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

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.

30th Anniversary Giveaway: 30 Days of Limited-Edition ATX Shoes

Get active for 30 minutes a day and you could be a winner of a new pair of Limited Edition Under Armour Shoes.

Exercise is an important component of a healthy lifestyle physically, mentally, and emotionally. That’s why you’ll find us running, hiking, cycling, rock climbing, swimming, practicing yoga or pilates, or working out every chance we get! Some days provide more time than others, but we always try to squeeze in at least 30 minutes. We’re starting the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon’s 30th anniversary party (February 14, 2021) a little early. We’ll give away at least one pair of limited-edition Under Armour HOVR Machina ATX shoes every day in April. Our 30th Anniversary Giveaway will begin on Wednesday, April 1st. We’ll randomly select and contact at least one winner everyday in April!

Image of the limited-edition Under Armour HOVR Machina ATX shoe in front of a multi-colored ATX sign. The Austin Marathon is giving away a pair of these shoes every day in April for their 30th Anniversary Giveaway!

Credit: Fleet Feet Austin.

How to enter

  1. Exercise or workout (as safely as possible) at least 30 minutes a day (yes, at home counts!)
  2. Record your workout on the MapMyRun or MapMyFitness apps (or a similar app)
  3. Take a screenshot of your recorded workout with the date and duration of workout showing (selfies are a bonus!)
  4. Follow and share your screenshot and shoe size with us on (you can share on all channels, but one channel will work):
    1. Facebook
    2. Twitter
    3. Instagram
  5. Use #30thAustinMarathon when posting
  6. We’ll randomly choose a winner the following day and contact them
  7. Best of luck!Screenshot of trail run map, distance, time, and date using Under Armour's MapMyFitness app. The Austin Marathon is giving away a pair of these shoes every day in April for their 30th Anniversary Giveaway!

Pro tip: put all those runs and workouts to good use when you join Under Armour’s Healthy at Home Challenge! Instead of prizes, they’ll donate $1 million to youth sport leagues. Make a difference from home!

Machina ATX

The limited-edition Under Armour HOVR Machina ATX shoes were created with the Greetings from Austin Mural in mind. They were a hit at the Austin Marathon expo, quickly selling out. We asked our Instagram followers if we should give some away and the resounding answer was, YES! So here’s your chance to win a pair during our 30th anniversary giveaway. Learn more about the limited-edition Under Armour HOVR Machina ATX shoes, how they sync seamlessly with Under Armour’s MapMyRun app, and provide real-time Form Coaching.

Pretty simple, right?! We know how good we feel after a workout. You know that feeling where you’re tired, but you feel good about what you’ve accomplished? Well we want to encourage you to get that feeling throughout April and possibly win a pair of limited-edition Under Armour HOVR Machina ATX shoes. Reminder the more days you exercise and share the greater your chances of winning!

Binge-Worthy Show Recommendations from the High Five Events Staff

This list of binge-worthy show recommendations has everyone covered

Image of Schitt's Creek promotional material. Schitt's Creek is on the High Five Events binge-worthy show recommendation list.

Emily’s favorite: Schitt’s Creek.

Looking for some new shows to watch? You’re in luck! The staff at High Five Events compiled their list of favorite binge-worthy show recommendations. You’re covered if you like drama, comedy, fantasy, or history. Fire up the next episode, settle in on the couch (after your run of course!), grab your favorite snack, and enjoy. Pro tip: these shows will also help pass the time if you’re following our long training run recovery timeline!

Laura

Grey’s Anatomy. It is particularly good to binge-watch because there are SO MANY SEASONS AND EPISODES! I also love it because of all the drama.

Emily

Schitt’s Creek. I haven’t watched a show that made me laugh as much as this one in a long time. The dysfunctional family members are all my spirit animals!  The costumes are fantastic. David’s sweaters, hello! The actors have so much chemistry with each other. The writing is so clever. It’s hard to turn it off. 

John

Image of Parks and Recreation promotional material. Parks and Recreation is on the High Five Events binge-worthy show recommendation list.

Joey’s favorite: Parks and Rec.

Top Gear. I like knowing how things work and this show is right up my alley. They travel the world testing whether or not cars actually do what their manufacturers claim. This show has been around since 2002, time to catch up!

Stacy

Image of The Office promotional material. The Office is on the High Five Events binge-worthy show recommendation list.

Caroline’s favorite: The Office.

Turn: Washington’s Spies. It’s about a farmer during the Revolutionary War who helps defeat the British by becoming a spy for General Washington. I tend to like period pieces and this one is only four seasons long so you can’t get too carried away. Add it to your Netflix watch list!

Joey

Parks and Recreation. I like seeing how the characters evolved over the seasons and how the inside jokes never got old. 

Dan

Brooklyn 99. This comedy follows around New York’s funniest police precinct. I like how light-hearted everything is and the unexpected chuckles when I least expect it. Brooklyn 99 won a Golden Globe Award for Best Comedy Series!

Jack

You. A local bookstore manager falls in love with a female writer. He does everything possible, including killing people, to get closer to her. The twists and turns of this show will keep you watching.

