Tag Archive for: half marathon

Visually Impaired Runner Division Returns for 2018 Austin Marathon

in

High Five Events announces the return of the Visually Impaired (VI) Runner Division for the 2018 Austin Marathon®. The Visually Impaired Runner Division will highlight these athletes, work with the athletes and their guides to provide a safer race experience, and adhere to guidelines set forth by the United States Association of Blind Athletes.

The 2018 Austin Marathon will build upon a successful launch of the division in 2017 by working with athletes and local families to provide homestays if needed, putting together a pre-race dinner where athletes and guides can meet and talk strategy, and creating an opportunity for a VI running team to be created.

William Greer is in his second coordinator for the Austin Marathon’s VI Runner Division. Greer is also the Film Festival Director for the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities and an accomplished VI endurance runner. Greer has completed numerous events ranging from the mile to ultra marathons. Greer ran the 2017 Austin Marathon in 4:06:31 while coordinating the VI Runner Division’s first year. Assisting him will be Daniel Craven, an accomplished runner himself and guide for numerous visually impaired athletes.

“We are continuing the success of the first year by inviting more visually impaired runners to the 2018 Austin Marathon and growing the division’s offerings,” said Greer. “Having a pre-race dinner will give VI runners and guides the opportunity to meet beforehand in a more relaxed setting and build a deeper bond leading up to race day.”

Athletes registering for the Austin Marathon’s Visually Impaired Runner Division will go through the same registration process and select either Visually Impaired Athlete or Guide when prompted. VI athletes will then select their classification; guides will select “Guide.” Classifications are B1, B2, and B3 and are determined by the United States Association of Blind Athletes. Upon successful registration, runners need to send their classification certification to Greer, [email protected]. The certification can come from a doctor or low vision specialist. Athletes that have questions or are looking for more information can contact Greer.

“Year One of the VI Runner Division was a success with William at the helm and we will build upon that great experience,” said Stacy Keese, co-owner of High Five Events. “There are athletes of all abilities who come to Austin and we want them to feel welcome and have the best race weekend experience possible.”

Austin Marathon Announces First Round of Accepted Elite Runners

in

High Five Events announces the first round of accepted elite runners for the 2018 Austin Marathon®. Runners not accepted into the Elite Athlete Program are still invited to run in the Elite Field. The Elite Athlete Program’s focus is to provide a clean and competitive environment, discover emerging marathon talent, and help the existing talent pool reach Olympic standards. The Program’s Year Two prize purse totals $20K with $15K for the marathon and $5K for the half marathon.

The first round of 2018 marathoners include:

  • Joe Thorne – Elite Athlete Program (2017 Austin Marathon Champion – 2:32:05)
  • Matt Daniels – Elite Athlete Program (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Joseph Whelan – Elite Athlete Program (led Syracuse Orange to 2015 ACC Cross Country Championship)
  • Matt McCurdy – Elite Field (5th place 2017 Austin Marathon – 2:44:29)
  • Brandon Jauregui – Elite Field (2015 Santa Clarita Marathon Champ – 2:35:18 [marathon debut while undergoing chemotherapy; eventually defeated leukemia])
  • Patrick Aucoin – Elite Field (marathon debut, 1:11:30 half marathon PR)

The first round of 2018 half marathoners include:

  • Ryan Miller – Elite Athlete Program (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Jared Carson – Elite Field (3rd place 2017 Austin Marathon – 2:35:11)

“I’m really looking forward to being back in Austin for the 2018 Austin Marathon,” said defending champion Thorne. “High Five Events did a phenomenal job with the event in 2017 and I’m interested to see what they have in store for everyone this year.”

Applications are arriving daily and more than 50 have already been submitted. The second round of athletes will be announced in a few weeks. Applications are still being accepted and elite marathoners can apply on the Austin Marathon’s website. Athletes that meet the program’s standards and are accepted will be given one comp entry to the 2018 Austin Marathon or half marathon, reimbursement eligibility, and standards bonuses.

“Re-launching the Elite Athlete Program added another layer of excitement on February 19, 2017,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “The continued growth of this program is a focus of ours and doubling the prize purse and the new course will attract even more runners for 2018.”

