Tag Archive for: Cap10K

3M Half Marathon Expo Highlights You Don’t Want to Miss

These expo highlights showcase the must-visit booths

Hello, Running Enthusiasts! As we eagerly anticipate the 3M Half Marathon, don’t miss the action-packed 3M Half Marathon Expo & Packet Pick Up at the Palmer Event Center on the Friday and Saturday before the race. This is your golden opportunity to meet the official pacers, explore a wide range of exhibitors offering exclusive shopping experiences, and participate in fantastic giveaways and discounts.

Plus, keep an eye out for some special surprises that might just make your day! Join us for this pre-race celebration and gear up for an amazing event.

Image of the Post-it Wall from the 2019 3M Half Marathon expo covered in messages of support and inspiration. The Post-it Wall will be a 2020 expo highlight.

3M Post-it Lounge

Visit the ever-popular 3M Post-it Lounge and add your message to our giant post-it wall. Leave a message of inspiration for a loved one or all participants. Or just sit back and relax before you go another round about the expo. Kids can even join in on the fun with our photo booth.

Photo booths

There will be several fun photo opportunities set up throughout the expo including our GIF photo booth, a larger than life-size version of Blaze, course maps, and more. Visit them all!

A 3M Half Marathon Ambassador takes a photo of two runners and the oversized 2019 3M Half Marathon medal at the 2019 3M Half Marathon expo. Take your photo with a giant 2020 3M Half Marathon medal, one of the many 2020 expo highlights.

Don’t forget to tag us on social @3MHalfMarathon and #DownhilltoDowntown.

Austin Marathon

Visit the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon and chat with their Ambassadors about race day! Thinking about registering for the Austin Marathon, Half Marathon, or KXAN Simple Health 5K? Register at their booth and take advantage of their expo deals. You can even walk away with some cool swag! Rumor has it they are giveaway away free entries as well!

2025 3M Half Marathon Booth

As you exit packet pick-up, make your first stop at our dazzling 2025 3M Half Marathon Booth! Get early registration for next year’s race at our Best Pricing of $79. This is your chance to shimmer and shine, getting a taste of the excitement that awaits in 2025. Don’t miss out on this fantastic deal.

Fleet Feet Austin

Visit our friends at Fleet Feet Austin and snag some gear to get you to the start line and beyond. They will have some Run Austin gear but it is limited so get there as soon as you can. They’ll also have hydration and nutrition from GU for your last-minute needs.

Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club

If this is your first half marathon or you’re chasing your 13.1-mile PR, visit these folks! Meet the runners who will pace you to the finish line! These pacers are veterans and know what they’re doing. Swing by their booth, chat about race day and get your last-minute questions answered.

EIGHT Beer

Runners, get ready to raise a toast to your upcoming triumph! Make sure to swing by the EIGHT Beer booth at the 3M Half Marathon Expo. This is more than just a sampling – it’s a sneak peek into your post-race celebration! Our friends at EIGHT Beer will also be at the finish line for all of our celebrations.

Ascension Seton CapTex Tri

Add a little variety to your running by trying out a triathlon! CapTex Tri is Austin’s only downtown triathlon and features 3 distances including the beginner-friendly Rookie Tri Distance. Or get your friends involved, make it a team effort, and sign for a relay. They have a mystery prize machine full of discounts.

Super Coffee

Before you hit the pavement, stop by the Super Coffee booth at the 3M Half Marathon Expo for a delicious energy boost. Their range of energizing coffees is the perfect pick-me-up, ensuring you’re charged and ready to conquer every mile!

Texas Drain Specialist 

Chat with Julian and his team while you make special cheer signs. As an official sponsor of 3M Half Marathon, Texas Drain Specialist is there for you on and off the course. They even have a team you can join that includes free group workouts!

SHRUNK 3D

Capture your biggest and sweetest moments with an exact 3D replica of you, your family loved ones, and pets! Stop by the Shrunk booth to get a 3D replica.

Kerrville Triathlon

TRI your luck and spin the slots at the Kerrville Triathlon Festival booth. This Texas destination triathlon is known for its two day festival complete with 7 different triathlon distances from the beginner Rookie Tri to the 70.3 half distance.

