Tag Archive for: marathon

Austin Marathon and FitRankings Launch Corporate Challenge

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High Five Events is proud to launch the 2017 Austin Marathon® presented by NXP Corporate Challenge along with FitRankings. Companies and organizations of all sizes are invited to participate in the 2017 Corporate Challenge, which will utilize FitRankings’ universal platform for tracking fitness activity. The winning companies will be awarded the Mayor’s Cup and have bragging rights for a year.

“We’re excited to have FitRankings  implement their cutting-edge technology,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “Austin is one of the fittest cities in the country and this Corporate Challenge will highlight that fact.”

The Corporate Challenge will challenge businesses to compete against one another for the Mayor’s Cup and allow their employees to track their training and race-day activity. FitRankings ranks companies and individuals using real-time data from the latest wearable devices and fitness apps. Their algorithm converts all activity into one metric (MET Minutes) that is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control. Sign up for the Corporate Challenge through FitRankings, add your company, and join the Austin Marathon Challenge.

“We believe work is a sport and we understand training for a marathon can be lonely,” said Patrick Hitchins, CEO of FitRankings. “FitRankings’ technology will allow employees, companies, and the larger Austin business community to connect, compete, and come together in a meaningful way ahead of the event.”

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 26th 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 still register for the marathon, half marathon, or 5K.

About High Five Events: 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. In addition to the events it owns and produces, the Austin, Texas-based company offers consulting and event production services to dozens of additional events each year. High Five Events is community-centric and has more than 83 years’ experience organizing large events across different venue types in a variety of locations. Follow High Five Events on Twitter (@highfiveevents), Instagram (@highfiveevents), and Facebook (facebook.com/HighFiveEventsWorldWide/) for news and updates.

About NXP Semiconductors: NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ:NXPI) enables secure connections and infrastructure for a smarter world, advancing solutions that make lives easier, better, and safer. As the world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, NXP is driving innovation in the secure connected vehicle, end-to-end security and privacy, and smart connected solutions markets. Built on more than 60 years of combined experience and expertise, the company has 45,000 employees in more than 35 countries and posted revenue of $6.1 billion in 2015. Find out more at www.nxp.com.

About FitRankings: FitRankings connects companies, organizations, and people through a universal platform for fitness. By using a proprietary algorithm, FitRankings converts any fitness activity from apps and wearables and into one metric, which has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control. FitRankings is helping hundreds of top companies redefine their health programs using the FitRankings Enterprise solution. Organizations are using FitRankings platform to create deeper relationships with their members. FitRankings connects friends, families, and people by allowing them to connect across apps, wearables, and activities. Connect today at FitRankings.com.

Austin Marathon Announces Elite Athlete Program Runners

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This is the first round of athletes accepted into the program

High Five Events is excited to announce the first round of accepted athletes for the 2017 Austin Marathon® presented by NXP Elite Athlete Program. 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 One prize purse totals $10,000.

The first round of 2017 Elite Athlete Program runners include:
  • David Fuentes (2016 Olympic Trials Qualifier – marathon, 3x Austin Half Marathon Champion (2010, ‘11, ‘15), 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon Champion)
  • Sean Brown (2016 Olympic Trials Qualifier – marathon)
  • Mark Pinales (2016 Olympic Trials Qualifier – marathon)
  • Rory Tunningley (2016 Olympic Trials Qualifier – marathon)
  • Desiree Ficker Berry (2011 Austin Marathon Champion, 10th place – 2009 ING New York City Marathon, 2008 Olympic Trials Qualifier – marathon)
  • Anita Perez (2016 Olympic Trials Qualifier – marathon)

“I am coming off a successful Trail and Mountain racing season and my current training is going well,” said David Fuentes, gold medalist at the 2016 World Mountain Running Association Championships. “My recent races in the mountain and trail circuit have been great additions to my overall aerobic and strength development. I will start my transition to the Austin Marathon build soon and really start to focus on putting in quality workouts for February.”

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 2017 Austin Marathon, a complimentary ride from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to downtown and back to the airport, and the option of a hotel room or home stay for two nights at no cost.

“The way the Elite Athlete Program has taken off is exciting,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “We’ve taken measures to ensure we have a clean and competitive race on February 19th. Our research and vetting process has been and will continue to be extremely thorough. We’re also asking accepted athletes to take the Clean Sport pledge if they haven’t already..”