Coming from out of state to run this race was totally worth it. Aside from the race and expo there were a bunch of pre race events all over town by run clubs and local business leading into race weekend. The race expo had lots of vendors and cool photo ops, race day is right in the center of down town which was pretty easy to get to since we were staying at a hotel in downtown. We did the half marathon, being from LA where we are use to hills I can honestly say the long stretching hills here in Austin were more challenging than I expected. Miles 1-4, 8-9, & 10-12 can gas you out if you hit the ground running too hard. But overall it's a great course, lots of crowd support and a great post race beer garden. After the race there are a lot of local breweries and business that have specials for race participants. If you're looking for an interesting city to travel to while have a great race as your other excuse to visit the Austin marathon is worth it. read more

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When it comes to Yelp reviews, I try to be thorough in my experience and give the ultimate review. What's more thorough than waking up at 4:30 am to run 26.2 miles that you paid a chunk of change to do? I've never run a marathon before, but I trained for this sucker like it was nobody's business. It wasn't easy, and the universe kept throwing curveballs at me to try and stop me. Determination is what separates you from the corral. Makes you a doer. Packet pickup was a long and winding line of waiting the day prior. It's like Disneyland! After navigating through evil Austin traffic at 6 am, my cousin's fiancé and I got into the D heat after a good stretch, and just around 7:15 we were off. The course is a nightmare, I am going to be real with you. There are about 200 feet of constant elevation in the first 3.5 miles and many hills and "mountains" to get over throughout the entire duration. However, as someone who has lived in Austin for a year and a half now, it's a real showcase of some of the best places the Live Music Capital of the World has to offer. This is one of those courses you need to have people cheering for you at. Every time there was a person I knew in my line of sight, my energy increased tenfold. I was grateful to all the people who showed up, and the one who made me an incredible sign of me reviewing the marathon. She knew me too well. After suffering some major setbacks at the peak of my training, I hit a major wall past mile 20 and had to really push through to the end. It was a major accomplishment and has been a bucket list task for me since my middle school mayor gave this motivating speech about how he ran one. There is tons of live music set up along the route from rock bands to country artists to some DJs dropping heaters. It's cool to take in the sounds especially if your Airpods die. I appreciate the two gel stations, where they looked to be more generous with the gels. Take two. Take four. And the 22 different water and aid stations. There were many times when there was a line for the porta potties, so just know you will be waiting if you have to go. I did accidentally get their electrolyte hydration instead of water without knowing, and I was wondering why the water tasted so weird. The cups are different and they yell ELECTROLYTES at you as you grab it. I wasn't listening. I was RACING! Here's the course through my lens and memory: Starting on Congress, you quickly cross a Lady Bird Lake bridge and venture down South Congress, passing by Homeslice, The Continental Club, The Austin Motel, Hotel San Jose, and more. A quick turnaround on the 290 access road puts you on 1st Street, passing by the Long Center. You get to journey down Cesar Chavez, parallel to the Roy and Ann Butler Trail, before getting a view of the Lions Municipal Golf Course with Mozart's and Hula Hut just on the other side. You pass a cute chunk of houses on Enfield and go under Mopac before the nightmare mile 12 hill. After you survive the hill, you split off from the half marathon runners (bunch of rookies), passing Clay Pit (where I won the 2025 Rookie of the Year, by the way), the UT Austin campus, and The Drag. Hello, Scientology building. You get a quick run through the beautiful Hyde Park, where First Light Book Store and Allday Pizza call your name. Another golf course stands in your way before getting a look at the other side of the UT Austin campus and running under I-35. I will admit my memory is a little hazy for a few miles, but you do pass an ACC campus and a really nice park off Pleasant Valley where people had a great time playing soccer. I wish I could join them. If you survive all of that and a couple extra miles, you get to pass the "good eats" section of Austin with Justine's, Lil' Easy, Sawyer and Co., and De Nada. You pass probably your 10th Juiceland of the day. Cesar Chavez keeps going with a pass by the eager line of barbecue fiends at La Barbecue and Rockman, plus Juan in a Million and a beautiful Chalmers looking so delightful. A little journey and another Juiceland pass by take you to the formerly hipster East 6th Street for the final stretch. One more pass through under I-35 and you are on Red River Street, passing so many great venues like Swan Dive, Stubb's, and Mohawk, before climbing the monster hill off 11th Street at mile 26, passing the Texas State Capitol and running down the hill to the finish line. I got a finisher shirt, a little medal (that can also be a belt buckle, typical Austin), and some extra goodies along the way. I absolutely hated this. This was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life and even still, I will probably do it again sometime. It is not an easy course. Quite frankly, it is an extremely tough course. The Hill Country Hellscape makes the win so much more worthwhile. Pray for my knees. Pray for my legs. Ay caramba. This was all for the Yelp review. RIYL: Running for 20 miles and still having 6.2 miles left to go. Yeesh. read more