Visit these other booths

Evamor

Sandcastle Seasonings

Verb

Little Guys Movers

Card.io

Go For It Sports

Strong Atheltic

SPIbelt

Race Essentials

Smith Chiropractic

Lifespring

Cap10K

National Running Center

Pinnacle Eye Wear

HiDow

 

3M Half Marathon Expo Highlights

Our expo highlights showcase the booths you have to visit

The 3M Half Marathon Expo & Packet Pick Up is just days away! The expo is a chance for participants to visit our sponsors and partners and check out what they have to offer. From on-course hydration to Official 3M Half Marathon Under Armour gear, below are the expo highlights you can’t miss! There are tons of prizes, giveaways, and discounts. Think of them like Pokemon, you have to visit them all!

Photo Booths

There will be several fun photo opportunities set up throughout the expo including our gif photo booth, a larger than life-size version of this year’s finisher medal, Course Maps and more. Be sure to visit them all. 

Austin Marathon

Visit the Austin Marathon (booth #27) to chat with their team about race day! Thinking about registering for the Austin Marathon, half marathon, 5K, or Manzano Mile? Register at their booth and take advantage of their expo deals. BONUS: take a picture in front of their Austin backdrop!

Fleet Feet Austin

Visit our friends at Fleet Feet Austin (booth #18) and snag your Official 3M Half Marathon Under Armour gear before it’s gone! Supplies are limited. They’ll also have hydration and nutrition for your last-minute needs.

Rookie Triathlon

The Rookie Triathlon (booth #28) will have bean bag toss where you can win prizes. Rookie Triathlon is a sprint triathlon (300m swim, 11.2-mile bike, 2-mile run) that will take place on Sunday, May 5th. Make sure you check out their expo-only deals and make Rookie Tri the first triathlon of your life or the first triathlon of your 2019 season.

Nuun

Sample all of nuun hydration’s flavors at booth #33. Say hey and learn how you can win Texas-themed nuun bottles. BONUS: the first 5 people to show up to the nuun booth and complete the following for each day will win one bag of nuun performance.

  • Friday – say “Nothing but nuun on race day!”
  • Saturday – tell your favorite positive race mantras and what flavor of nuun you train with

Airrosti

Airrosti Treatment Teams (booth #44) will offer complimentary injury assessments and taping to any participants suffering from pain or an injury. The assessments are 15-minute appointments.

Ready to Run

Ready to Run will have a photo booth contest at booth #13. They’ve designed a custom local Austin backdrop and custom photo props. Visit them, enter the contest, and learn how you can win a pair of Aftershokz Air Wireless Headphones or a $75 Ready to Run gift card.

SPIbelt

SPIbelt (booth #11) will have a spinning wheel out sporadically during the event where people can spin to win! Stop by, say hey, learn about their new products, and spin to see what you could win.

Cap10K

Register at the Cap10K booth (booth #39) and receive a free Cap10K pop socket for your mobile device OR a free pair of Cap10K running socks. That’s a great deal for the largest 10K in Texas!

Hilton

Hilton will have a photo booth set up, raffle wheel, and giveaways at booth #51. Take a picture at their booth and post it online to spin the raffle wheel and win a prize. Visitors that are Honors members or download and enroll with their Honors app will have an opportunity for a second spin at the wheel. Prizes include tote bags, luggage tags, and chances to win a grand prize which includes hotel stays.

Heavenly Care Moving

Hang on the Heavenly Care Moving (booth #1) bar for 90 seconds and you’re entered into the drawing to win a bike! It’s that simple.

  1. The drawing will be held on Facebook Live on Monday, February 21st, at 6:00 p.m.
  2. All that’s required for eligibility is to “like” their Facebook page
  3. Everyone that at least attempts the hang will be entered to win a free entry to the 2020 3M Half Marathon. (one male and one female will be selected)
  4. Everyone that lasts the full 90 seconds will be entered to win the city cruiser!

Highlight on Volunteers: Audrey Loeffler

No matter the race, outstanding volunteers go the extra mile

The High Five Events’ “Nomination Contest” will feature volunteers who went above and beyond at one of our events. These phenomenal volunteers help us produce successful, safe, and fun events for athletes, volunteers, and staff.

Highlight on Volunteers: Audrey Loeffler

Audrey hanging out before the start of the 2018 Rookie Triathlon.

