a comped entry, standards bonuses, comped entry to the 3M Half Marathon, and be eligible for hotel and transportation reimbursement up to $350. Runners who fall within a 10-15 minute window of Elite Athlete Program standards could still be accepted into the Elite Field and would receive a comped entry only.

To be eligible for reimbursement athletes must be accepted into the Elite Athlete Program and start the race. All athletes are subject to random drug testing pre- and post-race. Read more about program details, including eligibility standards, here. Interested athletes with questions can contact elites@youraustinmarathon.com.

2017 Austin Marathon Contributes $34.4 Million to Austin Economy

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Findings stem from enhanced community collaboration with St. Edward’s University experts

High Five Events is proud to announce that the Austin Marathon® presented by NXP pumped $34.4 million into the Austin economy during race weekend. The Austin Marathon was able to better calculate its economic impact by utilizing the faculty expertise at St. Edward’s University’s Bill Munday School of Business. This year’s economic impact on the City of Austin is an $8.7 million increase from the 2016 event.

“This year’s economic contributions by the Austin Marathon showcase the growth of Austin’s flagship running event, the staggering financial impact it has on the city of Austin, and the idea that Austin is a destination for runners from around the world,” said Stacy Keese, co-owner of High Five Events.

Dr. Ali Dadpay, associate dean, MBA director, and professor of Economics for The Bill Munday School of Business, conducted the research for the 2017 Austin Marathon economic impact report. Dr. Dadpay achieved the report’s primary goal of incorporating more data, including High Five Events’ localized spending, volunteer contributions and jobs created, to measure the direct, indirect and induced economic impact.

“The Austin Marathon is an example of a sports event which vitalizes the local economy and creates significant revenue for the city and the local business community,” said Dr. Dadpay. “We have used estimated spending and estimated averages to aggregate total spending. The multiplier effect for this event is significant, and we can believe it impacts all economic sectors in our region.”

Moving forward, both parties will work to understand spectator contributions and the value generated by the Austin Marathon in social media, digital marketing, and digital brand recognition. This is an understudied aspect of such events, and other cities are looking into ways to measure the true impact of marathon events. The Austin Marathon is excited about the direction of the St. Edward’s University partnership.

“The Bill Munday School of Business focuses on supporting the Austin community with practical research that facilitates economic growth,” said Dr. Nancy Schreiber, school of business dean. “Our partnership with the Austin business ecosystem is a central force to providing relevant 21 st century business education.”