Tag Archive for: half marathon

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.

3M Half Marathon welcomes the return of Ascension Seton as Official Medical Provider

High Five Events announces Ascension Seton will return as the Official Medical Provider for the 2020 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour. Ascension Seton and their experienced team will have an on-course presence throughout the race route. They will also have a medical tent at the finish line. The 3M Half Marathon will take place on Jan. 19, 2020.

“Ascension Seton is excited to be a partner with the High Five Events team and the Official Medical Provider for the 3M Half Marathon for the second year in a row,” said Adam Bauman, vice president of orthopedics and sports performance at Ascension Seton. “We are proud to support and care for the vibrant running community in the city of Austin and beyond.”

As the Official Medical Provider, Ascension Seton doctors and nurses will staff the finish line medical tent and work with Travis County EMS on course. They will also have a presence at the two-day expo. Ascension is one of the leading nonprofit and Catholic health systems in the U.S.

“We take participant safety seriously and are glad to have Ascension Seton back as our Official Medical Provider,” said Dan Carroll, co-owner of High Five Events. “We know that the thousands of 3M Half Marathon participants and volunteers will be in good hands with their doctors and nurses should they be needed.”

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. Participants can register on the website.

Get to know your 2020 pacing group

You’re registered. You’re training. You have a goal time in mind. This is your first half marathon. You want to PR. You want to beat last year’s time. Whatever your race day goals, the Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club pacing group will guide you. Meet your 2020 3M Half Marathon pace team, learn where to find them on race day, and read a few dos and don’ts of running with your 2020 pacing group.

Find your 2020 pacing group:

Look for the Twenty-Six Two pacing group in the starting corrals holding pace signs. Those signs correspond to the paces designated by signs in the corrals. There will be two pacers per each pace group (finish times of 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, 2:05, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:25, 2:30). The pacers will also wear matching Under Armour running outfits that say “PACER” or otherwise designated them as official 3M Half Marathon pacers.

1:30

(6:52 min./mile)

Matt Fletcher John Golden

1:35

(7:15 min./mile)

Joe Terracina Leland Mangrum

1:40

(7:37 min./mile)

Jonathan Garner Jose Reyes

1:45

(8:00 min./mile)

Charlie Werth Talaya Frazier

1:50

(8:23 min./mile)

 

Karim Elmarabet Eliot Franklin

1:55

(8:46 min./mile)

Jennifer Goetz Laura Hitt

2:00

(9:09 min.mile)

Eric Johnson Sam Gammage

2:05

(9:32 min./mile)

Steve Pina Summer Smith

2:10

(9:55 min./mile)

Claire McGuiness Kelvin Lam

2:15

(10:17 min./mile)

Rocio Villalobos Jillian Baaklini

2:20

(10:40 min./mile)

Ted Kvapil Son Ha

2:25

(11:03 min./mile)

Jessica Mangrum Kelly Peck

2:30

(11:26 min.mile)

Devangi Parikh Juanita Bowling

Race day dos: 

  • DO ask questions before the start about your pacing group’s race plan. Most will run slightly slower at first, and then pick up speed in the middle miles of the race. However, each pace group is slightly different, so make sure to ask any questions before the race begins.
  • DO drink at water stations along the way if you normally take water or sports drink during the race. The pacing group will slow down slightly to allow runners to catch up after water stops.
  • DO ask questions or introduce yourself during the race if you are inclined. The pacers are all accustomed to racing at paces faster than what they are pacing, so they should be able to answer your questions.

    pace team

    Summer (4256) and Steve (4530) will lead the 2:05 group for 2020. Claire (5241) will lead the 2:10 group for 2020.

  • DO ask what your splits should be at each mile marker, and compare the pacers’ times with your watch or GPS device. You want to make sure that you are “in sync” with the pacers’ official times.
  • DO relax and let the pacing group guide you! They are trained to finish at (or slightly faster than) their designated finish times.

Race day don’ts:

  • DON’T struggle to stay right next to or behind the pacers, especially at the beginning when it is crowded. As long as you are near them along the way, you will have plenty of time to stick with them after a few miles.
  • DON’T try to start out with a pacing group that is significantly faster than you are accustomed to running. Find the pace group that is right for you, and enjoy the race as the pacers lead you to the finish line.
  • DON’T forget that the pacing group is targeting a finish that corresponds to their own chip time, not the official “gun time.” If your pace group crosses the start line several minutes after the race begins, the pacers will be following their own chip time, not the “clock” time at the finish. Make sure to ask along the way what the pacers’ time is, and compare it to your own time. If you are unsure whether you are “ahead of” or “behind” the pacers’ time, ask them! They will answer your questions.

Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club (TST) is an Austin-based nonprofit group that provides low-cost training to men and women marathoners and half marathoners throughout the year. Since 2005, TST has trained hundreds of runners for races in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, San Antonio, and many other cities (and countries). TST’s Pace Team provides pacers for races year-round and is comprised of club members who have run multiple marathons and half-marathons.