3M Half Marathon Adds Virtual Option for 2019

Virtual option allows runners to participate in award-winning half marathon from anywhere in the world

Registration for the virtual 2019 3M Half Marathon opens today, Wednesday, August 14th. The 25th annual 3M Half Marathon will take place January 20, 2019, in Austin, Texas. Last year, more than 7,000 runners participated in the event. The virtual 3M Half Marathon allows runners to participate without running the course on race day.

“The 3M Half Marathon saw record participation in 2018 and we’re excited to produce the 25th edition in 2019,” said Stacy Keese, co-owner of High Five Events. “This race is well-known for its fast course, however, we want to provide runners who cannot run the streets of Austin the opportunity to celebrate our 25th anniversary with us.”

Register today!

Registration for the virtual 3M Half Marathon will be $55. Virtual participants will receive a custom, 25th anniversary spinner finisher medal and swag bag filled with 3M goodies. They will also receive a tube of nuun hydration, downloadable race bib, and finisher certificate. They will also have the option to purchase a custom-designed race shirt at time of registration. Runners will receive their gear prior to January 20, 2019. Results must be submitted by March 4, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. to receive a  finisher certificate.

A virtual race is a perfect way to run the half marathon distance or train for another upcoming race like Austin Marathon or Half Marathon. Virtual run participants will have six weeks to complete 13.1 miles. Registration and rules can be found on the race website.

The 3M Half Marathon boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country. They’ll celebrate their 25th year running in 2019. Runners will enjoy a point-to-point course with mostly downhill running that showcases some of Austin’s finest locations. Starting in north Austin and finishing near the Texas State Capitol, runners will appreciate a 306’ net elevation drop. Registration is currently open for all options.

Register for the virtual 3M Half Marathon
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Hydration: 5 Things You Should Know and How it Can Help You

You know about hydration, now learn about how it helps your body

nuun is the official hydration partner of the 3M Half Marathon. They know a thing or two about hydrating athletes. The experts at nuun are constantly gathering information about how athletes can better fuel their bodies. This blog post was written by the experts to educate athletes and provide them with the information needed to be successful during training and racing.

1. Hydration is energy (for your muscles)

nuun: official hydration of the 3M Half Marathon.Most people think that the main purpose of hydration is to help prevent dehydration (and to replenish electrolyte stores that may be lost via sweat). Although both of those are true (recent studies have shown that electrolytes may play greater roles in fluids absorption than sweat replenishment), the fundamental goal of hydration is to deliver oxygen to working muscles. Try to think about the fluid you are consuming as a way of helping your muscles breathe, which in turn gives them the energy they need to perform.

2. Water does not hydrate you

Yes, you read that correctly! While water does fundamentally provide your body with fluid, it does not truly hydrate you. Water needs to be in a specific concentration (composing of carbohydrates and electrolytes) to exit the stomach and move into circulation where it can be used by the body. Our water needs to contain sodium to ensure proper fluid absorption. To make matters even more complicated, your “water” should contain different amounts of carbohydrates and electrolytes before/during/after your workout!

3. Proper hydration will help mitigate gastric distress during exercise

To put it simply, when you are exercising, your body (stomach) is under stress. There are ways you can eat and drink to mitigate that stress or to encourage it. When it comes to hydration, if the ratio of carbohydrates to fluid is too high or the electrolyte profile is too low, the delivery of fluid slows down and sits in the stomach. That’s what causes sloshing and GI issues during racing.

4. Hydration will help you fuel better

This builds on the previous point. With proper hydration you can help eliminate the GI issues that can come with it and allow faster and more efficient fueling. This is achieved by not overloading your system and using multiple pathways to absorb fluids and carbohydrates.

5. Hydration aids in recovery

One area that is very crucial to the recovery process is rehydrating. Rehydrating not only replenishes fluids lost during exercise, but it also aids in replenishing the electrolytes that were also lost. Keep in mind: drinking too much too fast can degrade the potential gains of the workout, here’s why: your body, over time, has developed a strong immune system that helps repair itself when it is under the stresses of exercise. Therefore, naturally you want your body to begin repairing itself, slowly rehydrate, and continue to hydrate throughout the day.

nuun hydration is our official hydration partner. Head over to nuunlife.com to stock up and train with what will be on course.

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Pre-Purchase 2019 3M Half Marathon Race Photos

Pre-purchase your race photos now at a discounted rate!

Get your 2019 3M Half Marathon race photos by FinisherPix now!Let our official photo service, FinisherPix, capture your personal 2019 3M Half Marathon memories. FinisherPix produces high-quality race photos using professional equipment. Capture the memories of your first half marathon or your half marathon PR and share them online; you earned it. Of course we’ll score some amazing images to commemorate our 25th anniversary!

Your images are processed on the spot because this allows us to get them online faster. Photos are normally available within 24-48 hours after the event so you can relive race day.

Use the link below to pre-purchase your race photos at a discounted rate.

 
This pricing is only available for pre-purchase, after January 19th, prices increase.
3M Half Marathon – $19.99
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July Running Gear Round Up

What’s Hot Right Now in Running

Here is a list of what we are excited about right now with running gear, clothing, and recovery.


