Tag Archive for: Austin Half Marathon

Free Half Marathon Training Plan for 3M Half Marathon

12-week half marathon training plan to get you ready for 3M Half Marathon

Professional triathlete and coach Paul “Barny” Matthews built a 12-week half marathon training plan to get you ready for the 2020 3M Half Marathon on January 19th! Whether you want to set a new PR or just cross the finish line, download this half marathon training plan and toe the start line with confidence. Training begins Sunday, Oct. 27th, and takes you all the way to the start line.

Register for 3M Half Marathon and start training today!

Train with a pro

Matthews is a world-class triathlete, winning or placing at numerous IRONMANs and 70.3s. He broke onto the triathlon scene at the 2014 IRONMAN Asia Pacific Championship in Melbourne. The native Australian finished second in his home country with a time of 8:02:14. He ran the marathon portion of the triathlon (final portion) in 2:44:09! During the marathon, he averaged 6:26 min/mile after swimming 2.4 miles and cycling 112 miles! His coaching style provides athletes with a blend of training knowledge he’s learned first-hand. Matthews also includes lessons he’s been taught from other world-class runners and triathletes.

This downloadable plan is geared for runners who want to complete their first half marathon or set a new PR. You can customize this training plan yourself by adjusting the specific workouts and their days to fit your busy life.

Pro tip: when you have a rest day, take it!

Take your training to the next level and contact Matthews today for personalized coaching. Make sure you ask for his special 3M Half Marathon coaching rate! Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see where he’s training and join him for a workout.

Enter your email to download the half marathon training plan!

3M Half Marathon training plan for the month of October.

3M Half Marathon training plan for the month of November.

3M Half Marathon training plan for the month of December.

3M Half Marathon training plan for the month of January.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get to Know Austin via the 3M Half Marathon Course – Part I

Explore Miles 1-6 of the 3M Half Marathon course and get to know Austin better

You can’t run a few miles in Austin without passing a delicious restaurant or unique location. This is evident along Miles 1-6 of the 3M Half Marathon course. We highlight some of our favorite on-course spots, including Oskar Blues Brewery, our Official Beer sponsor! Whether you’re an Austinite or in town for the 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour, get to know Austin with our list of seven on-course locations. Enjoy! Pro tip: stay tuned for Miles 7-13.

North by Northwest sign greets runners during the 2019 3M Half Marathon. Check out the various locations in this blog post along the 3M Half Marathon course and get to know Austin.

North by Northwest sign greets runners during the 2019 3M Half Marathon. Credit – Ed Sparks

NXNW Restaurant and Brewery (near the start line)

North by Northwest (10010 N. Capital of Texas Hwy.) has been a north Austin staple since it opened in 1999. NXNW is known for its generous helpings of food and their restaurant’s homey feel. We strongly recommend anything on their brunch menu, especially their Waffle and Spicy Chicken Stack! Pro tip: park near the start line on race day, take the shuttle at the finish line back to your car, and visit them for brunch (they open at 10:00 a.m.).

The Domain (Mile 1.5)

This sprawling, upscale outdoor mall (11410 Century Oaks Terrace) is home to some of North Austin’s finest dining, shopping, and nightlife. It offers everything downtown offers, but with more parking! However, our favorite place at The Domain is the HOPE Outdoor Gallery public mural installations in Rock Rose District. This art represents and replaces the world-renowned downtown community paint park (11th and Baylor St.) that is now closed.

Band performs live at Oskar Blues Brewery. Check out the various locations in this blog post along the 3M Half Marathon course and get to know Austin.

Band performs live at Oskar Blues Brewery.

Oskar Blues Brewery (near Mile 2.5)

Oskar Blues (10420 Metric Blvd Ste. 150) has been the 3M Half Marathon’s Official Beer since they moved to Austin in 2016. Their 50,000 square foot facility brews their entire line-up and regularly hosts live music. OBATX is a great place to relax and unwind pre- and post-race! Pro tip: show them your 3M Half Marathon bib and your first beer is on the house!

Austin Opera (Mile 3)

Check out the Austin Opera (3009 Industrial Terrace) calendar and plan your next night out on the town! The Opera was founded in 1986 and has provided cultural nourishment to the Central Texas community ever since. Check out their upcoming events and support their youth initiatives.

Picture of eggs benedict from the District Kitchen brunch menu. Check out the various locations in this blog post along the 3M Half Marathon course and get to know Austin.

Grab brunch and refuel after 3M Half Marathon. Credit – District Kitchen Facebook page.

Camp Gladiator HQ (Mile 3.5)

Camp Gladiator Trainers will support and encourage you on race day at several cheer stations along the course. Keep an eye out for them, especially at CG HQ (9185 Research Blvd.). If you workout at one of their 3500+ locations across the country, visit HQ when you’re in town and show them some love.

