Austin Marathon
Encyclopedia
The Austin Marathon is an annual marathon
held in Austin, Texas
. Freescale Semiconductor
, spun off from Motorola's
semiconductor products sector in 2006, founded the marathon in 1991
and served as title sponsor for fifteen years. The marathon was sponsored by AT&T
in 2007 and 2008, but ran with no title sponsor in 2009.
Many runners train for the 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) marathon throughout the year. There are many events to attend before the race, such as the Health and Fitness Expo — mandatory for all runners to come to — where runners pick up their race packets. The Expo is held in the Palmer Events Center in Austin on the Friday and Saturday before the race, and typically involves over ninety vendors who set up tables, booths and stands. Many of these vendors sell food, drink and relaxation products. Motivational speaker
s talk to runners and their families to get them excited about the race. After the expo, many runners head to restaurants to fuel up for the marathon by eating high-carb
foods — such as spaghetti, pasta and pizza.
On the morning of the race, a typical runner might get an early start by waking up around 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. Some runners skip breakfast, while others eat a small high-carbohydrate meal, such as a banana or a muffin. The starting and finish lines are now in downtown Austin. The race starts on the The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge downtown and finishes on Congress Avenue near the Texas State Capitol building.
One of the special aspects of Austin's marathon is that the race has more water and food stands to hydrate and feed the runners, than are typical of marathons elsewhere. Befitting the city that prides itself on being "The Music Capital of the World," the Austin marathon includes performances by live bands and even a beer stop in the later stages of the race for marathoners who want to drown their pain or perhaps get a head start
on celebrating.
Given the geography of downtown Austin, the marathon is relatively flat compared to many other marathons.
Along with the Dallas White Rock Marathon
and the Houston Marathon
, the Austin Marathon forms the final leg of the Marathons of Texas, a series of winter marathons held approximately one month apart from each other from December through February in Texas.
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
held in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. is a producer and designer of embedded hardware, with 17 billion semiconductor chips in use around the world. The company focuses on the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets with its product portfolio including microprocessors, microcontrollers,...
, spun off from Motorola's
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
semiconductor products sector in 2006, founded the marathon in 1991
1991 in sports
1991 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...
and served as title sponsor for fifteen years. The marathon was sponsored by AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
in 2007 and 2008, but ran with no title sponsor in 2009.
Many runners train for the 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) marathon throughout the year. There are many events to attend before the race, such as the Health and Fitness Expo — mandatory for all runners to come to — where runners pick up their race packets. The Expo is held in the Palmer Events Center in Austin on the Friday and Saturday before the race, and typically involves over ninety vendors who set up tables, booths and stands. Many of these vendors sell food, drink and relaxation products. Motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
s talk to runners and their families to get them excited about the race. After the expo, many runners head to restaurants to fuel up for the marathon by eating high-carb
Carbohydrate
A carbohydrate is an organic compound with the empirical formula ; that is, consists only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with a hydrogen:oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 . However, there are exceptions to this. One common example would be deoxyribose, a component of DNA, which has the empirical...
foods — such as spaghetti, pasta and pizza.
On the morning of the race, a typical runner might get an early start by waking up around 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. Some runners skip breakfast, while others eat a small high-carbohydrate meal, such as a banana or a muffin. The starting and finish lines are now in downtown Austin. The race starts on the The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge downtown and finishes on Congress Avenue near the Texas State Capitol building.
One of the special aspects of Austin's marathon is that the race has more water and food stands to hydrate and feed the runners, than are typical of marathons elsewhere. Befitting the city that prides itself on being "The Music Capital of the World," the Austin marathon includes performances by live bands and even a beer stop in the later stages of the race for marathoners who want to drown their pain or perhaps get a head start
Head start (positioning)
In positioning, a head start is a start in advance of the starting position of others in competition, or simply toward the finish line or desired outcome...
on celebrating.
Given the geography of downtown Austin, the marathon is relatively flat compared to many other marathons.
Along with the Dallas White Rock Marathon
Dallas White Rock Marathon
The Dallas White Rock Marathon is a marathon that has taken place in December in Dallas, Texas since 1971. An official time from the Dallas White Rock Marathon can be used to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The course is both hilly and flat involving running through downtown Dallas as well as the...
and the Houston Marathon
Houston Marathon
The Houston Marathon is an annual marathon held every January in Houston, Texas. With thousands of runners and spectators, it is the largest single day sporting event in the city. It is run concurrently with a half marathon and a 5 km race...
, the Austin Marathon forms the final leg of the Marathons of Texas, a series of winter marathons held approximately one month apart from each other from December through February in Texas.