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Great event. I've "only" done the half but enjoyed it every time. It's not easy. Despite being in February, the weather can vary. Hot take: if you train for hills, it's not that bad. My big gripe is how expensive it is. Like, it's March 2026 and if you haven't already signed up for February 2027, prepare to get fleeced. It gets super expensive if you wait. The swag is cool, the medals are awesome, and a fun time all-around. read more

Epic marathon with over 30k participants for the 2026 marathon. Definitely come to one to cheer your loved one or anyone participating in the marathon! read more

I've run many races, albeit none in Texas until the Austin 1/2 marathon of 2022 (I tried a few but they went virtual). I must admit, this was the most fun and well-organized race I've had the privilege to participate in so far. I arrived at 6am for my 7:15 wave and unfortunately a lot of the roads were already blocked off which meant my walk to and from my car was more than I wanted considering I was running 13 miles and there wasn't much in the way of directions on where to park. However, those are my only concerns pre and post-race. What set the Austin marathon apart was the professionalism and thought that went in preparation for the race. Don't get me wrong, the atmosphere was electric and the racers were all nice and courteous but the devil is in the details. First and foremost, the information on the race is easily accessible. The website is well constructed giving all the details one needs to get ready for the race. Next packet pickup was no hassle and the volunteers were more than willing to assist. Also note, there was plenty of "swag" to be had by all. Finally, emails came out in a timely manner which can benefit the absent minded or those preoccupied by "life". Once you arrive near the starting line, there are a ton of bathrooms. This is key as when running a half or full marathon, you want to "empty the tank" before hitting the course. Next the race line and pace banners are easily found. This makes lining up with the right group easy so slower racers don't impede the runners who actually RUN, unlike me, as I jog and walk with interest in completing the task not going for placement. After the gun sounds and the feet go patter.... patter....the course was well defined with traffic cones keeping the cattle in the lanes so to say. There were plenty of police stationed at busy intersections (thank you very much to our law enforcement!) who were smiling and keeping potential traffic at bay. I believe, there were rehydration stations at 3, 6, 9, 10 and for the 1/2 marathon every mile thereafter to assist the runners with hydration (I can't speak on the full marathon as my lunacy does have limits). Next "goo" was available at several of the later stations to assist with sluggish energy levels. While I had my headphones on playing electro, industrial, heavy metal, etc to distract me from the repetitive nature of running it brought a smile to my face seeing all of the live music along the way. I saw school bands playing, DJs, small and large bands and loud stereos. This gave me a warmth as I thought this was a community event and lots of non-participants took pride in encouraging the runners. Finally, there were an abundance of bathrooms along the course. I've been on half marathons where there was only 1 restroom for 13 miles. While I did see runners sneaking off and relieving themselves behind buildings or in the woods, Austin did phenomenal job in having a plethora of porta-potties. Bravo race team coordinators, bravo! After finishing the race with a LOT of cheering, you're welcomes with a scenic view that can fully be appreciated by those who completed a difficult task. There was a beer garden with plenty of adult beverages for those who were interested. As for me, I don't need alcohol after a race, rather a phycologist to determine why I'm demented, but I digress in a humorous manner. Also there were places to get your finishing picture taken by a professional to show your friends you made it and a goodie bag full of food treats to replenish lost calories. Not failing to mention lots of free bottled water! In essence this is a first-class race that was so gratifying on many levels that I might challenge my lunacy and participate in a full marathon next year. If you're wanting to try this race but aren't a runner I encourage trying the 5k just to get the experience. I loved every aspect and I applaud all those who were involved. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! read more

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So you think I ran this? Ha! I went to cheer on family members and what a great morning. Not to mention the drinks that followed. It's a fun time for those who are running except if you are going the 26.2 miles. read more

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This was my first year running the Austin Half Marathon. I'll keep my review short as I believe a review of running in events like this are highly dependent on one's personal experience and goals. That said, what a thrill, and what an accomplishment. The race was well organized and well supported. Before the race, there were several emails keeping participants informed of pre-race and convention info. Packet pick-up was a breeze with well organized lines creating little to no wait. Race day was well supported - tons of fans cheering you on, and a beautiful route touring Austin. Certainly an item worth crossing off your bucket list! read more

