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Austin Marathon Expands Race Weekend with Addition of Manzano Mile

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Manzano Mile is named after Leo Manzano, Olympic silver medalist and 2018 Austin Marathon Race Ambassador

manzano mile

2018 Manzano Mile

High Five Events introduces the Manzano Mile, set to take place on Saturday, February 17, during Austin Marathon weekend. The addition of the Manzano Mile adds more excitement to an already packed race weekend that features the Austin Marathon, half marathon, and 5K.

The mile-long event will begin at 11 a.m. and take place entirely on Riverside Dr. next to the Health and Fitness Expo at Palmer Events Center. Participants will receive a bib and a Manzano Mile race shirt. Packet pick up will take place on-site and begin Saturday at 9 a.m. Registration is $25 for the timed mile, $20 for the untimed mile, and $10 for children nine years old and younger. All prices will increase by $5 after Thursday, February 1st. Participants can register for the Manzano Mile on the Austin Marathon website.

“The Manzano Mile is a special race and I’m excited to share my love of running with the world through the Austin Marathon,” said Leo Manzano, Austinite and two-time Olympian. “It’s an honor to have this mile race incorporated into race weekend for all to enjoy!”

The top three finishers will be awarded based on the following male and female age groups: 19 and under, 20 – 29, 30 – 39, Masters (40 – 49), Grand Masters (50+). Waves will run approximately every 15 minutes. The Manzano Mile will conclude with the Future Milers of America Kids Run and an untimed mile that’s perfect for the entire family to complete together. Official heat times will be announced closer to race day.

“The Manzano Mile embodies Leo’s commitment to the community and we’re thrilled to include it the day before the 2018 Austin Marathon,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “The expansion of race weekend gives the marathon, half marathon, and 5K participants an opportunity to cheer for the milers or complete the Manzano Mile with their family.”

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. Registration is still available for the marathon, half marathon, and 5K.

The highly decorated track star is a four-time USATF National Champion, seven-time Team USA member, two-time Olympian, and silver medalist in the 1500m at the 2012 Olympic Games, the first medal for USA in the 1500m since 1968. Manzano attended Marble Falls High School where he was a nine-time Texas 4A State champion in track and cross country. Manzano was accepted to The University of Texas and won five NCAA National Championships and was a nine-time All-American.

Four Reasons to Build Your Austin Marathon Team

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There’s no better way to kick off the new year than by running the Austin Marathon as a team. Creating an Austin Marathon team is perfect for companies, groups, friends, and family. With race day a couple months away, it’s time to start thinking (if you haven’t already) about who you want running by your side. What people do you want pushing you when you think you can’t go anymore? Here are 4 reasons why you should run with a team on February 18th:

  1.    Built-in training partners

    austin marathon team

    The Austin Runners Club team!

  • Running with people who are working towards the same goal just makes sense. Training with partners is a great way to keep each other on track and hold one another accountable.
  1.   Austin Marathon team packet pick up
  • Would you rather have one team member pick up everyone’s packet or have the whole team go as a group to soak up the energy of the expo? One good thing about building an Austin Marathon team is that you can choose. Love having options!
  1. Finish line party with your Austin Marathon team
  • Parties are awesome, but parties are better with people you know. Finish the Austin Marathon or half marathon, kick back with your team at your team tent, and celebrate your accomplishments at the Austin Marathon finish line festival.
  1. Trash talking

    austin marathon team

    Team Kate at the 2017 Austin Marathon.

  • Who doesn’t like some good ol’ fashioned trash talk? Nothing fuels the competitive juices better than wanting to prove someone wrong!

After reading these reasons, why wouldn’t you get a team together? If you realize that you really want to run with a team but haven’t started making one, don’t worry, team registration doesn’t close until January 5th. Get started today!

Olympian Leo Manzano Returns as Austin Marathon Race Ambassador

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This is the second year in a row the two-time Olympian will be the Official Race Ambassador

High Five Events announces that Austinite and two-time Olympian Leo Manzano will return as the Official Race Ambassador for the 2018 Austin Marathon®. The partnership will continue to highlight Manzano’s community involvement in Austin, increase outreach to Central and South American runners, and showcase the Austin Marathon as one of the top races in the country.

“I’m thrilled to return as the Official Race Ambassador for the Austin Marathon, an event that means so much to this city,” said Manzano. “Thousands of people come from all over to challenge themselves on the streets of Austin and I can’t wait to cheer for them on race day.”

Image of Leo Manzano, Race Ambassador, with 2017 Austin Marathon champs Allison Macsas and Joe Thorne

Manzano (center) with 2017 Austin Marathon champs Allison Macsas (left) and Joe Thorne (right)

Manzano’s role with the Austin Marathon will also include event promotions, athlete recruitment, social media engagement, and attending in-person marathon-related events leading up to and including race weekend. Additional pre-race and race day activations are currently being planned. Manzano attended Marble Falls High School where he was a nine-time Texas 4A State champion in track and cross country. Manzano was accepted to The University of Texas and won five NCAA National Championships and was a nine-time All-American. The highly decorated track star is also a four-time USATF National Champion, seven-time Team USA member, two-time Olympian, and silver medalist in the 1500m at the 2012 Olympic Games, the first medal for USA in the 1500m since 1968.

“Leo had an enormous presence at the 2017 Austin Marathon and having him back as Official Race Ambassador was a simple decision,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “His dedication to the Austin Marathon and the sport is unwavering and it shows when he’s running with Austinites downtown, chatting with runners at the expo, and greeting participants at the start line.”

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.

Austin Marathon Announces Third Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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High Five Events introduces the third round of accepted athletes 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 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.

Image of Anita Perez crossing the Chicago Marathon finish line.

Anita Perez at 2017 Chicago Marathon (2:44:04).

The third round of 2018 marathoners include:

  • Brian Harvey – Elite Athlete Program (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Whitney Thornburg – Elite Athlete Program (2017 United Airlines NYC Half – 1:16:29)
  • Travis Morrison – Elite Athlete Program (7th place 2017 Pittsburgh Marathon – 2:19:45)
  • Caitlin Batten – Elite Athlete Program (female champion 2015 Kiawah Island Marathon – 2:49:00)
  • James Sjostrom – Elite Field (10th place 2017 Columbus Half Marathon – 1:12:32)
  • Kyle Taylor – Elite Field (2nd place 2016 Best Damn Race Safety Harbor – 1:15:24)
  • Sky Canaves – Elite Field (female champion 2016 Hill Country Halloween Half Marathon – 1:25:21)

The third round of 2018 half marathoners include:

  • Anita Perez – Elite Athlete Program (2016, 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Anthony Solis – Elite Athlete Program (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Jennifer Angles – Elite Field (half marathon debut; ran XC and track for University of Kansas – ‘17)

“I was accepted into the 2017 Elite Athlete Program and looked forward to running the marathon earlier this year when I had to withdraw at the last minute due to a foot injury,” said Batten, whose marathon PR (2:49:00) was set at the 2015 Kiawah Island Marathon. “I love the city of Austin and am really excited to get another chance to run this year.”

Read about the first and second round of accepted elite runners. Including today, the marathon has accepted a total of eight runners into the Elite Athlete Program and 10 have been invited to participate in the Elite Field. The half marathon has accepted four runners into the Elite Athlete Program and 10 have been invited to participate in the Elite Field. Applications are arriving daily and more than 100 have already been submitted. The fourth round of athletes will be announced next week. Applications are still being accepted and elite runners 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.