Austin Marathon

The Austin Marathon takes place annually in Austin, Texas during the month of February. A true marathon, the event lasts 26.2 miles. Originally, the sponsors were Freescale Semiconductor (formerly Motorola). They started the event in 1992. Today, the sponsor of the Austin Marathon is AT & T. The organizer, however, is currently the newly organized Austin Marathon foundation, Inc. This not-for-profit group produces the Austin Marathon as well as the Austin Half Marathon and the Austin Distance Challenge.

The race begins early in the morning. The current racecourse has evolved over the years. Currently, the start and finish are the same. Runners start on Congress Avenue in downtown Austin and end the race there.

The categories for runners in both the Austin Marathon and half marathon are similar. There are awards for age groups. There are also prices for specific weight groups, known as Clydesdale and Fillies, as well as for special categories such as Military, Police, Fire and Teachers. There are also Warhorse and Baghdad categories. Several of the special categories run for various charities including the Women’s Advocacy Project, the Capital Area Food Bank and the Austin’s Children Center. Everyone who finishes the Austin Marathon receives a commemorative medal.

In the 2007 Austin Marathon the winners included Jynocel Basweti of Chapel Hill in the Overall Male category and Mages Zebanaye in the Overall Female category. His time was 2:14:02 while her time was 2:39:46. In the Male Master Overall, the winner was Wiesal Perske at 2:32:19; the Female Master Overall was Laurie Porter of Brush Prairie WA at 2:50:37. There was also a winner in the 85 to 95 age group. This was Don McNally of Rochester, age 86. His time was 6:31:35.

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Austin Marathon results for the Half Marathon included Derek Williamson of Austin at 1:07:36 in the Overall Male category and Jacqueline Wachtel of Tarpon Springs at 1:21:13. The Overall Master Male was Danny Miller of Boulder at 1:17:49; the Overall Master Female was Christine Kennedy of Los Gatos at a time of 1:26:59. The oldest person to finish the Half Marathon was Marcie McCaskill at age 82. She competed in the age 80 to 84 category.

A marathon such as the ATT & T Austin Marathon does not focus solely on the race. The race is a culmination of several events occurring before and on the actual weekend of the event. Of primary importance is the Orrowheat Health and Fitness Expo held the weekend of the event. After the event, there is a post-race party to celebrate.

The ATT Austin Marathon is part of a triple Texas Marathon event consisting of Marathons in Austin, Dallas and Houston. The Austin Marathon is also a Boston Marathon qualifier. If you make a certain time, you may be eligible to take part in the Boston Marathon.