Tag Archive for: runners

Scout Troops 49 and 490 Play Integral Race-Day Role

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Scout Troops support Austin Marathon from start to finish

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour brought nearly 16,000 runners from all 50 states and 35 countries, tens of thousands of spectators, and a lot of trash. High Five Events, owners of the Austin Marathon, work with local organizations to clean up the trash left on the course by runners and spectators. This year, Scout Troops 49 and 490 volunteered to sweep the course in exchange for a donation. Working in teams, the scouts walked the course and picked up discarded items.

Scout Troops 49 and 490 present the colors prior to the start of the 2019 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon.

Scout Troops 49 and 490 present the colors prior to the start of the 2019 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon.

“We enjoyed partnering with Troops 49 and 490,” said Dan Carroll, co-owner of High Five Events. “They understand what we’re doing and have a commitment to the community to make sure we leave the course clean.”

Beyond the usual wrappers and cups along the course, the scouts found a lot of interesting things including Yeti cups, discarded hydration belts, and layers that were shed as the day warmed up. Clothing found along the course was laundered and donated to local charities.

“This isn’t much different from a backpacking trip,” said Jonah Rehder of Troop 49. “When we camp, we follow ‘Leave No Trace’ guidelines, so we’re used to packing out all our trash.”

Some in the troop have a message for runners: “Runners should be more aware of the microtrash they create when they open up those gel packets,” said Troop 49 co-Scoutmaster Karl Loftis. “Those little tabs are hard to see and pick up which means some of them end up washing down the drain and into the lake.”

Presenting the colors

In addition to sweeping the course, Troops 49 and 490 presented the colors during the national anthem before the race. The five-scout flag crew included Eagle Scouts Marshall Haynes and Jordan Trimyer. Scouts Lindy Green, Jonah Rehder, and Ben Nebeibergall rounded out the team. As a second-year Scout, Nebeibergall admitted to some butterflies before the event. He said afterward he was elated at being part of the experience.

“I was really nervous standing in front of 16,000 people, but it was really fun once we started,” said Nebeibergall.

About Troop 49 and 490: Troop 490 is girls troop linked with Troop 49. Scouting USA started allowing all girl troops to form in January 2019. Both troops are sponsored by Faith Lutheran Church in the Crestview neighborhood. Both troops meet at Faith Lutheran Church on Tuesday nights, starting at 7:00. More information about Troop 49 and 490 can be found our their Facebook page and website.

Austin Marathon Provides Lasting Memories for Thousands

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Thousands celebrate their Austin Marathon accomplishments at massive finish line festival

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon was the epicenter of the running world on Sunday, February 17th, showcasing one of the world’s top marathons. More than 16,000 participants registered for the Austin Marathon, Austin Half Marathon, and 5K. They traveled to Austin from all 50 states and 38 countries. Tens of thousands of spectators lined the Austin streets cheering on runners, waving hilarious signs, and providing endless energy. Joey Whelan (2:17:03) successfully defended his title as Austin Marathon champion. Austin Marathon female champion Heather Lieberg, who has already qualified for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, ran a B standard qualifying 2:42:27.

“I’m grateful I was able to run the Austin Marathon and earn my second victory in as many years,” said Whelan, who bested his 2018 Austin Marathon winning time by four minutes and 34 seconds. “I appreciate the people of Austin for remembering me from last year and cheering for me and the other thousands of runners.”

FloTrack’s live coverage followed the champions and the men’s and women’s elite fields for the marathon and half marathon. Jameson Mora (2:20:21) and Will Christian (2:22:59) rounded out the men’s marathon field. The male half marathoners finishing in the top three consisted of James Ngandu (1:04:32), Gonzalo Parra Perez (1:05:36), and Austinite Mike Lowe (1:06:36).

“The Austin Marathon was all I thought it was going to be and more,” said Lieberg. “Such a friendly and supportive atmosphere, and despite a few personal hurdles, I was able to pull off a win;  thank you Austin!”

Anita Perez of San Antonio (2:47:56) and Khrystyna Bohomiahkova of Ukraine (2:49:05) finished the marathon second and third respectively. The top three female half marathon finishers were Caroline Rotich (1:13:24), Nicole Roberts (1:16:16), and Sarah Pease (1:16:24).