Scott’s favorite: Peaky Blinders.

Scott

Peaky Blinders. A gangster family epic set in Birmingham, England, in 1919, several months after the end of the First World War in November 1918. The story centers on the Peaky Blinders gang and their ambitious and highly cunning boss, Tommy Shelby. I like how good the wardrobe and settings are to the time period.

Megan

Dead to Me. The humor is dark, but it is funny. Also, it has a few plot twists that really get you. I am currently waiting for the second season to come out. 

Tina

Forensic Files. There are so many reasons to watch this documentary-style TV show. The main reason: every episode is thrilling and re-watchable! Experts gather and utilize every piece of evidence to prove that there is no “perfect crime.”

Image of Game of Thrones promotional material. Game of Thrones is on the High Five Events binge-worthy show recommendation list.

William’s favorite: Game of Thrones.

Caroline

The Office. I just started (re)binge-watching The Office. It’s good and easy to watch, so I can always count on it for a good laugh. One of my favorite parts of re-watching The Office is noticing similarities between characters in the show and the High Five Events team!

William

Game of Thrones. I held out for 4 seasons before I watched the first episode. Thought I’d be cool and “not watch that show.” Welp, watched Episode 1 and was immediately hooked. I also highly recommend reading the books!

As you can see, this list of binge-worthy show recommendations has it all! And there are enough of them to keep you busy for awhile. The hard part is figuring out where to start. Did your favorite not make our list? Let us know what your favorite binge-worthy show is on Facebook or Twitter.

Don’t Miss these 2020 Expo Highlights at the Austin Marathon Expo

Keep up with these 2020 expo highlights so you know what booths to visit

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon Expo & Packet Pick Up will take place on Feb. 14th-15th! The expo is a chance for participants to visit our sponsors and partners and check out what they have to offer. The 2020 Austin Marathon Health & Fitness Expo will have more than 100 vendors introducing or selling all sorts of runners’ goodies. From on-course hydration to Official Austin Marathon Under Armour gear, below are the 2020 expo highlights you can’t miss. There are tons of prizes, giveaways, and discounts too.

The expo is open to the public on Friday, February 14th, from  1:00 p.m – 7:00 p.m and Saturday, February 15th, from 10:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. Start making note of the 2020 expo highlight that you can’t miss!

Get in the Groove 2021 Tour 

It is never too early to get excited about running the 30th annual Austin Marathon! Get in the groove with us as we spread our love of Austin and running during our tour in our 1972 Winnebago, nicknamed Winnie. Come meet Winnie at the 2021 Austin Marathon booth!

Ascension Seton

Ascension Seton is part of the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. and their doctors and nurses will be on course and at the finish line tent. They will also volunteer throughout the expo and be available on course. Say hi! Stop by their booth to talk about taking care of your body as your train, get free blood pressure readings, and more.

KXAN

On Feb. 16th, KXAN will stream FloTrack’s live coverage of the 2020 Austin Marathon to all locals looking to watch from home. At the expo, they’ll provide healthy living and wellness tips and information from expert medical professionals as part of their Simple Health initiative. You will have the opportunity to learn hands-on CPR training. If you’re running the 5K make sure you say hey to the title sponsor of the KXAN Simple Health 5K benefiting Paramount Theatre!

Official merchandise

Visit our friends at Fleet Feet Austin and snag your Official Austin Marathon Under Armour gear before it’s gone! The official merch is awesome and will make you smile when you remember running the Austin Marathon or Austin Half Marathon. Check out the shirts, jackets, pint glasses, coffee mugs, and more!

Jumbotron and pacer booth

Take a seat and watch the big screen as we go over both the marathon and half marathon courses. Have questions or a goal time you are looking to meet? Be sure and stop by the Pacer booth and talk to our amazing pacers. There are 17 different pace groups available. Pace groups run based on marathon finish times and will run the first part of the course with the half marathon.

Smile at these photo opportunities

The Insta opportunities are at an all-time high at this year’s expo. There will be several fun photo opportunities set up throughout the expo including our GIF photo booth, a larger than life-size version of this year’s finisher medal, course maps, and more. Be sure to visit them all and tag us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Shopping & Giveaway Highlights

  • SPIbelt will have a spinning wheel out sporadically during the event where people can spin to win! Stop by, say hey, learn about their new products, and spin to see what you could win.
  • nuun hydration will be sampling a ton of their flavors including Orange Mango, which will be at all aid stations on race day.
  • Kerrville Triathlon – from awesome trucker hats to free shirts, The Most Scenic Triathlon in Texas will have a prize wheel full of great giveaways.
  • fitppl – while reducing plastic and cleaning the world, these superfoods combine plant-based protein, spirulina, alkalizing grasses, and phytonutrient-packed fruits creating a wholesome, all-in-one, nutrient-dense shake.
  • Jack’s Generic Triathlon – if you love generic giveaways you don’t want to miss this booth. Plenty of goodies and a sweet expo deal just for you!
  • Rookie Triathlon – make this sprint triathlon the first tri of your life or the first tri of your 2020 season. Visit their booth, test your skills at bag toss, and see what goodies you’ll win.

More 2020 vendors