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As a recent joiner to the sport of running and a lover of all things Austin, I want to share my thoughts about The Austin Marathon and Half Marathon as both a race and also a special event that brings lots of people to the downtown area. I've attended as both a spectator and also as a runner of the related 5K and half marathon. The good: - Excellent pre-race expo with tons of vendors handing out freebies and giving demos. - Usually pretty great weather (cool and cloudy) for running long distances. - Well organized gear-drop, plenty of porto-johns, and everything else you need for a smooth pre- and post-race experience. - Huge crowds of supporters in the 1st 10 miles of the race and near the finish line. There are even some folks handing out little cups of beer and champagne along the way. - Final race of the 6-race Austin Distance Challenge series. What a relief to finish this thing! - A who's who of the Austin running community is always in attendance. It's cool to see so many familiar faces during the different events leading up to and the day of the race. The bad: - The dadgum hills!!! Nice if you like pain, but tough if you think you want to PR. The worst hill in the half course is the last one, right between House Park and West Ave at about mile 12.5. I wanted to cuss my head off at this point, but I had to keep it inside due to all of the many families with kids who were hanging out there to cheer us on. The guy next to me, not so much... - The situation with road closures & lack of parking around town makes it somewhat difficult for supporters to attempt to follow their runner to hit several points along the course. Some portions are full of cheering crowds, while others can be very lonely and quiet. If you *really* want to be a hero, take your road bike and your killer quads & you'll be able to show up at numerous spots to cheer on your friend. - Beware the section of the marathon course from Anderson Lane to Burnet Road (mile 17-18), where several drivers just decide to go right onto the course despite barricades and warnings from police and volunteers. This year, a marathoner was actually struck by a car on the course there -- that should not even be possible. - Finish line can be a pain for spectators, especially for fast runners who would like to turn around and go back to support their fellow athletes as they come in for the finish. The barricades around Congress are very tall from the finish line toward 8th so a short lady like me has a hard time seeing what's going on. Your best bet if you want to see someone finish is to get there early and camp out at a good spot just south of the Capitol (or just run the Paramount 5K and stick around afterwards). Remember that marathoners finish on the east side of the street and half-marathoners finish on the west side; it is impossible to cross the street if you find yourself on the wrong side. At this point, the overwhelming majority of participants in the joint event are running the shorter (13.1 mile) half marathon option. The first 10 miles are pretty packed, but after the split at Exposition, there's much more room to maneuver. If you don't participate in this event, but you want to avoid the traffic snafus associated with it, always check out the www.youraustinmarathon.com page for complete traffic & road closure information. Organizers are pretty great about sharing exactly when certain roads will be closed so that you can plan accordingly. 2016 was the 25th year of the Austin Marathon & Half, and the last year that the event would be managed by Conley Sports, a long-time and beloved fixture of Austin running. Thanks for all your years of service to this city, John and family! It'll be interesting to see what High Five Sports does for this event in 2017. Here's hoping they keep the good and are able to fix the rest. Well, except for the hills. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! read more

Austin Marathon and Half Marathon - 2016 Course Map - Races & Competitions Near Me

My 50 States marathon chase took me to Austin Texas to run the Austin TX Marathon in February 2010. It was great, since race day fell on the Sunday during President's Day weekend and I could just fly in and out without having to take a bunch of time off of work. While I wished I did have a bit more time to play tourist after the race, I am grateful to have came to Austin and rocked the marathon, along with friends, new and old. This was my first out of state marathon of the year and I was stoked to have come here and be a marathoner and tourist at the same time. The expo is held in a convention hall type of building that was large and pretty expansive. Part of the swag that we got that year was a back pack with the embroidered Austin Marathon logo - which I still use today for my travelings and marathon adventures. This marathon had pace groups, so I decided to sign up for the last one: the 6:00 pace group, hoping that I could just follow them for the first half of the race and see how long I can keep up with them before dropping off. Packet pick up was an easy process here and all the vendors who sell the merchandise were friendly and wasn't pushy to sell you stuff. Whatever you need, you can buy at your pace and not be hassled. Race day was fabulous. I met a friend of mine there on the course. She was like, hey. I was like, hey and thought Who are you? She told me we both ran the Maui Ocean Front Marathon the month before and it all came back to me. We paced each other and talked. It was good. She was doing the full marathon, but eventually dropped to the half. Race day weather was cool, but it warmed up pretty good. The course was very hilly, but the scenery did make everything better. It was in fact a beautiful day for a run and I loved the 26.2 tour of downtown Austin. The only thing that bugged me was that there was not enough porta potties at the start, but I made due with that. The course support was good in the early going, but I do admit that it started to dwindle in the middle miles, but it does pick up towards the end. Thanks to the volunteers that helped me when I had a small case of the bloody nose then. It stopped, but it costed me about 10 minutes at a med tent. Eventually, I got to the finish line in under 7 hours. Running through the University of Texas - Austin campus was pretty awesome and finishing near the State Capitol was perfect to cap off a great day. Crossing that finish line and collecting that finisher's medal made me believe that anything is possible if you just believe in yourself and have the passion to do what you want to do. The hills almost ate me alive, but I didn't let me get the best of me. The finisher's medal is awesome and it looks like a Olympic medallion - almost. I would run this one again. B+ #Yelp Marathons read more

I choose Austin as my first ever and despite the hills I am still so glad that I did. The race was incredibly well organized and they were always providing updates via Facebook and email. Luckily, I had trained on a lot of hills so they were not that bad but had I know I probably would have done more. The crowd support faded a little after the half marathoners split off because it went into really residential areas but there was still enough that it didn't pose a problem of feeling like you were running a race, in the middle of nowhere, by yourself. The medals are really cool looking, the race shirt is sweet, and Austin was an awesome town.. Why not run this marathon? read more

Austin Marathon and Half Marathon - 26.2 miles later.. - Races & Competitions Near Me

