High Five Events Archives

Calm Pre-Race Nerves With These 5 Tips

Ready for the big race?

We know you’re on edge, but don’t worry. Pre-race nerves are totally normal – even seasoned runners feel them too. Don’t sweat it though; there are lots of ways to keep those butterflies under control so can focus on that finish line like a champ.

1. Be Prepared

Stop doubt before it happens. Make

a list and prepare everything the night before. Have your clothes, shoes, and bib laid out. Leave stuff you don’t need at home or with a member of your cheer crew. Charge your phone all the way to 100% and leave plugged in until you have to leave.

Is your playlist ready to go? We suggest a service where you don’t have to depend on service and can download the playlist like Spotify premium so you don’t have to worry about any interruptions to your tunes.

2. Set Your Motivation

Why are you here? Remind yourself of your motivation and purpose for signing up. Maybe you want to try something new to prove you could. Maybe you’re shooting for that PR. Maybe you’re showing your kids that exercise is part of a happy life. Try and embrace the added adrenaline or excitement and use it to perform with confidence in why you’re running today. If you haven’t set a goal yet, check out some tips for setting goals.

3. Stop Thinking About it So Much

We know, easier said than done, but at some point, you’ve got to lace up your running shoes and start your warm-up routine.

Distract yourself with other things like talking to others around you, taking some pre-race selfies, participating in the pre-race warm-up, dance it out.

Trust us, you’re prepared. Evaluations can wait until much later. In our opinion, you should give yourself a few days to reflect before you jump into a full race report. The journey is the accomplishment.

4. Use the restroom

This isn’t the most glamorous advice but hey, it is important. Always make the attempt before your start time.

5. Breathe

While it may seem like simple advice, it’s incredibly common to experience an increased heart rate and faster breathing once you get on-site. Take a moment to close your eyes and remember your training. Collect your thoughts and take deep breaths in through your nose and out through the mouth.

You got this!

4 Taper Tips: Focus on Controlling What You Can Control

in Blog post

Get to the start line ready to roll with these taper tips

The Taper. If you’re unfamiliar, tapering refers to the reduction in volume and intensity of your workouts leading to race day. You’ve been running for months, increasing your mileage, getting better and better. Your body is in training mode and it can be difficult to turn that off. Follow these taper tips to effectively utilize the extra time you now have. Continue to follow your training plan, implement these taper tips, and get to the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon or Austin Half Marathon start line ready to run your best!

Take care of yourself

This is vital and something you should’ve been doing since you began training! However, it becomes even more important leading up to Feb. 16th. Your training has introduced more miles than normal, early wake-up calls, and a reduction in time for yourself. Tapering your miles means you’ll have more time for self-care. Spend an extra 30-60 minutes a day foam rolling and stretching. Schedule a massage. Make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep.

Dial-in your nutrition/hydration

Keep an eye on your calorie intake! You burned more calories during training than you will when you taper. Adjust accordingly so the pounds you shed during training stay off! Focus on a balanced diet of moderate carbs, quality protein, and healthy fats. Start hydrating NOW. You should drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Continue including electrolytes like you’ve done during training. Carry a tube of Nuun with you, pop a tablet into your reusable bottle, and make your water count! Make sure you try the on-course fuel, GU Energy Labs.

No new workouts

Just like nothing new on race day, no new workouts when tapering. This includes everything from a pick-up basketball game to lifting heavy weights at the gym. You don’t want to run the risk of spraining your ankle or pulling a muscle. Stick with what’s comfortable. If that’s running or cross-training (swimming, cycling, etc.), focus on less-intense and lower-volume workouts.

Sidetrack yourself

An increase in your mileage could mean you’re behind on your favorite show. Maybe you haven’t read those new books you got for Christmas. Now’s the time to distract yourself from the fact that you aren’t running as much as you have been. Spend a couple of hours binging your favorite show. Grab that new book and read at your favorite park. If you find yourself getting antsy because you’re not moving, try to foam roll or stretch while watching your favorite show. Or try reading your book while riding a stationary bike.

Follow these taper tips so the taper doesn’t frustrate you or stress you out. The sudden addition of extra time and the feeling that you should be running can be confusing. Follow these taper tips and focus on controlling what you can control. What do you do to get to the start line ready to roll when you taper? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

Best Brunch In Austin

in Explore Austin

Don’t let the Austin Marathon festivities leave you hangry. We’ve got your brunch grub needs covered! Whether you’re craving tacos or pancakes, there’s something delicious nearby to fill up and refuel with carbohydrates and protein. So don’t delay – treat yourself to a chill brunch sesh at one of Austin’s fab restaurants today!

Our staff has rounded up some delicious eats for you marathoners that will fill those empty stomachs in no time – so grab yourself a plate (or three) as part of your weekend adventures.

Cafe No Se

1603 S Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78704

The Cowboy Breakfast is a spectacular and hearty spin on a full English breakfast (the cilantro butter, YUM). For a sweeter tooth, you can’t go wrong with their gluten-free pancakes, either.

Comedor

501 Colorado

Austin, TX 78701

The sleek downtown restaurant lead by chef and runner Philip Speer and rolls out its brunch menu Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You might even see Philip on course with @comedorrunclub.

The menu includes a Masa Madre Waffle with fig jam, brown butter, and fresh figs; a huitlacoche omelet; carnitas tacos; carne asada and eggs, and more.

