Tag Archive for: Twenty Six Two Marathon Club

3M Half Marathon Expo Highlights You Don’t Want to Miss

These expo highlights showcase the must-visit booths

Hello, Running Enthusiasts! As we eagerly anticipate the 3M Half Marathon, don’t miss the action-packed 3M Half Marathon Expo & Packet Pick Up at the Palmer Event Center on the Friday and Saturday before the race. This is your golden opportunity to meet the official pacers, explore a wide range of exhibitors offering exclusive shopping experiences, and participate in fantastic giveaways and discounts.

Plus, keep an eye out for some special surprises that might just make your day! Join us for this pre-race celebration and gear up for an amazing event.

Image of the Post-it Wall from the 2019 3M Half Marathon expo covered in messages of support and inspiration. The Post-it Wall will be a 2020 expo highlight.

3M Post-it Lounge

Visit the ever-popular 3M Post-it Lounge and add your message to our giant post-it wall. Leave a message of inspiration for a loved one or all participants. Or just sit back and relax before you go another round about the expo. Kids can even join in on the fun with our photo booth.

Photo booths

There will be several fun photo opportunities set up throughout the expo including our GIF photo booth, a larger than life-size version of Blaze, course maps, and more. Visit them all!

A 3M Half Marathon Ambassador takes a photo of two runners and the oversized 2019 3M Half Marathon medal at the 2019 3M Half Marathon expo. Take your photo with a giant 2020 3M Half Marathon medal, one of the many 2020 expo highlights.

Don’t forget to tag us on social @3MHalfMarathon and #DownhilltoDowntown.

Austin Marathon

Visit the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon and chat with their Ambassadors about race day! Thinking about registering for the Austin Marathon, Half Marathon, or KXAN Simple Health 5K? Register at their booth and take advantage of their expo deals. You can even walk away with some cool swag! Rumor has it they are giveaway away free entries as well!

2025 3M Half Marathon Booth

As you exit packet pick-up, make your first stop at our dazzling 2025 3M Half Marathon Booth! Get early registration for next year’s race at our Best Pricing of $79. This is your chance to shimmer and shine, getting a taste of the excitement that awaits in 2025. Don’t miss out on this fantastic deal.

Fleet Feet Austin

Visit our friends at Fleet Feet Austin and snag some gear to get you to the start line and beyond. They will have some Run Austin gear but it is limited so get there as soon as you can. They’ll also have hydration and nutrition from GU for your last-minute needs.

Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club

If this is your first half marathon or you’re chasing your 13.1-mile PR, visit these folks! Meet the runners who will pace you to the finish line! These pacers are veterans and know what they’re doing. Swing by their booth, chat about race day and get your last-minute questions answered.

EIGHT Beer

Runners, get ready to raise a toast to your upcoming triumph! Make sure to swing by the EIGHT Beer booth at the 3M Half Marathon Expo. This is more than just a sampling – it’s a sneak peek into your post-race celebration! Our friends at EIGHT Beer will also be at the finish line for all of our celebrations.

Ascension Seton CapTex Tri

Add a little variety to your running by trying out a triathlon! CapTex Tri is Austin’s only downtown triathlon and features 3 distances including the beginner-friendly Rookie Tri Distance. Or get your friends involved, make it a team effort, and sign for a relay. They have a mystery prize machine full of discounts.

Super Coffee

Before you hit the pavement, stop by the Super Coffee booth at the 3M Half Marathon Expo for a delicious energy boost. Their range of energizing coffees is the perfect pick-me-up, ensuring you’re charged and ready to conquer every mile!

Texas Drain Specialist 

Chat with Julian and his team while you make special cheer signs. As an official sponsor of 3M Half Marathon, Texas Drain Specialist is there for you on and off the course. They even have a team you can join that includes free group workouts!

SHRUNK 3D

Capture your biggest and sweetest moments with an exact 3D replica of you, your family loved ones, and pets! Stop by the Shrunk booth to get a 3D replica.

Kerrville Triathlon

TRI your luck and spin the slots at the Kerrville Triathlon Festival booth. This Texas destination triathlon is known for its two day festival complete with 7 different triathlon distances from the beginner Rookie Tri to the 70.3 half distance.