Under Armour Women’s Warp Knit High Sports Bra

Delivers strategic support, tailored for high-impact activities like running. Material wicks sweat & dries really fast. 4-way stretch construction moves better in every direction.


Buy Now




Under Armour HOVR

You’ve never felt a shoe like this before. It’s literally like wrapping your foot in a pillow. UA HOVR technology provides ‘zero gravity feel’ to maintain energy return that helps eliminate impact on every run. And they come is some super cool colors.


Buy Now



Garmin vívoactive HR GPS Smart Watch

13 hours of active GPS battery life + 8 days of battery in Smart watch mode. The wrist heart technology gives you heart rate all day and night without an additional strap. The sunlight-readable, high-resolution touchscreen features smart notifications such as call, text, email, social media alerts and more.


Buy Now



Waterloo Sparking Water

When the cold bubbles hit your mouth after a long run it is all over. Waterloo Sparkling Water was born in Austin, Texas, and produces delicious sparkling waters using natural ingredients like real fruit and fruit extracts for an enticing aroma, delightful flavor and refreshing mouthfeel, naturally. We are all about the Watermelon and Coconut flavors.


Buy Now




Hickies

Tying your shoes is so 2017. Fasten Hickies once and never tie your shoes again. Hickes turns lace up shoes into slipons so you don’t have to worry about loose laces.


Buy Now



SmartyPants Adult Complete Daily Gummy Vitamins

Delish + Super easy to take and easy on the stomach. Fuel your body right so it can take you everywhere you want to go. Smarty Pants vitamins contain 13 essential nutrients, including vitamin D as D3, vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin, and folate as methylfolate, alone with omega 3 EPA and DHA fish oil – all in one


Buy Now

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Our 6 Favorite Running Quotes

Get out of that training rut with these motivational running quotes

Sometimes we love running and other times we are like “meh”. But there are some quotes that every time we read them we are motivated to get back out on the road and give it everything we have. Here are our favorite running quotes a read the next time your training hits a bump in the road or you have a bad race.

“Only those who risk going too far, can possibly find out how one can go.” – T.S. Eliot

“A goal should scare you a little and excite you a lot.” – Joe Vitale

“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” – John Bingham

“Help others achieve their dreams and you will achieve yours.” – Les Brown

“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

“Celebrate what you accomplish, but raise the bar a little each time you succeed.” – Mia Hamm

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3Mgives Names Austin Youth River Watch Beneficiary of 2019 3M Half Marathon

Grant for Austin Youth River Watch continues 3Mgives’ support of local organizations focused on STEM

In support of 3M’s global initiative to advance equitable science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and educational outcomes for students, 3Mgives selects Austin Youth River Watch (AYRW) as the beneficiary of the 2019 3M Half Marathon. The $50,000 grant will allow the Austin-based nonprofit to continue offering a hands-on approach to environmental science, primarily to underserved high school students. 3Mgives continues their support of local organizations that educate youth and prepare them for a possible career in STEM. The 25th annual 3M Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, January 20, 2019, in Austin, Texas.

Austin Youth River Watch students testing water at Barton Creek.

Austin Youth River Watch students testing water at Barton Creek. Credit – Austin Youth River Watch

“Choosing Austin Youth River Watch as the beneficiary of the 3M Half Marathon is the perfect match for how we want to help here in Austin,” said Stacey Claessens, 3Mgives Manager of Austin Community Engagement. “It supports our initiative to increase student interest in STEM while also being a program that fosters a sustainable community.”

Making a difference

Austin Youth River Watch is a multi-year, after-school and summer program for high school students, combining peer mentoring with intensive environmental education. Their students collect, analyze, and publish water-quality data from Austin-area streams and rivers. They then report their data to local and statewide agencies. Students also work with community partners on environmental restoration projects to improve watershed health. This grant will support AYRW’s program in environmental education and youth development and their efforts to bring STEM to life. In addition to the grant, event-related involvement will take place at the expo and on race day.

“More than half of our graduates each year go on to pursue fields in STEM and the environment,” said Melinda Chow, Executive Director of Austin Youth River Watch. “With great community partners like 3M, we are all working together to improve outcomes for youth, diversify the STEM pipeline, and help make our world a better place to live.”

The 3M Half Marathon boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country. It will celebrate its 25th year running in 2019. Runners will enjoy a point-to-point course with mostly downhill running that showcases some of Austin’s finest locations. Starting in north Austin and finishing near the Texas State Capitol, runners will appreciate a 306’ net elevation drop. Participants can register on the website.

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Up Your Running Game with Under Armour’s Map My Run

Utilize Map My Run for your 3M Half training

Registration is open for the 2019 3M Half Marathon and you’ve got your sights set on January 20, 2019. Running Downhill to Downtown and earning your half marathon PR is a massive achievement. We’ve got your back every step of the way. Whether this is your first or tenth half marathon, you’ll need a training plan. Proper preparation is critical to race day success. Map My Run can get you to the finish line. It’s an excellent tool to use during your 3M Half Marathon training.

Use Map My Run during your 2019 3M Half Marathon training.