Aid stations hydrated runners with nuun performance, Gatorade handed out gels and chews at two fuel zones, and runners celebrated with friends and family at the three-block-long finish line festival. When runners crossed the finish line, they were treated to a huge party that consisted of the Under Armour recovery zone, Oskar Blues Austin beer garden featuring Tito’s Handmade Vodka, food trucks, Jumbotron displaying FloTrack live coverage, and hours of live music.

Sunday was a picturesque day in Austin, helping thousands of runners achieve their goals and earn PRs. Participants consisted of first-timers and veterans pushing towards their respective finish lines.

“Crossing that finish line came with a whirlwind of emotions, ranging from excitement, pride, relief, and exhaustion as I was laughing and crying all at the same time,” said Carly Bormann, who finished in 4:18:02, earning an 80 minute and 49 second PR. “It was a moment that I was just grateful to share with so many amazing people who helped get me to that point.”

Lance Armstrong, Austin Gives Miles Charity Chaser, was the final participant to cross the Austin Marathon start line. He earned money for 28 Central Texas nonprofits for every marathoner he passed. Armstrong began 22 minutes after the ringing of the start gong. He finished in 3:02:13 and passed all but 59 marathoners. Armstrong’s efforts have pushed Austin Gives Miles past their $1 million fundraising goal. Contributions can be made through the end of February.

Participants can see their results on the Austin Marathon website and continue to share their memorable experiences on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Runners can expect their FinisherPix race day photos to be ready in 24-48 hours after the race.

The Austin Marathon would like to thank the volunteers, spectators, and participants who made the race so special. They would also like to thank title sponsor Ascension Seton, Under Armour, Camp Gladiator, Hilton of Austin, nuun hydration, Fleet Feet Austin, Oskar Blues Brewery, KXAN, woom bikes USA, SPIbelt, Dole, Z’Tejas, H-E-B, Gatorade, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Carvana, Life by Spot, Goodwill Central Texas, Alvies Boots, FloTrack, FinisherPix, Austin Massage Company, Boy Scout Troop 49, the City of Austin, Austin Police Department, Department of Public Safety, CapMetro, and Travis County EMS.

Ascension Seton Austin Marathon Continues Expansion Beyond Race Day

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Growth continues beyond race day for Austin Marathon

High Five Events continues to grow the footprint of the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour® beyond race day. The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented several screenings of an award-winning documentary, is involved with several Under Armour runs and demos with the community, and added numerous new partnerships, activations, and race-weekend events. Nearly 16,000 runners from all 50 states and 35 countries will run the 28th annual Austin Marathon on Sunday, Feb. 17th.

“Our associates have been energized by this partnership. We have more than 350 Ascension Seton associates running in the various races and 80 medical team members supporting this weekend,” said Adam Bauman, vice president of business development at Ascension Seton. “I am excited how this partnership has woven Ascension Seton into the fabric of the Austin running community.”

Austin Marathon race week actually began on Friday, Feb. 8th, when the Austin Marathon presented several screenings of Skid Row Marathon, an award-winning documentary. There were two Q&As with the producers, Gabi and Mark Hayes, and one of the inspirations of the film, Judge Craig Mitchell. Under Armour will keep the party going during race week, demoing their HOVR shoe line at group runs hosted by various Austin running clubs. Their activations will culminate in the UA HOVR Shakeout Run on Friday, Feb. 15th. There are several official post-race parties where runners can keep the good times rolling after the finish line festival.

The two-day Austin Marathon Health & Fitness Expo (Feb. 15th – 16th) will feature more than 100 vendors, Official Austin Marathon Under Armour gear, and interactive activations. Some of these include: the Austin Marathon’s 1972 Winnebago, Ascension Seton’s sport medicine van, Carvana’s DeLorean, several photo booths, Mr. Peanut and the Planter’s NUTmobile, and various food samplings. Participants can get stretched, a quick massage, or taped for race day at several locations. They can also meet the Austin Marathon pace team and watch the course preview on the Jumbotron.