Our first winner is Audrey Loeffler. She was nominated for being an outstanding volunteer at the 2018 3M Half Marathon. At the expo, Audrey volunteered at Packet Pick Up. She helped check-in the athletes and give them their bib numbers and world-famous packets. On race day, she was a volunteer captain for Runner Gear Pickup and Drop Off. She oversaw a team of volunteers and made sure that every athletes’ gear bag made it from the start line to the finish line without inconveniences.

Audrey’s nomination as an outstanding volunteer resulted from being “very helpful and friendly.” She began volunteering for High Five Events in 2016 and has showcased these characteristics ever since.

Audrey enjoys volunteering at big events “because of the energy at those events.” Additionally, Cap10K is her favorite event to volunteer at because she gets to “experience both sides of the race” by racing and volunteering. Audrey received a $100 gift card to Jeffrey’s Restaurant. The 3M Half Marathon and its runners greatly appreciate her time, dedication, and positive attitude. Congratulations!!  

Know a volunteer who goes above and beyond like Audrey? Fill out this short form and nominate them today!

Growing from a 10K to a Half Marathon

On April 23, more than 20,000 individuals will participate in the 40th Annual Statesman Cap10K. Some runners will be elite, some will have completed more than half of all the Cap10Ks, even more will complete the longest distance in their life.

Zach Ryall American-Statesman 04/10/2016

It’s been said that running is addictive. Whether you’re doing a Couch to 10K program or you’ve graduated from 5Ks, pushing yourself to do more than you think is possible is a rewarding endeavour. Maybe you’ve started out using the run/walk approach. Perhaps you’ve joined a running group in town. Having some yohimbe bark to improve performance. Whatever the case may be, you’ve got the bug.

However you got to this point, there is a question in the back of your mind: What’s next? What should I do after the Cap10K?

How about a half marathon?

Before you call that idea crazy, think about it: when you first started running a 5K was insurmountable; a 10K was unimaginable. Now you’ve got them both under your belt. The run/walk stage is a thing of the past. You’re comfortable with your running group. You are ready to take on the next level. This isn’t a push to complete a half marathon in Texas during the summer. These next couple of paragraphs will put you on the right track to register for your first half marathon later this fall or the winter, specifically the 3M Half Marathon or the Austin Half Marathon.

Desiree Berry finishing the 2017 Austin Half Marathon.

After the Cap10K, use this time to build your running stamina, increase your body strength, and become accustomed to distances longer than a 10K (6.2 miles). These tasks can be accomplished on your own, with a small group, or with your running club.

– Build your running stamina – (two to three times per week) get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Summer running in Texas doesn’t mean long distances (>13.1 miles). This is your time to work on your speed and your form. Incorporate track workouts, work on increasing speed while running shorter distances. These shorter, higher intensity workouts will work your muscles differently and better your body’s ability to consume oxygen.

– Increase body strength – (two to three times per week) you’ll need to prepare your body for completing 13.1 miles. Break up running workouts with weight workouts. You don’t need to become chiseled, just focus on lighter weights with higher repetitions. You want to push the body and burn fat, but you don’t want to add too much muscle mass. Working muscles differently than when you’re running is critical. It helps prevent the overuse of the same muscles.

– Surpass 6.2 miles – (once a week) on a weekend morning, when it’s coolest, push yourself to go further than 6.2 miles. Do this alone if needed, but group running has tremendous benefits. In preparing for 13.1 miles, you need to slowly teach your body that it’s capable of completing 13.1 miles. The week that you begin, pick a distance, it can be four, five, or six miles. Build out a calendar and add either a half mile or a mile every week from when you begin. You’ll start to see that six miles is hard, but then seven miles is hard and six miles isn’t so bad; then eight miles is difficult, but six and seven are much easier. Slowly but surely increasing your mileage during the summer will put you in a prime position to really lock in your fall half marathon training (and when the weather gets cooler you’ll start feeling even better!).

2017 3M Half Marathon Finishers.

There are many other factors that can impact your new goal of completing a half marathon: diet, hydration, nutrition, cross-training, injuries etc. Those items can be built in or dealt with as you progress. The main takeaway should be that you can’t graduate from a 10K to a half marathon in one day. It’s going to take time, persistence, consistency. This blog post isn’t the perfect plan, but it will get you on the right track.

Now don’t forget the most important part: pick a half marathon and REGISTER!