District Kitchen (Mile 5.5)

District Kitchen (7858 Shoal Creek Blvd.) partners with local farms and businesses to create what they call New American Cuisine. Their seasonal menu pairs perfectly with their extensive wine and cocktail list. Refuel after you complete the 3M Half Marathon, District Kitchen’s brunch menu has something for everyone!

Spread of Filipino food from Be More Pacific. Check out the various locations in this blog post along the 3M Half Marathon course and get to know Austin.

Spread of Filipino food from Be More Pacific. Credit – Be More Pacific Facebook page.

Be More Pacific Filipino Kitchen and Bar (Mile 5.5)

What started as a food truck serving Filipino cuisine in 2011 grew to the brick and mortar that exists today (7858 Shoal Creek Blvd.) Be More Pacific serves everything from homemade Filipino specialties to bar food. Their wide-ranging brunch menu is only available on Sundays. That’s right, another amazing post-3M Half Marathon brunch option!

Miles 1-6 of the 3M Half Marathon course features flavorful options and a place to enjoy a relaxing night out. Add these hot spots to your must-visit list and get to know Austin even more. Don’t worry, we still have to visit Miles 7-13! Did your favorite on-course spot make our list? If not, let us know what it is on Facebook or Twitter.

Austin Hill Workout Locations – High Five Events’ Staff Favorites

High Five Events’ staff dish out their favorite Austin hill workout locations

Hill repeats – the workout runners love to hate. Every training plan should have at least one hill workout per week. Runners reap many benefits from increased lower body strength to expanded lung capacity. If you’re new to Austin or in town for visiting, make sure you put one of these Austin hill workout locations on your list. Some of the staff at High Five Events give the lowdown on their favorite Austin hill workout locations. Need some motivation to get you going? These six tips will help!

Runner ascends Hill of Life, one of the High Five Events' staff's favorite Austin hill workout locations.

Runners completing repeats on the Hill of Life.

Meg

Hill of Life repeats on the Greenbelt. These help me get ready for technical trail runs. If I’m in the early stages of prepping for a road race they give me great lower body workout whether I am running or hiking up the hill. What’s better than a stair stepper or box step-ups?! Nature’s stairs and box steps! Plus, it makes you appreciate the smoothness of the road. 

Laura

Wilke Drive repeats. It is not fun. It is HARD, but you’ll get a great workout out of it.

Emily

Hill sprints west on North Hills Drive in front of Murchison Middle School off of Far West Boulevard. I live near there so I get a few warm-up miles before the pain game begins. 

Stacy (two locations!)

Grove Drive out of Roy Guerrero Park is a closed road/bike path with a 450m hill. It ends at the end of Montopolis Drive near Ed Bluestein. Park and warm up at Guerrero, then do repeats. If you like to suffer with no one around to see, this is a good place to run. Plus it’s shaded the whole way!

Loop in East Riverside neighborhood – Begin at Old East Riverside Drive and Summit Street, run to Sunnyvale Street and take a left, loop around Lupine Lane, right on Upland Drive, left on Old East Riverside Drive, and back to Summit Street. You get three good hills in just under one mile (.9). It’s in my neighborhood so it’s close, mostly shaded, and safer because of low traffic. And I can run it at night if I need to!

Wilke Drive is one of the High Five Events' staff's favorite Austin hill workout locations.

Laura and Jack both approve of Wilke repeats.

Jack

Wilkie Drive repeats. As many as you can handle while still giving a decent effort. Run hard up Wilke, then come down easy and in control. Do this regularly and watch the repetitions you can complete increase over time!

Joey

My favorite hill workout is a brick that I can do from my house. Starting at the bottom of Coronado Hills I ride a 1.3-mile loop 5x and then run to the top at Berkman Drive and back once. That’s just under a mile. I’ll repeat that circuit five or six times when I’m training for a sprint or Olympic distance race. Aside from being close to home, there isn’t much traffic which is a serious bonus. 

RAW Running poses after completing Stratford Drive hill repeats, one of the High Five Events' staff's favorite Austin hill workout locations.

RAW Running poses after completing Stratford Drive hill repeats.

William

Stratford Drive repeats with RAW Running. This workout is shorter (~400m), but the climb will is why you run this. Start outside the Rowing Dock. It begins relatively flat, then sharply increases, featuring a couple of climbs. There are a couple of turns and a flat part before the second climb. Really focus on grinding up the hill, shorten your stride, slightly lean forward, and pump those arms!

You know the benefits of hill workouts and that you should add them to your training plan. You’ll see the benefits with just one hill workout a week! Do you have a favorite Austin hill workout location that we didn’t mention? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

Under Armour Returns as 2020 3M Half Marathon Presenting Sponsor

Partnership marks the third year of Under Armour supporting participants in their quest to PR

Runners cross the 2019 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour finish line.

Runners cross the 2019 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour finish line.

High Five Events is thrilled to announce the return of Under Armour, Inc. as presenting sponsor of the 3M Half Marathon. The third-year partnership will highlight Under Armour’s continued support of the running community and push runners to chase their personal edge on one of the country’s fastest half marathon courses. The 26th annual 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour will take place on January 19, 2020.