“The collective buzz during Austin Marathon race week has us excited to support numerous community engagements alongside some of the most influential groups in town,” said Ari Perez, Fleet Feet Austin’s Operating Partner. “The Eastside Beer Runners, RAW Running, and the UA HOVR Shakeout Run will offer runners opportunities to further connect with the community, all culminating in the weekend’s expo, races, and post-race fun.”

Saturday, Feb. 16th, is once again highlighted by the Manzano Mile presented by Dole, named for Leo Manzano, Austin Marathon Ambassador and Olympic silver medalist. Elites will race for a $6,000 prize purse, children will run in the Future Milers of America heat, and families will complete the untimed mile together. Also on Saturday is the newly added Raise Riders Family Bicycle Weekend. The inaugural event is presented by woom bikes USA and Buddy Pegs Media. There are two free children’s bike rides during the Manzano Mile. Families will enjoy family-friendly group rides, woom bike demos, Buddy Pegs Bicycle Playdates (for children 6 and under), author readings, raffles, bicycle scavenger hunts, and more.

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 28th year running in the capital of Texas in 2019. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 30+ countries around the world. Having start and finish locations in the heart of downtown Austin puts participants and spectators near all the action and within walking distance of restaurants, hotels, and shops. Finishing with the picturesque Texas State Capitol as your backdrop is icing on the cake for the perfect running weekend destination. Registration is open for all distances.

2019 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon Set for Epic Race Day

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The stage is set for Sunday, Feb. 17th, to be an epic race day

High Five Events is putting the final touches on what will be another memorable Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour®. The world-class event has many highlights, including a 2:45 pace group for female elites to hit the Olympic Marathon Trials B standard, Lance Armstrong as the Austin Gives Miles Charity Chaser, a highly-competitive elite field, and the return of the FloSports livestream. Nearly 16,000 runners from all 50 states and 35 countries will run the 28th annual Austin Marathon on Sunday, Feb. 17th.

“Austin has such an amazing fitness community and we have a marathon that reflects that,” said Will Nation, member of the 2:45 pace group and 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. “It’s my hope that I can assist talented individuals in achieving their goal of hitting an OTQ and demonstrate that the Austin Marathon is a race where you can do just that.”

The 2019 course is the same as when the Austin Marathon unveiled their new course in 2018. The course is designed to provide a better participant and spectator experience and allow enhanced traffic flow along the course, while still finishing with the picturesque Texas State Capitol as every runner’s backdrop. Race-day highlights include nuun performance at every aid station, two Gatorade nutrition stations, live music on course, athlete tracking, the infamous and energetic RunLab Bridge at Mile 7, and much more.

FloSports, a sports media based in Austin, Texas, will highlight the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon’s Elite Athlete Program by following the men’s and women’s elite leaders throughout the race. They will also have a camera capturing finishers as they cross the finish line. The 3-block-long finish line festival features the Under Armour recovery zone, the Oskar Blues Austin beer garden, live music, and several local food trucks. Austin’s own, Delivery Service, will rock two post-race sets. The two-day Austin Marathon expo will take place on Friday, Feb. 15th, and Saturday, Feb. 16th.

“Unveiling the new Austin Marathon course last year generated a lot of positive buzz, showcased Austin to runners from around the world, and propelled us to new heights in 2019,” said Stacy Keese, co-owner of High Five Events. “Working with amazing sponsors like Ascension Seton and Under Armour has allowed us to further enhance our customer’s experience, making race day one they’ll talk about for some time.”

The following is a sample of the athletes in the Elite Field competing for the $20,000 prize purse: Joey Whelan (2020 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier), Anita Perez (2x Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier), Jameson Mora (2x Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier), Patrick Rizzo (4x Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier), Heather Lieberg (2020 Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier), Jocelyn Todd (2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier), Ryan Miller (2x Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier), Samantha Calderon (2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier).

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 28th year running in the capital of Texas in 2019. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 30+ countries around the world. Having start and finish locations in the heart of downtown Austin puts participants and spectators near all the action and within walking distance of restaurants, hotels, and shops. Finishing with the picturesque Texas State Capitol as your backdrop is icing on the cake for the perfect running weekend destination. Registration is open for all distances.