Austin Marathon: Going the Extra Mile for Sustainability 15 February 2009
With no shortage of growing global environmental concerns and challenges facing the world today, it is clear that we all must collectively do our part to help put our planet on a more sustainable path. In this regard, it is so refreshing to run a marathon that is committed to increasing awareness of and promoting movement toward environmental responsibility. Not to mention in today's dire economic environment, as underscored by the withdrawal by AT&T as title sponsor of the 2009 Austin Marathon (Without prize money, this year's race failed to attract an elite field for the first time in its 18-year history).
Recognized by Runner World's magazine as the "Greenest Race" in its list of the 10 most enviromentally friendly races in America, the 2009
Austin Marathon lived up to all the hype and beyond, from organic race T-shirts, online-only registration and solar-powered generators for all electricity needs to official race vehicles using biodiesel as fuel to toilet paper made of recycled material. Other green actions/efforts included waste disposal and recycling, plastics and cardboard recycling, composting dumpsters for waste and food, and a farmer's market with local and organic produce at the finish line. Talk about going the extra mile! I was very impressed and so glad to be part of this event. In addition, its innovative "26 Miles for 26 Charities" program, which directly links local charities to the Marathon at every water stop, has raised $90 million for Central Texas charity thus far.
Because the Marathon was held on February 15, I took the latest flight possible on February 14 so I could spend some time with my wife in the morning of Valentine’s Day. After a long delay in Dallas, my flight finally arrived in Austin at 4:30 PM and I barely made it to the Expo before it closed at 6 PM. Fortunately, I had asked my friend/co-worker, Luis, who was also running the Marathon and had flown out to Austin the day before, to pick up my Race Packet at the Expo. I checked into the Residence Inn in downtown Austin, where I met up with Luis, who was staying at the adjacent Marriott Courtyard, for dinner. We carbo-loaded at a nearby Italian Restaurant called “
La Travita ”, where I had the richest Spaghetti Carbonara (topped with a raw egg yolk!) and smoothest Tiramisu ever. I'd highly recommend the restaurant if you're ever in downtown Austin and feel like having authentic and well-executed Italian cuisine that doesn't break your wallet.
On race day, Luis and I met up at the Marriott Courtyard lobby at 6 AM. When I saw Luis didn’t have a drop bag, I questioned my decision for bringing mine—our hotels are conveniently located within a brief walking distance to/from the Start/Finish area. We joined some reportedly 13,000 plus race participants at about 6:15 AM. The races ended up starting 15 minutes late at 7:15 AM. Dawned with perfect weather, we took off on Congress Avenue Bridge toward the Colorado River (aka Town Lake) heading into South Austin.
The new Austin Marathon point-to-point loop course is one of the more challenging marathon courses offered in the Lone Star State with rolling hills making up the first half of the course. This year's course was modified partly because much of the campus of the University of Texas was inaccessible as it hosted the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) from February 13-15. (Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the CGI brings together the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing global issues, including energy and climate change).
"We concentrate on providing the challenging and unique course that runners expect when they choose to run this marathon," said Race Director John Conley.
Indeed, a long hill was strategically placed on the course after mile 24.
I will spare the details as the run itself was rather uneventful for me. It is a road marathon after all (see course videos below) but suffice to say all the hills were runnable and we were constantly encouraged by enthusiastic volunteers at the 26 water stops, each representing a charity group, and entertained by spectators shouting "This is your last hill!" Further welcoming distraction was provided by some 35 live bands performing along the course, befitting the city that prides itself on being "The Music Capital of the World". The miles came and went relatively painlessly for me as I took it easy in preparation for two upcoming back-to-back marathons. I was able to manage a negative split and crossed the Finish line in 3 hr 48 min (Luis, who was attempting to qualify for the Boston Marathon, finished in 3 hr 34 min).
The Austin Marathon gets a big thumb's up from me. State #17 checked.
Luis and I at the Finish area
15 February 2009
With no shortage of growing global environmental concerns and challenges facing the world today, it is clear that we all must collectively do our part to help put our planet on a more sustainable path. In this regard, it is so refreshing to run a marathon that is committed to increasing awareness of and promoting movement toward environmental responsibility. Not to mention in today's dire economic environment, as underscored by the withdrawal by AT&T as title sponsor of the 2009 Austin Marathon (Without prize money, this year's race failed to attract an elite field for the first time in its 18-year history).
Recognized by Runner World's magazine as the "Greenest Race" in its list of the 10 most enviromentally friendly races in America, the 2009 Austin Marathon lived up to all the hype and beyond, from organic race T-shirts, online-only registration and solar-powered generators for all electricity needs to official race vehicles using biodiesel as fuel to toilet paper made of recycled material. Other green actions/efforts included waste disposal and recycling, plastics and cardboard recycling, composting dumpsters for waste and food, and a farmer's market with local and organic produce at the finish line. Talk about going the extra mile! I was very impressed and so glad to be part of this event. In addition, its innovative "26 Miles for 26 Charities" program, which directly links local charities to the Marathon at every water stop, has raised $90 million for Central Texas charity thus far.
Because the Marathon was held on February 15, I took the latest flight possible on February 14 so I could spend some time with my wife in the morning of Valentine’s Day. After a long delay in Dallas, my flight finally arrived in Austin at 4:30 PM and I barely made it to the Expo before it closed at 6 PM. Fortunately, I had asked my friend/co-worker, Luis, who was also running the Marathon and had flown out to Austin the day before, to pick up my Race Packet at the Expo. I checked into the Residence Inn in downtown Austin, where I met up with Luis, who was staying at the adjacent Marriott Courtyard, for dinner. We carbo-loaded at a nearby Italian Restaurant called “ La Travita ”, where I had the richest Spaghetti Carbonara (topped with a raw egg yolk!) and smoothest Tiramisu ever. I'd highly recommend the restaurant if you're ever in downtown Austin and feel like having authentic and well-executed Italian cuisine that doesn't break your wallet.
On race day, Luis and I met up at the Marriott Courtyard lobby at 6 AM. When I saw Luis didn’t have a drop bag, I questioned my decision for bringing mine—our hotels are conveniently located within a brief walking distance to/from the Start/Finish area. We joined some reportedly 13,000 plus race participants at about 6:15 AM. The races ended up starting 15 minutes late at 7:15 AM. Dawned with perfect weather, we took off on Congress Avenue Bridge toward the Colorado River (aka Town Lake) heading into South Austin.
The new Austin Marathon point-to-point loop course is one of the more challenging marathon courses offered in the Lone Star State with rolling hills making up the first half of the course. This year's course was modified partly because much of the campus of the University of Texas was inaccessible as it hosted the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) from February 13-15. (Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the CGI brings together the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing global issues, including energy and climate change).
"We concentrate on providing the challenging and unique course that runners expect when they choose to run this marathon," said Race Director John Conley.
Indeed, a long hill was strategically placed on the course after mile 24.
I will spare the details as the run itself was rather uneventful for me. It is a road marathon after all (see course videos below) but suffice to say all the hills were runnable and we were constantly encouraged by enthusiastic volunteers at the 26 water stops, each representing a charity group, and entertained by spectators shouting "This is your last hill!" Further welcoming distraction was provided by some 35 live bands performing along the course, befitting the city that prides itself on being "The Music Capital of the World". The miles came and went relatively painlessly for me as I took it easy in preparation for two upcoming back-to-back marathons. I was able to manage a negative split and crossed the Finish line in 3 hr 48 min (Luis, who was attempting to qualify for the Boston Marathon, finished in 3 hr 34 min).
The Austin Marathon gets a big thumb's up from me. State #17 checked.
Luis and I at the Finish area