This is a great city for a marathon. I love the huge crowd, 20,000 folks all lined up to run! Last year I ran the half and the finish line was really too congested, this year I ran the full and the starting few miles were really too congested. The pacers, God bless them, were having to plow through people who didn't bother to line up in their correct "Pacing" group. The Cap10k has these groups segregated to avoid all this traffic. The 4 quick turns right at the start didn't help the congestion either. Still excitement about the Austin Marathon motivated me to run my first full marathon this year so that alone deserves a few stars. read more

Here's the Austin half marathon in a nutshell. You're making your way through countless rolling hills from mile 1-4, thinking to yourself, "hey, this is kind of fun." Then you hit a patch of flat land lasting miles, and are channeling the energy to keep that solid pace until your finish (maybe I'll break that PR?). Then you hit the steep hills around mile 9, that totally seep all the energy and enthusiasm out of your life, making you doubt your ability to keep running at all (bye bye, PR). You totally want to yell "WHY?!" at the world when you see the big hill leading to the Capitol building, sitting prettily around mile 12. Then you hit the finish fine...and you can't wait to come back and run it again! The Austin race is not as big as the Houston half/full marathon, or a PR course. But it's a fun race nonetheless, with tons of crowd support and fun bands scattered throughout the course. Water stations need a little work (need more volunteers manning the stations so runners aren't having to wait in line for water at every stop), but I have no complaints otherwise. read more

Race start was delayed 40 minutes due to technical issues. No explanations or apologies given later to participants

My second consecutive Austin marathon and and although I didn't meet (by a long shot) any of my goals I had for this race that I still would be hard pressed to think of a better race. Course: The course was the same for the most part with a slight detour deeper into Tarrytown being the new addition. A few extra hills but we're the hill country, no? Organization: With the marathon now being run by Livestrong it seems like the organization got even better. There seemed to be a lot more corporate sponsors (NIKE) hanging about. Water, Gatorade, and medical stations at every mile. The expo was slightly better than last year as well with better samples and vendors. Volunteers: A big, big, big, big thanks to every single volunteer who make this event as great as it is. From the toddlers handing water out at mile 6 (I think?) to the wonderful medical volunteers who had turned me into an ace bandage mummy by the end of the race. This race wouldn't be possible with their efforts, and its once again a testament to how amazing the people of Austin truly are. Experience: Its amazing to run this event (full or half) as you watch people really push themselves to the limit and succeed. Really feels to watch so much good energy (minus all the physical suffering) just flowing from the runners to the countless spectators who just won't let you not finish (Justin Beiber was also in attendance with a big ol' mexi-stache cheering us on). Last year it was the spectators who really kept me going, this year I almost stopped again and another runner simply patted me on my back and said "can't stop now, you're so close now", smiled and ran off. I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. I read more

This is my 3rd Half Marathon as I participated in the Austin Runners Club Distance Challenge. I beat my previous half-marathon record by 4 minutes. The course has rolling hills but I just have take my time out and thank all the volunteers, organizers and spectators that have come and cheered for the runners throughout the course. This is a race worth signing up for. Beer at the finish line, PR Gong, a finishers t-shirt, a finishers medal....all wait for you. read more

I've done the full marathon once, and the half once. Both are great courses, and a good way to see the city from a much more intimate level. Crowd support is incredible. Drink stops and aid stations are some of the best I've seen from any organized race. There are live bands every two miles or so. And the final stretch, around the Congress building and through downtown is pretty damn inspiring. Even though my experiences have been five-star worthy, there are some issues to be had with this race. This is not an easy course. Austin is not a flat town. The weather was perfect, clear and around 40's or 50's when I ran, but historically it's ranged from hot and humid to sub-freezing and icy. read more

Austin was such a well organized, friendly place to run I almost forgave it for having all those killer hills. Almost. Just to give you an idea, in 2014 out of about 18,000 runners, only 3,000 ran the full while the rest did either the half marathon or 5k. Technically it's a big race but a smaller marathon. Ever since signing up a few months in advance, I was kept in the loop with emails, Twitter and Facebook posts, and even an app just for this race. The expo was organized and not a chaotic, frustrating mess like others I've been to (I'm looking at you, Marine Corps). When it looked like my travel plans might not get me to the expo for packet pickup, they were quick to accommodate my need and even offered race day packet pickup, which I understand is not something they usually do. Kudos. The race itself! Well it was hilly, but the supportive crowds and bands kept the energy up in all but a few miles. The course wasn't much to look at; despite starting and ending near the Capitol building, most of it wound through residential areas with alternating supportive and inconvenienced locals. Until mile 9-ish when the half marathoners split off the course was dense and hard to stick with the pace groups. The volunteers were amazing and so numerous- water/Gatorade stations were a breeze. While I was not able to PR the race experience was great and it gave me the excuse to spend a long weekend in a great city. Would recommend to anyone looking to step up their marathon game. read more