“At Under Armour, there’s nothing we support more than helping athletes achieve their personal best. Our brand’s mission is to make athletes better and engineer the gear that helps them do just that,” said Josh Rattet, General Manager of Under Armour Run. “For this reason, we’re especially proud to support the 3M Half Marathon and runners from all over the world who will be chasing their PR this January.”

Supporting runners chasing their PR

Under Armour will outfit participants and event volunteers with their HeatGear® running shirts. Additionally, Under Armour will outfit the 3M Half Marathon pace team with race kits. They’ll also provide Under Armour HOVR high-performance running footwear. Under Armour’s support will be felt by runners on race day in their quest to set a personal best.

“Under Armour’s running footwear, apparel, and technology give runners the resources needed to chase their personal best, which is exactly what participants of 3M Half Marathon have done for 25 years,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “We’re excited to work with them for a third year because it continues to provide both of our brands the opportunity to help runners create memories that will last a lifetime.”

The 3M Half Marathon boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country. The beloved half marathon will celebrate its 26th year running on January 19, 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 300+’ net elevation drop. Registration is currently open.

7 Types of Runs to Add to Your Training Program

Prepare for a half marathon with these 7 types of runs

Whether this is your first half marathon or your 10th, make sure these 7 types of runs are a part of your training. This breakdown can explain to beginners what their workout might specifically call for. These descriptions are helpful for veterans because it reminds them of what they need to focus on during their next run. Whatever your next type of run is, make sure you foam roll afterward to speed up your recovery. 

Long

This is a run that is longer than any of the other types of runs. Long runs have many benefits: builds muscle/heart strength, improves endurance, and teaches the body to burn fat rather than glycogen as a fuel source. They differ based on your current fitness level and the overall distance that you’re trying to achieve (like 5K or a marathon). Most training plans call for no more than one long run per week. Follow this long run recovery timeline to feel better faster.

Wilke Rd. provides a great hill workout, one of 7 types of runs runners should use during their 3M Half Marathon training.

The Wilke Rd. hill workout will make you a stronger runner!

Hill repeats

Running hill repeats increases leg strength, improves fitness, and uses the muscles of the legs, arms, and core in ways that are different than running on flat surfaces. Hill repeats help improve running economy, which translates into less energy expended over the course of a long-distance race. Start from the bottom of the hill, choose a destination point at the top of the hill and sprint up the hill to get there as fast as you can. Jog back to your starting point and repeat. The distance will be much shorter than your usual run, but the high-intensity sprint, as well as the incline, will make this challenging. Check out these Austin locations and try the recommended workouts!

Progression

Progression run is a run with a structured pace that increases from beginning to end. The distance and pace will vary based on your specific training goals. This type of run is good for improving your running stamina, mental strength, and teaching the body to run increasingly faster at the end of a race. It’s also a way to get a run in that is more difficult than the base run but not as intense as other different types of running.

Tempo

Tempo run refers to a “comfortably hard” pace that you can maintain for a longer period of time. It is different than race pace, however. A tempo run (also known as an anaerobic threshold or lactate-threshold run) is a pace about 25 to 30 seconds per mile slower than your current 5K race pace.  Basically, when you run, your muscles build up lactic acid, a metabolic byproduct that causes them to fatigue. The intention of a tempo run is to increase your threshold so that your muscles don’t fatigue as fast. This allows you to keep running longer.

Recovery

A relatively short, easy-paced, run performed within 24 hours after a hard session; usually an interval workout or a long run. Easiest training day of the week after rest days. A recovery run is done at an easy pace, “easy” being relative to your fitness level.

Recovery run - relatively short, easy-paced, run performed within 24 hours after a hard session; usually an interval workout or a long run. Easiest training day of the week after rest days. Share on X

Sprints

Sprint workouts mean to run shorter distances at a faster than normal pace with multiple repeats during the workout. Sprint training is essential if you want to increase your speed. It builds strength and power so that you can run faster. Even if you’re a long-distance runner, sprinting is beneficial. Sprints actually help you run longer. They condition your body to be able to handle the distance without fatiguing as quickly.

Interval

Interval training runs are a mixture of low-moderate and high-intensity runs. It incorporates shorter periods of fast, hard runs where you put in more effort, followed by longer periods of jogging or walking. Interval training means that you will alternate between the two. For instance, you’ll run high intensity for one minute, followed by jogging for two minutes, one minute hard, two minutes easy (for a specified amount of time). Pro tip: the intense interval is key and you really need to push yourself to deliver the benefits, which include improving your running efficiency and your ability to maintain higher speeds for longer. It also burns a lot of calories very quickly.

Knowing about these 7 types of runs and their differences is great. But don’t forget you have to add them to your training and complete them too! When you begin training for the 3M Half Marathon, include these 9 tips runners use to see improvements. Reach out on Facebook or Twitter and let us know your favorite run.