Use Map My Run during your 2019 3M Half training.

Map My Run is a free app that you can download to your phone. You can upgrade to the MVP subscription to eliminate ads, access personalized training plans, and use live tracking. Either way, you can discover the best running routes within your city, save and share your favorites, and connect with a community of more than 50 million runners. This helpful running app is ranked #21 in the Health & Fitness section of the iTunes App Store and has a rating of 4.8.

Benefits

  • discover running routes around the world while traveling for work or vacation

  • access stats like pace, route, distance, calories, and elevation

  • connect with 400+ devices to import and analyze data in one place

  • track shoe mileage with Gear Tracker

  • UA Record Equipped connected shoes can automatically sync data with app

  • sync data with many popular apps and wearables

  • share workouts on Facebook and Twitter

  • Join Challenges to compete with others, climb the leaderboard, and win prizes

Download the app today and begin analyzing your running data. Connect with your local runner friends and make new friends from around the world. Then execute your training plan on January 20, 2019! Follow Map My Run on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Do You Know 3M Half Marathon?

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Taste Test with Clif Bar’s Newest Products

Clif Bar shipped their latest products to our office and we put them to the ultimate taste test

We put this Clif Bar box to the ultimate taste test.

Clif Bar packages are like Christmas morning!

A Clif Bar box arrived the other day. They’re the Official Nutrition of the 3M Half Marathon. Good things happen when those boxes are delivered. We opened the contents and quickly discovered an array of their newest products. We knew we had to put them through a taste test. The box was stuffed with Energy Granola, Fruit Smoothie Filled bars, and Sweet & Salty bars. There was also a stainless steel travel jar so you could take granola with your on your next hike. Read our reviews, then head to your nearest store or visit clifbar.com to scoop these up.

Energy Granola

Four different flavors arrived and they all pass the taste test: Cinnamon Almond, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Cocoa Almond, and Blueberry Crisp. All four bags of Energy Granola delivered in the taste department. The clusters were extra crunchy and you only need a handful or two before you’re good to go. These make for the perfect afternoon snack at the office. Depending on your preferred flavor, Energy Granola would come in handy on a long trail hike or a cross-country flight. Pro tip – these make the perfect cereal topper. Sprinkle in a handful to liven up your morning!

Sweet & Salty Bars

Clif Bar sent all three new Sweet & Salty flavors and holy smokes these were insanely amazing. Honestly, we can’t decide which one is our favorite. We loved Caramel Toffee with Sea Salt, Chocolate Chunk with Sea Salt, Peanut Butter & Honey with Sea Salt. As many in the endurance community know, sweet and salty is the magic combination. Clif Bar hit the nail on the head with these three creations. Constructed like the original Clif Bars, these are perfect for a pre-workout meal or post-ride snack on the go. The bars were light, crunchy, tasty, and left you contemplating whether or not you should open another one.

We put the Fruit Smoothie Filled Clif Bars to a taste test.

The Fruit Smoothie Filled Bars hit the spot!

Fruit Smoothie Filled Bars

Introducing the highlight of the box, the CLIF® Fruit Smoothie Filled Energy Bars. Talk about hooked on a filling. All three new flavors (Strawberry Banana, Wild Blueberry Acai, and Tart Cherry Berry) arrived in the box and it was a toss-up to see which one we ate first. All three bars got the job done and left us wanting more. Each bar uses USDA organic and non-GMO ingredients to deliver sustained energy. The filling is made from a blend of cashew butter and the bright flavors of organic fruit.

We apologize at the abrupt end to this blog. We’re headed to the store to get more.

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5 non-running ways to get active in Austin

Image result for sup austin town lakeSUP

Duh!  If you haven’t done a session of Stand Up Paddle, what are you waiting for?  Like any kind of workout, you can make it as hard or as easy as you want.  Go for a few miles on a windy day and you’ll get in a tough workout!  But if you’re a beginner, take it easy and go on a calm day instead.  There are several places on Lady Bird Lake where you can rent a SUP board.  So get out there and enjoy the water on a SUP.

Swim at Barton Springs Pool

Dive into the refreshing waters of Barton Springs Pool this summer.  Do a few laps to get a nice workout in on a hot summer day.  Or give aqua jogging a try! Pro Tip: if you go before 8 a.m. it is a lot easier to swim full lengths of the pool. Here are some swim workouts to try out when you go.

Go for a Ride

The possibilities are endless!  From renting a B-Cycle to cruise around town or Lady Bird Lake to mountain biking on the Greenbelt – jump on a bike to mix it up this summer. See two of Austin best bike paths to use this summer.

Related imageRock Climbing

Go vertical! Rock Climbing and Bouldering is a full body and mind workout. There are several places with indoor climbing gyms like CRUX Climbing Gym or  Austin Bouldering Project that can rent you the equipment as well. Once you get the hang of it, there are even spots out on the greenbelt where you can climb outside.

Yoga

From Hot Yoga to Goat Yoga, yeah you read that right, and everything in between, you can find it in Austin! There is even yoga on SUP boards! Check out the different yoga spots in town and find your tribe to get sweaty with.

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