I did the half in 2010 and swore I would never do it again. I hated the course, I hated the hills, I hated the stupid 20 minute shuffle at the end to get from the finish line out of the chute (plus I was sick and totally blew my time, but that wasn't the race's fault). The husband wanted to do it this year, so I signed up to support him. We did 3M a few weeks before, so we wanted to see what we could do on some hillz. The gripes: -Not enough porta potties at the start. A group of us snuck into a building and got escorted out by cops (at least I got to pee first!!!). Porta potties near the finish almost a mile away don't really help. -A lot of walking. I know it sounds whiny to complain about a few miles of walking before running 13.1, but honestly, my stupid feet hurt starting the race. We parked unfortunately (close to where the start was in 2010, not remembering the start is now at the capital), walked almost to the start, then had to go back to the FINISH to gear check, then back to the start. If that building wouldn't have been open, we would have had to walk BACK to the finish. The awesomes: -Beautiful day, and the course was a super nice tour of the area around Downtown Austin. -The hills were bad, but not as bad as I remember in 2010 (course was better) -Awesome volunteer support. -No awful 20 min shuffle at the finish! Woot! -Great Schwag - super nice nike tech tee, silipint cups, sweet medals, chips at the finish line -Best expo I've been to - great sales I would run this again, but more as a "fun" race - those hills may not be as bad as I remember, but they were still brutal! read more

This was my first half marathon, and I ran it 5 days ago, so please excuse and bitterness that comes through this review due to pain. We had trained, but we had trained in San Diego, where there is a lack of hills. We trained on flat ground; the most hill we ever got was running up 6th Avenue. What did we get in Austin? HILLS! LOTS AND LOTS OF HILLS!!! I hope whoever designed the course had to run it themselves. My other issue? The music. When I found out that there would be bands along the course, I was excited. Everyone talks about music when they would tell us about Austin. Should I even bring my iPod? Sadly, the majority of the bands along the course were emo-cowboy bands. WHAT?! I can't run to that! It's a race, not a slow dance! (Nate actually shouted that at one band). Okay, now that my complaints are out of the way... It was a fun time. We got to see a lot of downtown Austin. The crowd was crazy - it never thinned out. The spectators were encouraging. The volunteers were terrific. And thanks to the bands that did get up at the crack of dawn to be there...just, play something faster next time! read more

Mile 12, your deceptive hill kicked my ass for the 2nd time in a row, but I was ready for you. Even though you shot my heart rate up to 180 and slowed my pace, the final stretch around The Capitol and onto Congress was well worth it. Your view and the cheering crowd was quite impressive. Great support, perfect weather, loved the live bands, and the scenery down through SoCo, S. 1st, Lake Austin Blvd. and through the rolling neighborhoods by Enfield. Definitely a great race that added little pieces of Austin along the way. Your finish line could have been organized better to avoid the bottleneck, but I forgive you because year after year you put on a great race and exemplify the great things about Austin. We're weird, we love to run, we love our bands, and we love the great support you give us. What a day to celebrate Valentine's Day and earn some chocolate covered strawberries! Finisher's medal was pretty cool too. (Silhouette of a guitar, UT Tower, Frost bank, and The Capitol) Until next year...Keep Austin Running! read more

This year was my 5th year running the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon. While I am by no means an elite runner, the Austin Marathon continues to be one of the most professionally organized running events I have ever participated in. Every facet (i.e., packet pickup, gear check-in, water stations, mile markers, the official smartphone app, etc.) was impeccably planned for the annual turnout of 15,000 runners. The crowd is also extremely supportive, dotted throughout the course with their motivational posters and cheering. The only thing on my wish list is to possibly have the packet pickup at an alternative site. The Palmer Events Center is inconveniently placed and it's a bit of a nuisance to pay the $7 garage fee if you can't find free parking nearby. Traffic is always terrible, but I guess that's a given for Austin. As for race day, the routes provide a great scenic overview of Austin, covering areas such as downtown Austin, South Congress, South First, Lady Bird Lake, and Enfield for the half marathon trail. It has a lot more hills than what I'm used to but it's enjoyable overall. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who is interested in running a half marathon or full marathon! read more

Two months post 2011 Austin Marathon and I am finally able to bring myself to write a review. Despite the fact that two months later I'm still trying to figure out what kind of injury I sustained to my leg and am a full fledged couch-potato, it was a great event! Anyone who has run a marathon before knows the nerves that build pre-race. While most is running related, some of it is certainly logistically worries. I can say that everything that I was concerned about (non-running related) was not an issue at all the day of the race. Gear check could not have been easier to find and the people working were friendly. Tons of port o potties everywhere. The course was well marked and completely impossible to get lost. (Boyfriend did Big D marathon this weekend, and I watched tons of runners go the wrong way at the very end. How horrible!) Water stops all over the place with enthusiasm to boot. The crowd support was fantastic! Big shout out to the people handing out beer and pretzels. Volunteer support was amazing. Rant warning: Can I just say that when its the last two mile stretch and I'm walking, don't tell me to run. I assure you, there's a reason I am not running. Also, to the dick at mile 20 yelling "You're almost there!".. How about you run this next year and see how "close" 6 more miles is to the end... Yes, the course is hilly. If you train with that in mind they are not so bad. It makes the flat stretches all the more luxurious. Overall a great event and I will certainly be doing it again. read more