2018 Austin Marathon Releases New Course

in

New course will highlight more Austin landmarks and enhance race day traffic

High Five Events introduces a new course for the 2018 Austin Marathon® that will highlight more of Austin’s iconic landmarks on race day and engage more Austin businesses and restaurants. The new course was designed to provide a better participant and spectator experience and allow enhanced traffic flow along the course, while still finishing with the picturesque Texas State Capitol as every runner’s backdrop.

“I love the Austin Marathon, not just because it reminds me every year of when I ran the half marathon but also because we get to show off our beautiful city to thousands of visitors, and those visitors leave behind tips for service industry workers and taxes that we use for the arts and historic preservation,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “Only one person can come in first, but everyone in town wins the Austin Marathon.”

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 through The Drag, a portion of Guadalupe St. that runs along the western edge of the University of Texas campus. The course will highlight Austin staples 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. The course map can be viewed on the website.

High Five Events has worked closely with the City of Austin Transportation Department and the Capital Metro Transportation Authority throughout the planning of this beneficial course change. By working with the city and continuing outreach efforts to local communities and businesses, the goals of enhancing traffic flow and highlighting more of Austin will be achieved. An increasing number of businesses and restaurants are opening their doors to accommodate the tens of thousands of runners and spectators who make up race day. All of these contributing factors will lead to the 2018 Austin Marathon increasing its 2017 economic impact of $34.4 million.

“The Bee Grocery is honored to be on the Austin Marathon’s new course; we’re counting down the days to February 18, 2018,” said Brenda Le, owner of The Bee Grocery. “Race day is full of excitement and we know downtown will be buzzing with all of the runners and spectators. Good luck to all the runners!”

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. The new course is awaiting final approval from the City Council, expected mid-November.

2018 Austin Marathon Names Austin Gives Miles Charity Chaser

in

High Five Events announces Ricky Doyle, Spectrum News Sports Director, as the official Austin Gives Miles Charity Chaser for the 2018 Austin Marathon®. Doyle will make his marathon debut, begin as the final runner, and earn $1.00 for a chosen Austin Gives Miles Charity for every marathoner he passes.

“One of my favorite things about Austin is how active the city and our local running scene is,” said Doyle. “To team up with the Austin Marathon, run our city’s iconic race, and raise a lot of money for local charities is an honor and I can’t wait for race day. Watch out runners, I’m coming for you!”

Charity Chaser

Ricky Doyle – 2016 3M Half Marathon (1:29:32).

Ricky Doyle is an avid runner and has been with Spectrum News for 11 years, including the last seven years as Sports Director. He completed his undergraduate degree from Boston College and earned his master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Doyle earned his half marathon PR at the 2009 3M Half Marathon (1:27:44). He lives in Austin with his wife Cortnee and their one-year-old son Beckham, plus two dogs and a cat. Beckham is a frequent companion on his training runs.

“We’re thrilled to have Ricky as our 2018 Charity Chaser and we know he’s just as excited,” said Carly Samuelson, Austin Gives Miles Charity Manager. “Ricky’s willingness to contribute his miles and platform to positively impact Austin Gives Miles will help us surpass our goals!”

This is the fourth year that the Charity Chaser has started as the final participant on behalf of Austin Gives Miles. In addition to starting last and raising money for a charity on race day, Doyle will generate awareness for the Austin Gives Miles Program, engage all 29 Official Charities, and help the AGM Program surpass its goal of $750,000. Last year’s Charity Chaser, CBS Austin Chief Meteorologist Chikage Windler, started the marathon last and finished in 4:26:39, good for 926th place. High Five Events donated $1.25 for every runner she passed, donating $3,671.25 for Camp Kesem – University of Texas.

Austin Gives Miles contributed more than $637,000 to the Central Texas community through its fundraising efforts during the 2017 Austin Marathon. The Moody Foundation pitched in and matched contributions made, up to $10,000, for each organization. In addition to the funds and awareness raised, last year’s Austin Gives Miles Official Charities recruited more than 500 runners and provided more than 1500 volunteers.

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.