Visit these other booths

Evamor

Sandcastle Seasonings

Verb

Little Guys Movers

Card.io

Go For It Sports

Strong Atheltic

SPIbelt

Race Essentials

Smith Chiropractic

Lifespring

Cap10K

National Running Center

Pinnacle Eye Wear

HiDow

 

26th Annual 3M Half Marathon Ready to Run Austin’s Roads

Thousands will chase their 13.1-mile PR at the 26th annual 3M Half Marathon

High Five Events is putting the final touches on the 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour. More than 6500 participants have registered, with 47 states and 20 countries represented. Thousands of runners will chase their half marathon PR on Austin’s roads. Additionally, several elites will run their final Olympic Marathon Trials tune-up. The 26th annual 3M Half Marathon will take place on January 19, 2020.

Image of David Fuentes crossing the 2018 Austin Marathon finish line in 4th place. He is running in the 26th annual 3M Half Marathon's elite field.

David Fuentes will run 3M Half Marathon as his final tune-up before the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials.

“I’m excited to return to the first half marathon I competed in nearly 10 years ago (2010),” said David Fuentes, 3x Austin Half Marathon champion (2010, ‘11, ‘15). “3M Half Marathon will provide a good test with great competition for my tune-up prior to competing in the Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta.”

Downhill to Downtown perks

Participants will receive their 26th anniversary Under Armour participant shirt and world-famous swag bag filled with useful 3M products at the Expo & Packet Pick Up. Race day begins near The Domain in north Austin. Thousands will run the predominantly downhill course in search of their PR. They’ll cruise through beautiful Shoal Creek Blvd., historic Hyde Park neighborhood, and the world-renowned University of Texas at Austin.

Elevated image of 2019 3M Half Marathon participants celebrating at the Oskar Blues Austin beer garden.

Participants enjoy celebrating at the 3M Half Marathon beer garden!

Everyone will finish near the Texas State Capitol in downtown Austin. The 3M Half Marathon’s finish line festival will celebrate finishers and their efforts. They’ll receive their customizable spinning finisher medal, post-race hydration, and snack bag. Delicious food from local food trucks will be available. Participants 21 years old and older can enjoy Oskar Blues Austin brews in the beer garden. Sponsors, vendors, and partners will populate the finish line festival, celebrating runners and their achievements.

“Austin has been so good to me since I moved here last May and I’m excited to celebrate the city with this run,” said Alex Rosenfeld, who’s running his first 3M Half Marathon. “I’m excited to run with my friends and see why everyone loves 3M Half Marathon.”

Image of 3 Austin Youth River Watch representatives at their booth at the 2019 3M Half Marathon. 3Mgives selected Austin Youth River watch as the beneficiary of the 26th annual 3M Half Marathon on January 19, 2020.

3Mgives selected Austin Youth River Watch as the event beneficiary for the second year in a row.

2020 beneficiary

Austin Youth River Watch is the beneficiary of the event. 3Mgives will contribute $68,000 to support Austin Youth River Watch’s educational programs in conjunction with the race. 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.

The 3M Half Marathon boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country. Runners 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.

Plain and Simple, Downhill to Downtown is Better with Friends

You know it and we know it – 3M Half Marathon is better with friends

It’s no secret, 3M Half Marathon is better with friends. Invite your friends to run with you, cheer for you, or celebrate with you once you cross the finish line. Of course we couldn’t do this without some of our friends. They provide the sweet participant shirts, stock the beer garden, offer amazing hotel deals, design official 3M Half Marathon gear, and more. Check out some of the friends who will help make our 26th anniversary unforgettable! Don’t forget – RSVP to the Facebook event to receive the latest details.

Image of the men's and women's Under Armour 2020 3M Half Marathon participant shirts. This blog has everything you need to get ready for the 2020 3M Half Marathon!

Don’t miss out on these custom Under Armour shirts!

Meet the folks who will help make race day unforgettable

Under Armour – UA returns as presenting sponsor for the third year in a row! The commemorative participant shirt is made with their game-changing material. Participants from all over love to wear them!

Fleet Feet Austin – Fleet Feet Austin is our home away from home. They host weekly runs and provide runners with everything they need, from custom-shoe fitting to restocking your hydration. Swing by their booth at the expo to check out the official 3M Half Marathon gear!

Participants enjoy a cold Oskar Blues beer, the Official Beer Sponsor of the 3M Half Marathon.

Celebrate at the Oskar Blues beer garden!

Oskar Blues – The makers of Dale’s Pale Ale and Mama’s Little Yella Pils are back for another year! Oskar Blues Austin will put the beer on ice while you’re running and get the party started when you visit the beer garden.