First of all the marathon is a great course, hills and all. The support is also great. But the reason I am giving this race a 1 star is because of the lack of medals given to each group running. I shouldnt say lack of, the absence of any type of medals! This is the second time I placed in the top 3 in my category and failed to receive any type of medal. Although the race advertises every category, only the top 2 runners earned any acknowledgement. To me, this race should advertise to people to register under no specific categories. This means every older person competes against the young Kenyans. Unless you like the train of thought that every deserves the same, DO NOT participate in this run!!!!! BOO! read more

I've run the half marathon here twice now, & I certainly enjoy the race enough to return again in the future. I first ran it back in 2008 and there were definite differences between then and this year's race - some good, some bad. Let's start off with the good: * Expo - Lots of free samples, great products, and enthusiastic people. Oh, and you got a nifty backpack this year at packet pick-up, so yay for fun schwag! * Parking downtown (race day) - Free parking garages within easy walking distance. * Course - Rolling hills made it a fast run and the start/finish lines being in downtown made the race very spectator friendly. * Volunteers & Spectators - This was the most energetic crowd I've seen in a long time. It definitely made the run go by quickly & kept you jazzed up even if you were hurting. And props to all of those that had creative signs ("Dear Running: Thanks for giving my fiancee a great ass" guy, I'm talking to you) And the not so good: * Finish line area - This was extremely disorganized this year, but I couldn't tell if it was due to the setup or there being a massive backup of runners all at once, but it literally took me more than 10 minutes to make my way from the finish line to getting out of the fenced in area. I even skipped having my photo taken this year because the wait was so long. * Finisher's shirts - Can we say teeny tiny? They also had barely any sizes for exchange, so a lot of people won't be able to wear theirs anyway. * Finisher's party - "Meh" best describes my feelings on this. Sure, there was a band & some local food joints, but it all seemed pretty lackluster to me. I skipped that & headed out to lunch with friends instead. Overall, this is a fun & fast race located in a great city. Every race has pros & cons, but the good here outweighs the bad without question. I'll definitely be back for upcoming races. read more

I only did the half-marathon. Here are my comments: The hills are killer--especially the Mile 12 steep uphill where I actually had to walk and cramped up. The hills are even worse than the Capitol 10k course. I had heard about the hills before but this was worse than I expected. The volunteers and organizers were awesome! They're cheerful, knowledgeable, helpful, and enthusiastic. The sights were interesting--the course took us through fun parts of Austin. The smells were also interesting--ranging from marijuana smoke in Mile 1 to barbeque later on... The music was great. I really loved the mile 9 music and left that stretch with a huge grin and renewed energy and love for this city. The T-shirts were beautiful. I loved that the race course was printed on it with funny descriptions. The medals are also beautiful. The gear check was really organized. My only annoyances for this event was that runners may not have known that gear check could only be accessed from 7th st. At first I walked around the green fences for a couple of blocks before finally asking a helpful policeman. I also wished there were more portolets. The lines were pretty long and 10 minutes before the 7 am start, there was still a long line of runners in the neighboring building restroom near the start line. The post-race festival was pretty entertaining, fun, and efficient. Comments on the 2-day Expo: The Expo booths were in general fun and engaging. I thought it got too crowded. Maybe it should be two full days or last longer on Saturday. The packet pickup was very organized. A funny printer glitch for 2012 caused many bibs to display the incorrect age and location. So I am a 41-year-old from Edmonton, CO. :-) read more

Blocking traffic halfway across the busiest parts of Austin LATE SUNDAY MORNING and early afternoon? You've got to be kidding me. read more

I'm reviewing on the 2010 half marathon. One of the things I didn't like was that they give you a backpack. It was nice but I would have preferred to have paid less for the half marathon and then have backpacks, shirts and other things like that to be a separate purchase. I would have bought an Austin marathon cotton shirt if they sold them. There also was not too much post-race food that was free. Another recommendation I have is that the timed chip be connected to the paper bib like some races are doing now since it's more convenient. This is all kind of critical but the volunteers were great and I enjoyed the race but it still could have been a lot better. read more

This was my first real race and I am already looking for my next race. I did the half marathon (walking and running, mostly walking), and finished way behind the average time. Even though I was at the tail end of the race the volunteers were still cheering us on and I still felt like it was an accomplishment. Crossing that finish line was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life and I would do it again in a heartbeat. The volunteers were fantastic, they made it for me. I stopped to dance with them at Miles 9 and 11. And the citizens of Austin are amazing. Local bands come out and play on the side of the road and people just camp out to cheer you one. Other provided baked goods and energy bars just out of the kindness of their heart. I will definitely make this race an annual tradition and next year I am determined to actually run it! read more

