Tag Archive for: 3Mgives

Planning is underway for the 27th annual 3M Half Marathon

Registration for the 2021 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour is open. Every year, thousands of participants take on one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country in search of their half marathon PR. Participants receive a custom Under Armour shirt and the world-famous swag bag filled with 3M products. Pricing begins at $89 for those who take advantage of Early Pricing. Those who register by Monday, May 11th, will receive a free personalized nameplate with their name and finishing time so they can personalize their 2021 spinning finisher medal. The 27th annual 3M Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, January 17, 2021, in Austin, Texas.

“I’m excited to run the 2021 3M Half Marathon and can’t wait to cross the finish line of this well-known half marathon,” said Austinite Collin Findlay, who will run his first 3M Half Marathon on January 17th. “I’ve run parts of the course and love how fast it is! Can I start training yet?!”

Run fast, then celebrate with friends and family

Participants will earn their commemorative spinner finish medal after crossing the finish line. They can then celebrate with their friends and family at the finish line festival complete with live music, beer garden, and local food trucks. The standalone half marathon will once again feature Austin pacers and professional race-day photography from FinisherFix.

3M Half Marathon, also known as Downhill to Downtown, provides a fully-supported course. The 13.1-mile course features eight aid stations featuring Nuun, a GU Energy Labs Nutrition Station, and thousands of cheering spectators with hilarious signs. Live music acts are placed strategically throughout the course. Both participants and spectators enjoy their experience with The Live Music Capital of the World.

Good times and a good time

The 2020 3M Half Marathon saw nearly 7000 participants travel from 47 states and 22 countries. It showcased a competitive elite field, hundreds of PRs, and continued community support. David Fuentes (1:06:31) and Jessica Harper (1:13:41) were the male and female champions. In conjunction with 3Mgives, $68,000 was donated to the event beneficiary, Austin Youth River Watch.

The 3M Half Marathon boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country and will celebrate its 27th year running in 2021. Runners will enjoy a point-to-point course with mostly downhill running that showcases some of Austin’s finest locations. The course starts in north Austin and finishes near the Texas State Capitol. Runners will appreciate a 300’ net elevation drop. Participants can register on the website.

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.

Can’t join us in Austin? Run the 2020 virtual 3M Half Marathon

We’ve got great news for you if you’re bummed that you’ll miss the 26th annual 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour. You can run the 2020 virtual 3M Half Marathon! You can still join the fun even if you can’t run Austin’s streets because of work or previously scheduled events. See what the virtual option is all about!

Hyuntai Kim, of South Korea, completed the 2019 virtual 3M Half Marathon.

South Korea’s Hyuntai Kim completed the 2019 virtual 3M Half.

Receive the famous swag bag filled with 3M products

That’s right, we ship the world-famous swag bag filled with 3M products to all virtual participants. Add to your supply of Post-it Notes, Scotch Tape, and Command Hooks. We’ll even throw in a tube of nuun tablets to keep you hydrated!

Run from anywhere in the world

You can participate in the virtual edition from anywhere you choose. Join the action whether you’re from Austin and traveling race weekend or you’re from another state and can’t join us in Austin. Runners, like South Korea’s Hyuntai Kim, love this option because they’re still part of the action!

Achieve your goal

Have you had your eye on our commemorative spinner finisher medal? You can still achieve your goal of earning that sweet bling through the virtual option! Virtual times must be submitted by March 4, 2020. Then we’ll ship your bling directly to you. BONUS: part of your registration will support Austin Youth River Watch. 3Mgives selected them as our 2020 beneficiary!

Train for a marathon

If a marathon is on your to-do list, add this to your calendar. This is a great way to see where your training is and perfect your hydration and nutrition plans. 13.1 miles is in your training plan if you’re training for 26.2 miles. Run the virtual 3M Half, submit your time, and see where you stand in the results!

Register for the 2020 Virtual 3M Half Marathon

If you can’t join us in-person on Jan. 19th don’t stress! The virtual 3M Half Marathon is the next best thing. Participants will have the option to purchase a commemorative, Under Armour participant shirt during registration. Are you running the virtual 3M Half Marathon? Reach out on Facebook or Twitter and let us know where you plan to run.

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!

Grant continues 3Mgives’ support of local organizations focused on STEM

In support of 3M’s global initiative to advance equitable science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and educational outcomes for students, 3Mgives selects Austin Youth River Watch (AYRW) as the beneficiary of the 2020 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour. This grant will allow the Austin-based nonprofit to continue offering a hands-on approach to environmental science, primarily to underserved high school students. 3Mgives continues their support of local organizations that educate youth and prepare them for a possible career in STEM. The 26th annual 3M Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, January 19, 2020, in Austin, Texas.

“Over the 26-year history of the 3M Half Marathon, 3Mgives is so proud to have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to local Austin nonprofits in order to advance STEM education,” said Stacey Claessens, 3Mgives Community Relations Manager of Austin. “We are pleased to again name Austin Youth River Watch as our race beneficiary so that they can continue to grow their program of providing peer mentoring and environmental education to underserved high school students.”

AYRW named beneficiary for the second year in a row

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 report their data to local and statewide agencies. Students also work with community partners on environmental restoration projects to improve watershed health. This grant will support AYRW’s program in environmental education and youth development and their efforts to bring STEM to life. In addition to the grant, students and staff will have a booth at the expo. They will also support an aid station on race day. This is the second year in a row that Austin Youth River Watch is the beneficiary.

“We are exceedingly grateful to 3Mgives for naming us as the beneficiary of the 3M Half Marathon for the second year in a row,” said Melinda Chow, Executive Director of Austin Youth River Watch. “Community partners like 3Mgives provide vital support for our programs engaging underserved youth in STEM service-learning activities to improve our environment and enhance collaborative skills. Furthermore, the River Watchers are inspired by being part of such an exciting event that brings Austinites and people from all over the world together in their hometown!”

The 3M Half Marathon boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country. The stand-alone half marathon 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. Participants can register on the website.