Ascension Seton – We hope you don’t need them, but if you do we’re proud to have Ascension Seton back as our Official Medical Provider.

Hilton – our Official Hotel Provider has special deals near the start line and finish line. Either way, you’re guaranteed to be near the action. Don’t forget – free shuttle take folks to the start line after the event.

Austin Youth River Watch – This Austin nonprofit returns as our beneficiary for a second year! Learn why 3Mgives selected this amazing group and how even just a small donation can make a big difference.

H-E-B – Some say H-E-B is the best grocery store in the world and we agree! The post-race snacks comes directly from their stores and straight to our finish line.

Sara Ferniza, 2020 3M Half Ambassador, poses with giant 2019 3M Half Marathon medal.

Our Ambassadors are great!

Ambassadors – Our Ambassadors are top-notch! You see them at events, running around town, and professing their love for 3M Half Marathon on social media.

Volunteers – Show this group some love! They get up early and give you their energy so you can chase your 13.1-mile PR.

Pacers – This crew from Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club will pace you to your goals and/or PR on race day. Get to know them and swing by their booth at the expo to ask questions and talk about race day.

SPIbelt – They’re an Austin original and have supported 3M Half Marathon for as long as we can remember. We’re proud to have SPIbelt as our Official Race Belt, but they’re more than just a belt. Visit them at the expo to check out all the other products they have to offer!

CG trainers cheer on runners at the 2019 3M Half Marathon. Expand your summer training with Camp Gladiator trainers!Camp Gladiator – This crew will get your blood flowing with the pre-race warm you up. Keep an eye out for them on course because they’ll be cheering and giving out high fives at their Official Cheer Stations!

GU – The Official Energy Gel and Chew will be on course providing you with gels and chews to help you chase your PR. We’re also working with them to recycle nutrition wrappers and prevent them from ending up in the landfill.

Chameleon Cold Brew – Want some caffeine after you cross the finish line? Visit the Chameleon Cold Brew tent and recharge with their delicious brews!

Elites – You’ll complete the same course as some fast runners. Meet the elites and see who will run 3M Half Marathon as a final tune-up before the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials!

Dole Sunshine – If you crave something sweet after you finish then Dole has you covered! Their fruit cups are delicious and contain coconut water (which aids in recovery!).

Nuun – Our Official Hydration will be available at every aid station and the finish line. We’re making our water count!

Show these folks some love on social media and race day! Without them, 3M Half Marathon wouldn’t be as amazing as it is year-after-year. Invite your friends and family to join you on Jan. 19th because Downhill to Downtown is better with friends! Don’t forget to RSVP to the Facebook event to receive the latest details. See y’all soon!

13.1 Reasons to Love 3M Half Marathon

Here are 13 of the many reasons runners love 3M Half Marathon

We hear from runners all the time about why they love 3M Half Marathon. We think it’s pretty awesome too! Everyone loves Downhill to Downtown for various reasons. Check out the list below; we’ve compiled the most frequent answers. Join us on January 19, 2020, to experience all we have to offer for yourself. 

1. Austin, Texas – shall we continue? You got it!

Runner runs in her Under Armour participant shirt, the shirt is just one reason you'll love 3M Half Marathon.

Participants love 3M Half Marathon because of the sweet Under Armour participant shirts!

2. Under Armour shirts – be the envy of your running friends who didn’t join you

3. The industry’s best gear bag – you’ll love all the useful 3M products

4. Commemorative, spinner finisher medal – slow-motion videos, boomerang GIFs, photos with the Texas State Capitol in the background, so many ways to show off your medal

5. 300+ ft. elevation drop – run our point-to-point course and see why hundreds set their half marathon PR every year; soak in all the on-course live music

6. Finish line festival – post-race massage, food trucks, hydration, live music, and so much more

7. Free finish line transportation – park at the start line, run to the finish line. We’ll take you back to the start line

Halfway there!

8. Amazing on-course support – hundreds of volunteers get up early and they stay late, helping you have the best experience possible

Participants celebrate their accomplishment in the beer garden, one reason people love 3M Half Marathon.

Participants (21+)celebrate their 3M Half Marathon accomplishments at the beer garden!