The Austin Livestrong Marathon was my very first marathon. I have run several half marathons before and took the leap in my hometown. I have nothing to compare it to on a marathon level but compared to the half marathons I've run, it was a great experience overall. Registration was easy through Active.com. The fee's and details were pretty straightforward and easy to understand. The expo is huge. It's in a convention center and there are a lot of booths set up. Picking up your packet is as organized as it can get. Lots of volunteers to help. They arrange to have several great speakers you can listen to. Lots of good info and vendors. Parking downtown before the race can be a little bit of a hassle and may require a short walk to the start. They failed to open two parking garages early on which caused a bit of a backup but after they were opened, it seemed like everyone found a place and was at the start on time. Unlike the reviews I've read about in previous years, there seemed to be plenty of port a potties at the start line. I didn't need to use any during the race so I never looked for them and can't comment on them during that time. I did see quite a few men on the side of the road doing their business though. The course is beautiful and challenging. Plenty of hills. Some steep, some rolling, some long, some short. Plenty of variation. Lovely shade on and off, beautiful and clean neighborhoods and business areas. Supporters can be seen and heard throughout almost the entire course as well as live bands. Water and drink aid were plentiful and very organized. The last 1/2 mile is someone's version of a cruel joke though as there is a 1/4 mile steep hill right at the end, then 1/4 mile down to the finish. Push hard, it's worth it. The medal at the end is fantastic and the chute is very organized. It takes a good 7-10 minutes to walk out of it but it's not crowded and there is plenty of refueling drinks & food before walking out. Lots of nice people helping. The weather was perfect! Walking to the car afterwards was about 1/2 mile walk but I didn't mind stretching my legs after the race - it helps to keep them loose. Overall I would do this race again and encourage others to do it as well. Train hard to be prepared and enjoy. Plus you're coming to Austin, Texas. Great eating and entertainment all year round! read more

I've participated in this race since 2011 - I ran the half that year and I ran the full in 2012 and 2013. (Fun fact! My Dad and I ran our first marathon together in 2012 and then our second in 2013.) Everything about this race is great. The packet pick-up and race expo has been pretty cool each year. Different companies and businesses come out and I've gotten really discounted running gear, free food, and even a super snazzy headband. I've also gotten a messenger bag with the Austin Marathon logo and a really cool cup from Silipint as gifts. The shirts and medals have been cool, too. My favorite so far has been the 2012 race shirt - I really liked how it had the route on the front and it told you a little about each part. So neat! My favorite medal was from the race this year - I really liked the burnt orange colored section and that it had a huge longhorn on it. The ribbon was also really pretty, with the music staff winding around it. I'm always really impressed with the volunteers - these guys come out really early on a Sunday morning to cheer the runners on and provide water and Gatorade. They seriously make the race great. So do all the people who come out and cheer as the route winds through the city of Austin. I love the little kids who give out high fives. I love the creative signs. (My favorites? "Your feet hurt because you're kicking so much ass!" and "Chuck Norris never ran a marathon." I also really appreciated all the Ryan Gosling signs this year.) I love the people who hand out oranges, grapes, berries, fruit snacks, jellybeans, and other assorted snacks. They make all the difference sometimes, especially during the later miles. I love all the bands that come out and play, too. I even love the people that pass out alcohol from their front yards - it seems like a really great way to make yourself throw up, but it makes me laugh every time I see it. I really like that your name is printed on your bib, because when a bystander cheers you on by name, it is super encouraging. Every time I hear, "Good job, Courtney!" or "You can do it, Courtney!" it gives me that little something extra to dig deep and keep running. The route itself can be challenging. The hills can really slow you down - this is not a flat race by any means. (When my Dad and I were talking with some fellow runners the morning of the race in 2012, they told us we were crazy for running the Austin race as our first marathon.) Half marathoners have the extra joy of running up the extra steep hill around mile 12 - dig really deep to push past everyone who walks up that hill! I'm no pro and my times are never outstanding, but after running 26.2 (or 13.1) miles, crossing the finish line always gives me a huge sense of accomplishment. I'm always so proud of myself and everyone running and everyone who helped make the event wonderful. Sure, I'm sore and tired and all I really want is some food and a nice, hot shower, but I always have the biggest smile on my face. It's a little sad that Livestrong won't be the corporate sponsor anymore, but I look forward to the race in 2014. Here's hoping I can finally complete my goal of running a marathon in four hours or less! read more

I only did the half this year and the weather was perfect; under armour is a sponsor so we got a great goodie bag. The half shirt was way cooler than the full, but the full buckle was larger and better than the 1/2. The full course now goes through the east side and was told it's a good route. It's a Boston qualifying race so you get to run among great athletes. read more

Overall Austin has a great marathon/half marathon course with lots of support. The finishing medals look fantastic as well. Why do I give it only 2 stars then? In my opinion the start and the finish of the course are the two most important parts of the race. This past race (FEB 2010) had the worst finishing line i have ever seen. The post race layout bottlenecked racers to the point that you had to practically push through people to cross the finish line. After running you couldnt keep moving around, you became mixed in a herd of people trying to work their way through a narrow conduit to get your medal/shirt/etc. You were basically stuck. I cannot believe for a race as nice as this one that the end would be so screwed up. Fix this glaring issue and i would easily bump this up a few stars. read more

Will always be my favorite race to run! The hills are what i love the most, even though they are challenging! The flat stretch on Lake Austin and headed to Austin High are more of a challenge in some ways(kind of boring). Every year I say nope, not doing it again. But yep I do. 2 fulls and 6 half marathons later, hear I am. :) Love my city! I only wish it was cooler and less humid. It used to be pretty chilly at times,not so much any more. read more