Men's winners
| DATE | NAME ATHLETE | COUNTRY | WINNING TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 20, 2011 | Keith Pierce |  United StatesUnited States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:29:25 |
| February 14, 2010 | Keith Pierce | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:20:35 |
| February 15, 2009 | Jeremy Borling | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:30:05 |
| February 17, 2008 | Jacob Frey | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:20:38 |
| February 18, 2007 | Jynocel Basweti |  KenyaKenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... |
2:14:02 |
| February 19, 2006 | Mindaugas Pukstas |  LithuaniaLithuania Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark... |
2:13:43 |
| February 13, 2005 | Mikhail Khobotov |  RussiaRussia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:12:38 |
| February 15, 2004 | Andrzej Krzyścin |  PolandPoland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
2:14:18 |
| February 16, 2003 | Andrzej Krzyścin | Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
2:12:40 |
| February 17, 2002 | Andrzej Krzyścin | Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
2:12:10 |
| February 18, 2001 | Mukhamet Nazipov | Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:11:14 |
| February 20, 2000 | Janko Benša |  YugoslaviaYugoslavia Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century.... |
2:14:18 |
| February 14, 1999 | Peter Fleming |  ScotlandScotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
2:17:14 |
| February 15, 1998 | Abderrahim Benredouane |  MoroccoMorocco Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara... |
2:16:45 |
| February 16, 1997 | Andrei Tarasov | Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:16:52 |
| February 18, 1996 | Dmitriy Kapitanov | Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:15:59 |
| March 5, 1995 | José Iniguez |  MexicoMexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... |
2:16:27 |
| March 6, 1994 | Doug Kurtis | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:21:35 |
| March 7, 1993 | Brad Hawthorne | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:17:53 |
| March 15, 1992 | Alberto Puente | Mexico Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... |
2:24:00 |
Women's winners
| DATE | NAME ATHLETE | COUNTRY | WINNING TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 20, 2011 | Desiree Ficker Desiree Ficker Desirée Ficker is an American long-distance runner and professional triathlete.- Personal life :Ficker was born in Potomac, Maryland to Annette and Robin Ficker, a perennial political candidate and well-known sports heckler. She has two younger brothers, Robby and Flynn. She currently resides in... |
United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:50:35 |
| February 14, 2010 | Elle Pishny | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:53:16 |
| February 15, 2009 | Elle Pishny | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:52:32 |
| February 17, 2008 | Lucy Hasell |  EnglandEngland England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
2:36:26 |
| February 18, 2007 | Moges Zebenaye |  EthiopiaEthiopia Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2... |
2:39:46 |
| February 19, 2006 | Tatyana Pozdnyakova |  UkraineUkraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia... |
2:34:23 |
| February 13, 2005 | Tatyana Borisova Tatyana Borisova Tatyana Borisova is a Kyrgyzstani middle distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres. She represented her country at the 2004 Summer Olympics, where she ran in the qualifiers of the 1500 m.... |
 Kyrgyztan |
2:31:01 |
| February 15, 2004 | Tatyana Borisova Tatyana Borisova Tatyana Borisova is a Kyrgyzstani middle distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres. She represented her country at the 2004 Summer Olympics, where she ran in the qualifiers of the 1500 m.... |
Kyrgyztan |
2:30:40 |
| February 16, 2003 | Sylvia Skvortsova | Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:37:22 |
| February 17, 2002 | Marian Sutton | England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
2:31:43 |
| February 18, 2001 | Elena Paramonova | Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:32:56 |
| February 20, 2000 | Tatyana Titova Tatyana Titova Tatyana Titova is a retired long-distance runner from Russia who has won eleven marathons during her career. Her personal best of 2:29:36 was set during her victory at the 2004 San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon.... |
Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:34:03 |
| February 14, 1999 | Lydia Grigoryeva | Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:35:38 |
| February 15, 1998 | Tamara Karlyakova | Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:37:55 |
| February 16, 1997 | Alla Doudayeva |  BelarusBelarus Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,... |
2:39:55 |
| February 18, 1996 | Svetlana Zakharova Svetlana Zakharova (athlete) Svetlana Vladimirovna Zakharova , is a Russian long-distance runner, who specializes in marathon races. She won several international marathons, such as: the Honolulu Marathon , the Chicago Marathon and the Boston Marathon... |
Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:36:45 |
| March 5, 1995 | Andrea Bowman | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:40:19 |
| March 6, 1994 | Irina Bondarchuk | Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
2:42:22 |
| March 7, 1993 | Lori Norwood | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2:47:08 |
| March 15, 1992 | Kay Jones | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
3:13:13 |