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Austin Marathon Invites Runners to Free Global Running Day Virtual 5K

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The Austin Marathon’s free Global Running Day Virtual 5K will celebrate the sport we all love: running

Image of runners running during the 2019 free Global Running Day event on the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin with the Texas State Capitol in the background.

Runners finishing Austin’s free 2019 Global Running Day event. Credit – Ed Sparks.

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour invites runners from around the world to register for the free Global Running Day Virtual 5K. This is an excellent opportunity for everyone to come together to celebrate the sport we love and the entire running community. You can run with anyone from anywhere during the free Global Running Day Virtual 5K! Invite friends, family, neighbors, and your running group to join you. Plus, finishers could win some sweet prizes! Registration is open until Wednesday, June 3rd.

“I’m hyped that the Austin Marathon is offering a virtual 5K to celebrate Global Running Day,” said Will von Rosenberg, who attended last year’s Global Running Day event in Austin. “It was great to see the Austin running community come together at last year’s event. I’m ready to run the Global Running Day Virtual 5K with runners from around the world!”

Global Running Day Virtual 5K perks

Virtual Race Medal - Global Running day Virtual 5K Participants of the free Global Running Day Virtual 5K can submit their 5K results at any time between May 20th and June 4th. Every participant will receive:

  • Customizable, downloadable bib that can be printed at home
  • Limited-edition 2020 Global Running Day digital finisher medal
  • Official digital finisher’s certificate
  • Exclusive race discounts
  • Access to limited Global Running Day merch
  • Automatic entry into the giveaway to win 1 of 5 grand prizes including entry to the 2021 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon, or 5K + VIP Experience

“I’m delighted to celebrate Global Running Day with the Austin Marathon! Their 30th anniversary will be the North American leg of my attempt to be the first 6-time cancer survivor to run a marathon on every continent,” said Jonathan Acott, who will participate from London. “After 6 cancers, running is the way I manage both my mental and physical health. It gives me the time I need to manage my emotions but also to celebrate my body and what it’s been through and can still do.”

Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 35+ countries around the world. The start and finish locations are just a few blocks apart. They are within walking distance of many downtown hotels and restaurants. The finish line is in front of the picturesque Texas State Capitol. The Austin Marathon is the perfect running weekend destination. Registration opens on June 1st.

Next Stop in Cancer Survivor’s Quest to Run the World: Austin

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6-time cancer survivor chooses Austin for North American stop in quest to run the world

Jonathan Acott is no stranger to cancer. In fact, he’s more familiar with it than any one person should be. He’s been diagnosed six times. Throughout everything, running has been a constant for Jonathan. He runs to celebrate his body, honor those who’ve lost their battle, and because he can. What does one do in Jonathan’s shoes? Continue to run! Image of Jonathan Acott in a hospital bed fighting one of his six diagnosed cancers. Read about his journey to run the world and how the Austin Marathon is next!Read about Jonathan’s plans to run the world and complete a marathon on all 7 continents. Follow him on Instagram, learn about the two continents he crossed off his list, and why his North American goal is the 2021 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon!

The reasons I run

Since 2004 I’ve heard “I’m afraid it’s cancer” or something similar six times. I was 29 in 2004 and am now 44. For a third of my life, I’ve lived with this vile and insidious disease. It has robbed me of sleep, health, life, mental well-being, a career, testicle, spleen, and kidney. Who knows what else I will miss out on. 

It’s like persistent hunting, only I’m the prey. I’m aware cancer might end my life prematurely. It could catch me, but I am going to do all I can to stay ahead of it for as long as possible. In the meantime, I will extract every ounce from life possible. 

I run because I still need a sense of movement. Running provides the illusion of control in an otherwise unpredictable world. A world where I need to do something, anything related to physical activity to distance myself from the days, weeks, and months of forced inactivity. It’s the repetition, the therapy that comes from being alone in my thoughts. Running stills the anxiety. It’s a celebration of what my body is capable of after all it has endured. I run to honor all the people who have been less fortunate than me. I run because I can.  

Image of Jonathan Acott in a pool showing off his medal from the Marrakesh Marathon. Read about his journey to run the world and how the Austin Marathon is next!So, I’m going to travel and see the world, I’ll visit locations I wouldn’t normally visit or places on my bucket list. I will run, not fast, but I will run. My plan is to live life and run whilst I do. As long as I’m moving, I’m alive and whilst it may not add years to this particular life it does add life to my years.  

What am I going to do? Well, I put it all together and thought I’m going to run the world. Six cancers. Seven continents. One marathon on each continent.  

The first marathon of my quest was at the end of 2019 in Berlin (Europe). My second marathon was in Marrakech (Africa) at the start of 2020. Next on my list: North America. I looked at numerous marathons, but Austin has been on my bucket list for years. Running the streets of Austin in 2021 was an opportunity too good to pass up. So you’ll see me there on Feb. 14, 2021. I’ll be near the back, smiling all the way, stopping to take photographs, and high fiving everyone because when you know what you could lose you make the most of every opportunity.