Tag Archive for: 2020 3M Half Marathon

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.

Following GU’s nutrition planner can help you perform your best

You train for months to chase your 13.1-mile PR at 3M Half Marathon. All of your hard work leads up to Sunday, January 19th. GU Energy Labs, the Official Energy Gel and Chew of 3M Half Marathon, is here to help you perform your best! Their products are scientifically proven to give you the energy you need. Their on-course Nutrition Station will be near Mile 6.5. GU will provide the following ROCTANE Energy Gels, Cherry Lime (35 mg of caffeine), Chocolate Coconut (35 mg of caffeine), and Lemonade (no caffeine) on course. GU Blueberry Pomegranate Energy Chews (no caffeine) will also be available. Read their tips below, download their Nutrition Planner, and prepare to perform your best!

Advice from the experts at GU

Image of GU Energy Labs' half marathon nutrition plan. GU is the Official Energy Gel and Chew of the 3M Half Marathon. Click on this image to download the nutrition plan that can help you perform your best on race day.Here are some tips for making sure you’re giving your body what it needs so you perform your best on race day. Planning what to eat during a race can be overwhelming. With so many variables, it’s hard to determine what the “right” answer is for you. When deciding what to eat and drink, we think it’s helpful to break it down by looking at the nutrients your body needs.

A successful nutrition plan takes into account the amount of calories your system can handle in an hour. It should also factor in your body’s need for electrolytes, amino acids, water, and protein. When thinking about your nutritional need for a race or training session, it’s important to remember that everyone is different. Every day is different. For example, body size, air temperature, activity type, intensity, and personal preference will affect your nutritional needs.

That’s why we recommend mixing and matching products to find out what works for you. For example, if you prefer to drink your calories, you can bottle up your fuel using ROCTANE Energy Drink. We developed a half marathon Nutrition Planner to help you dial in your plan for race day. We all know things can change on race day, but it helps to start with a plan! Download the Nutrition Planner and follow the steps below.

Here’s how to use our Nutrition Planner

  1. Pick your goal finishing time and find out what your average pace will be
  2. Use the table to determine your total nutritional need for the event
  3. Mix and match your favorite products and flavors, then calculate your totals
  4. Make sure your plan meets your body’s demand for each nutritional element

GU is 3M Half Marathon’s Official Energy Gel and Chew

High Five Events names GU Energy Labs (GU) as the Official Energy Gel and Chew of the 2020 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour. GU will support participants at the on-course Nutrition Station that will be stocked with gels and chews. 3M Half Marathon has also taken GU’s TerraCycle pledge. The goal is to upcycle all sports nutrition wrappers and divert them from the landfill. The 26th annual 3M Half Marathon, produced by High Five Events, will take place on January 19, 2020.

“GU Energy Labs is thrilled to fuel 3M Half Marathon participants with ROCTANE Energy Gels and Energy Chews at the on-course Nutrition Station,” said Bridgette Travis, Experiential Marketing Manager at GU. “Since the 3M Half Marathon is one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country, we are stocking aid stations with ROCTANE Energy Gels. ROCTANE Energy gels are packed with up to three times as much sodium and three times as many branched-chain amino acids compared to our original Energy Gels so runners can push themselves harder and further on race day.”

Taking the GU TerraCycle pledge

On race day, GU will provide the following ROCTANE Energy Gels, Cherry Lime (35 mg of caffeine), Chocolate Coconut (35 mg of caffeine), and Lemonade (no caffeine) on course. GU Blueberry Pomegranate Energy Chews (no caffeine) will also be available. In addition to other green initiatives, 3M Half Marathon has taken the GU TerraCycle pledge. TerraCycle-labeled bins will be available throughout race weekend. The goal is to divert as many sports nutrition wrappers from the landfill as possible. This free recycling program is in addition to other green efforts. Race weekend efforts include recycling, donating additional food and water, and donating discarded clothing to local nonprofits.

“Our two-year partnership with GU goes beyond Energy Gels and Chews,” said Jack Murray, co-owner High Five Events. “We’re adding another green initiative to race weekend and our extended agreement allows us to impact the Austin running community year-round.”

The 3M Half Marathon boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country. It will celebrate its 26th year running in 2020. 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.