Perlas

Perla’s 1400 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

The menu is a little fancy with dishes like barbecue shrimp with grits and poached eggs, French toast, and a lobster omelet. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dine-in services. Brunch hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tamale House East

1707 E 6th St

Austin, TX 78702

Simple yet delicious, this old Austin staple brings the heavy hitting for brunch. Pick from your favorite breakfast taco or from plates like chilaquiles.

Cisco’s

1511 E 6th St.
Austin, TX 78702

The migas plate at Cisco’s is a fantastic go-to. No frills, quick, inexpensive, and absolutely delicious. Cisco’s has been a staple of East Austin for over 6 decades. In fact, it has been said that many of the deals made in Texas government occurred in the back room of Cisco’s over coffee, biscuits, migas, and huevos rancheros.

True Food

222 West Ave

Suite HR100

Austin, TX 78701

Delicious, fresh, clean food that will make you feel as good as it tastes! The gluten-free banana pancakes are pretty mind-blowing. True Food aims to deliver healthy, clean, locally sourced food, and honestly, they deliver!

Phoebe’s Diner

533 W Oltorf St. Austin, TX 78704

408 W 11th St. Austin, TX 78701

The fluffy buttermilk biscuits in Phoebe’s Benedict will draw you in but it’s the killer hashbrown casserole that will keep you coming back to Phoebe’s. Also recommended: their cornbread muffins. Delish!

Manana

1603 S Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78704

Located at the gorgeous South Congress Hotel, Mañana has incredible coffee drinks to give you that extra pep you’re looking for. The Chocolate Fronks Milk Latte or the Nitro Cold Brew is the way to go. Why not also treat yourself to a vegan banana snickerdoodle while you’re at it.

Snooze

1700 South LamarAustin, TX 78704
1109 East 5th StAustin, TX 78702
3800 North LamarAustin, TX 78756

Treat yourself to their signature pancake flight: Pineapple Upside Down, Blueberry Danish & Sweet Potato pancakes. Better yet, choose your own flavors! You can’t go wrong with pancakes at Snooze.

More Honorable Mentions

Taco Deli
Suerte
Vera Cruz Tacos
Matties
Bird Bird Biscuit
Juan in a Million
Peached Tortilla

High Five Events Ranked #35 on 2020 Inner City 100 List

in Blog post

Placement marks the company’s first time on the 2020 Inner City 100 list

The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) announced that Austin’s High Five Events is a winner of the 2020 Inner City 100 (IC100) award which recognizes the 100 fastest-growing firms in under-resourced communities across America. The winners were picked based on revenue growth and job creation during the four-year period from 2015 to 2019. Winners were revealed at the 2020 ICIC National Conference held virtually on December 8th. The full list is available here. High Five Events is led by Stacy Keese, Dan Carroll, and Jack Murray. They were ranked 35th on the 2020 Inner City 100 List based on its four-year revenue growth rate of 240.17% and job creation of nine.

Great achievement

“This is a proud moment for us to be included on the IC100 list,” said Stacy Keese, co-owner of High Five Events. “This is another proof point that what we are doing is working. It is incredibly rewarding to be recognized alongside leaders from so many industries across the county.”

Beginning with the launch of a single triathlon in 2003, High Five Events has grown to become one of the largest privately owned event production companies in the United States. High Five Events is a community-centric company based in Austin, Texas. Their staff has more than 100 years’ combined experience organizing large events across different venue types in a variety of locations. The 18-year-old company owns and produces the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, CapTex Tri presented by Life Time Fitness, Rookie Triathlon, Jack’s Generic Triathlon, and Kerrville Triathlon Festival. They also produce 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour and Cap10K.

2020 Inner City 100 list explained

In order to measure the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting economic crisis, ICIC conducted an in-depth survey of winners. They gathered information on the companies’ estimated 2020 end-of-year revenue versus 2019. They also estimated 2020 end-of-year employment versus 2019 and information on a company leader’s approach to leading through the COVID-19 crisis.

Each winner shared stories of how they had to pivot due to the pandemic, from transitioning manufacturing centers to produce PPE, to learning how to sell virtually for the first time, to even holding free office hours with tech experts on a weekly basis – countless examples of innovation, grit, and resilience.

In addition to the survey, ICIC has collected demographic data on all the winners. They also used metrics around revenue growth and job creation, included below.

2020 IC100 Winners by the Numbers

Average Company Age: 17

Cities Represented: 56

States Represented: 29

- Industries Represented: 25

Woman-Owned/Led: 42

BIPOC-Owned/Led: 51

Veteran-Owned/Led: 7

First-Time Winner: 71

Hall of Famers (will have won the IC100 for at least 5 times, including this year): 15

Average Four-Year Revenue Growth Rate: 310%

- Average 2019 Revenue: $8,986,862.31

Total Jobs Created: 3,230

Total Employed by IC100 Winners in 2019 (year-end number): 7240

These numbers bear out some encouraging trends. This year’s IC100 list had the highest number of women-owned/led companies. There was an increase of eight companies from 2019 and 17 since 2015. The 2020 list also contains the highest ever number of BIPOC-owned/led companies. This is an increase of seven since 2019 and 11 since 2015.

“IC100 companies are forces of economic opportunity, optimism and transformation in their communities, and it’s an honor to recognize High Five Events’ leadership,” said ICIC CEO Steve Grossman. “Especially during this incredibly challenging time, as small business owners reckon with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, these pioneering entrepreneurs have demonstrated a deep commitment to and passion for their local communities.”

Tag Archive for: High Five Events