Austinites Catch a Runner’s High

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Written By Jack Mefford

One block north of the starting line, runners wait to begin the Austin Marathon, Austin, Texas, Feb. 19, 2023. Paced groups (the slowest being four hours and fifty minutes) lead a pack of chipped participants.

For 31 years, the Austin Marathon has stood as a reminder to Austinites and travelers from far and wide that a proclivity for running still exists in the world. The 26.2 mile course, sectioned for a standard marathon, half-marathon and 5k, sliced through and around Austin giving runners the opportunity to see the city’s landmarks.

As the sun peeked through the buildings surrounding the intersection of South Congress Ave. and West Second St., 18,000 runners stood at attention.

Supporters congregated around the starting line to cheer on their children, partners and friends. Amidst the turnout was an array of signs and flags as fans enthusiastically listened to the introductions come to an end. 

When the starting gong rang, the runners — one wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume, their friend sporting a flash outfit — took off. 

UT biology senior Jimin Kang and education junior Gabi Scheibley stand near the finish line after completing the marathon.

Of the participants, each had their own story, and their own motivation to be of one percent of runners who complete a marathon. 

“I loved it,” UT communication junior Madi Clayton said. “It was a great way to get involved in my community and inspired me to start running seriously. I saw that there were volunteering opportunities for the Austin Marathon on the bus and figured that if my spunk was going to be appreciated anywhere, it was at 7 a.m. in between miles 9 and 10.”

Ethan Connet, aerospace engineering junior at UT, sits in a bike lane near the finish line.

“I mean, considering it was my first marathon, it was incredibly easy,” Ethan Connet, aerospace engineering junior at the University, said. “To be honest, I really should have trained less for it just to make it harder.”

The Austin Marathon stood as an example for a community of runners — friends in good spirits recognized one another from a distance and wished each other good luck. 

As the number of participants grows on an annual basis, there is no limit to how large this race can become.

People get carried away with who finishes first and who finishes last. The beauty of a marathon is that where you finish isn’t what defines you. Instead, by finishing you’re placing yourself in a group of , determined individuals who sacrificed months to accomplish their goals. 

Photo courtesy of Brooke Fanning, Delaney May, Jimin King and Gabi Scheibley
Jack Mefford
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