2nd time to run this race. I basically ran this race just to complete the marathons of Texas challenge. What this means is that I had to finish the Dallas and Houston marathons before entering this race. You could have also completed the challenge but doing half marathons, but wheres the fun it that. At the expo: I received a nifty messenger bag and a spy belt when I picked up my bib. On race day: you had to Congress street to drop off your bag and then head over the the side of the capital building for the start line. Even though there were plenty of portapotties on Congress, there were few near the start line and I ended up finding some isolated area to take a leak along with several other runners. The start line had areas for people to wait according to their predicted pace but like most races I've been to, there were alot of people who had no business being in the pace areas they were at. It would have been nice to have different waves but all the runners, half marathoners and marathoners started in one big wave. Let me tell you, it is not fun trying to dodge walls of people. Things start thinning out once the marathon and half marathon paths separate. I knew to expect the hills since I ran it last year but the hills as you approach the finish line almost made me want to slow down. But it just made me angry and I ran faster to make a mad dash for the finish line. Post race: they give you a medal that is larger than last year's medal but with yellow glass since the major sponsor is Livestrong. The post race food included bagels, bananas, gatorade recovery drink (which tasted aweful). Along Congress were food stands selling various food. I picked up a second medal for the Marathons of Texas challenge. read more

This past February (2014) was my first time to compete in the Austin Half Marathon. And might I say, wow, what a race! I am not a distance runner, but I have been training for this marathon since October 2013. I never thought I would ever do 13 miles. The best part of this race is the spectators. There are so many people who come to cheer on someone they know or just to cheer on strangers in general. It's awesome! I love the signs people make. Some dress up and some had out things. It really helped me get through the 13 miles seeing everyone and hearing their cheers, getting high fives from strangers. If I don't run next year, I am definitely going to be a spectator to cheer on the runners. You don't get your shirt till after the race, which kinda stinks bc you can't wear it during your run. I guess bc it says "finisher" on the back and they don't want to give a shirt away to someone who didn't finish. Kinda stinks! After the race, it's kind of crazy. There are so many people at the finish it's hard to move around. The wait to get your shirt was super long. There has to be a better way to handle that. There are food trailers to buy food, massage tables, beer (only a certain area). My only problem was, is that I didn't run with any money. My friend and I drove and we kept our stuff in the car. Bottom line, if you don't run, that's okay, just go to cheer on those that do. It's a fun and rewarding experience to be a part of, runner or not. ;) read more

Austin Marathon and Half Marathon - 2014 Half Marathon media - Races & Competitions Near Me

This complaint is about Emily Stevens - Athlete Services. She should be moved to a new job if she doesn't like handling customer questions. Ticket number #48121 will show how she talks to customers asking a simple question. Instead of copying and pasting, like a petty person, how about help customers with a proper date. You knew that information and you chose to provide poor service anyways. Sad that people pay quite a bit to run this race but are provided with such terrible customer service experiences. read more

Training for a half marathon is one of the best ways to eat what you want without feeling all that guilty. I really enjoyed running the Austin half. It was well organized with plenty of snacks and recovery items at the finish. Not only do you get to run in the middle of streets of beautiful downtown, you get to share in the pains of thousands of other runners. I will continue to run this as long as I am still in Austin. read more

I ran the 2016 Austin half marathon for the first time. The expo was easy to find. They charged $8 to park. No big deal. Inside the lines to get your packet moved quickly. Our bibs were heart shaped and that was appropriate since the race was on Valentine's Day. Race day started in the high 50s with 80% humidity. Blah! Now the course....hills, hills and more hills! Instantly, you're tackling hills and you don't get a break until mile 7. The worst of them is the hill at mile 12! I had read/saw the course reviews so I knew about this hill but by the time I got to it on race day it seemed like a mountain! Oh man! They provided food after the finish. I really liked the medal. The only thing I didn't like was the "finisher" shirt. We got it at packet pick up and it didn't say "finisher" on it. That would've been cool to add. To "finish" this race (or any race) is such an accomplishment! Even if it's "only" a half marathon. Also, there were no corrals. I ran the Chicago Rock And Roll Half marathon and I was assigned a corral. I've ran other half marathons and corrals were not assigned but they weren't big races like the Austin half and full marathon. Overall, I really really really enjoyed the race and I would run it again! read more

Austin Marathon and Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me

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This has been so organized! The expo was outstanding. Magazine with all of the race info was easy to follow, maps were good... even the app for phone was easy to use and read. (It's annoying when races try to be modern and then miss the boat and everyone has to wait at the info booth to figure out what's going on.) Website has a lot of extras for out of towners. Austin does a great job with this event that they put their name to. read more

I ran the Austin Half Marathon in Feb '13. I absolutely loved the course, the people cheering us on, volunteers and how well organized/managed it was!! I really appreciated everyone who came to cheer the runners on, the people of Austin showed some major hospitality!! Great job to all involved and I cannot wait for next years race! read more