9. Expanded beer garden – because you and your friends need another place to celebrate

10. Pacers – the Twenty-Six Two pacers will keep you on track to finish when you want, helping you reach your goals

11. Two-day packet pick up and expo – purchase official 3M Half Marathon gear, check out the latest running products, and grab any last-minute needs

12. USATF-certified course – you won’t run anymore or less than you have to, we double-checked

13. Eight fully-stocked aid stations featuring Nuun Endurance – grab hydration, make a pitstop, or both (don’t forget to thank the volunteers)

13.1. Benefits Austin Youth River Watch – 3mgives selected this Austin nonprofit as the beneficiary for the second year in a row, helping this organization continue to positively impact Austin’s youth and our environment.

You just read 13.1 reasons runners love 3M Half Marathon. Your friends rave about it. Your running partners can’t stop talking about their experience. Now it’s your turn! Reserve your spot at the 2020 3M Half Marathon start line and experience all that we have to offer. And if 2020 won’t be your first time, you’re now on a mission to set your half marathon PR! Why do you love 3M Half Marathon? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

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Meet the 2019 3M Half Marathon Pacing Group

Get to know your 2019 pacing group

You’re registered. You’re training. You have a goal time in mind. This is your first half marathon. You want to PR. You want to beat last year’s time. Whatever your race day goals, the Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club pacing group will guide you. Meet your 2019 3M Half Marathon pace team, learn where to find them on race day, and read a few dos and don’ts of running with a pacing group.

Find your pacing group:

Look for the Twenty-Six Two pacing group in the starting corrals holding pace signs. Those signs correspond to the paces designated by signs in the corrals. There will be two pacers per each pace group (finish times of 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, 2:05, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:25, 2:30). The pacers will also be wearing matching running outfits that say “PACER” or otherwise designated them as official 3M Half Marathon pacers.

1:30 Anthony Jacobs Ryan McLagan
1:35 Joe Terracina Leland Mangum
1:40 Charlie Werth John Golden
1:45 Karim Elmrabet Talaya Frazier
1:50 Jennifer Goetz Jose Reyes
1:55 Paul Carmona Kara Levy
2:00 Eric Johnson Laura O’Connor
2:05 Steve Pina Summer Smith
2:10 Katie Carmona Eva Oleksy
2:15 Fran Roda Priscilla Norosky
2:20 Ted Kvapil Sam Gammage
2:25 Jessica Mangrum Jillian Baaklini
2:30 Shannon Arriaga Molly Stapleton

Pacing group dos: 

  • DO ask questions before the start about your pacing group’s race plan. Most will run slightly slower at first, and then pick up speed in the middle miles of the race. However, each pace group is slightly different, so make sure to ask any questions before the race begins.
  • DO drink at water stations along the way if you normally take water or sports drink during the race. The pacing group will slow down slightly to allow runners to catch up after water stops.
  • DO ask questions or introduce yourself during the race if you are inclined. The pacers are all accustomed to racing at paces faster than what they are pacing, so they should be able to answer your questions.

    pace team

    Summer (4256) and Steve (4530) will lead the 2:05 group for 2018. Claire (5241) will lead the 2:15 group for 2018.

  • DO ask what your splits should be at each mile marker, and compare the pacers’ times with your watch or GPS device. You want to make sure that you are “in sync” with the pacers’ official times.
  • DO relax and let the pacing group guide you! They are trained to finish at (or slightly faster than) their designated finish times.

Pacing group don’ts:

  • DON’T struggle to stay right next to or behind the pacers, especially at the beginning when it is crowded. As long as you are near them along the way, you will have plenty of time to stick with them after a few miles.
  • DON’T try to start out with a pacing group that is significantly faster than you are accustomed to running. Find the pace group that is right for you, and enjoy the race as the pacers lead you to the finish line.
  • DON’T forget that the pacing group is targeting a finish that corresponds to their own chip time, not the official “gun time.” If your pace group crosses the start line several minutes after the race begins, the pacers will be following their own chip time, not the “clock” time at the finish. Make sure to ask along the way what the pacers’ time is, and compare it to your own time. If you are unsure whether you are “ahead of” or “behind” the pacers’ time, ask them! They will answer your questions.

Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club (TST) is an Austin-based nonprofit group that provides low-cost training to men and women marathoners and half marathoners throughout the year. Since 2005, TST has trained hundreds of runners for races in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, San Antonio, and many other cities (and countries). TST’s Pace Team provides pacers for races year-round and is comprised of club members who have run multiple marathons and half-marathons.