At sunrise, thousands of runners stage on Congress in Downtown Austin for the 30th running of the Austin Marathon on Feb. 20, 2022.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
You’ve put in the miles and trained hard for Sunday’s Austin Marathon. You’re fit and ready. But to run your best, you need to know the course and have a pre-race strategy.
Kelsey Bruce won the 2022 Austin Marathon, setting a course record in the process. So Bruce, the head cross-country & track coach at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, knows a thing or two about how best to navigate Austin’s challenging course. Here she gives a mile-by-mile strategy for pacing yourself through the 26.2-mile race:
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MORE: How many are going to run? Last year’s Austin Marathon drew 7,300
For starters: prep
For starters, Bruce recommends driving the course ahead of time. That way you’ll get a general feel for the terrain. On race day, she likes to get up three hours before the marathon and for a pre-race meal, she keeps it light. “I try to eat around two-and-a-half hours ahead of the race,” she said. “For me, that means oatmeal and coffee, maybe peanut butter and a banana. Don’t try anything new.”
Kelsey Bruce, the women’s division full marathon winner, celebrates as she crosses the finish line during the 30th running of the Austin Marathon in Austin, Texas on Feb. 20, 2022.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
At the starting area: warm up
When/where: 7 a.m. Sunday at Congress Avenue and 2nd Street. Finish is at 9th and Congress.
Packet pickup/Expo: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.
There’s plenty of nervous energy circulating among the thousands warming up, so Bruce tells runners to try to keep stress levels as low as possible. “I like to warm up with a buddy,” she said. “For the marathon, I like to run about a mile-and-a-half warmup or so, throwing in a few strides and drills. Use this time to make sure to use a porta-potty.”
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The early miles: slow and steady
After the starting gun goes off, you’re headed south into a long, steady climb up South Congress Avenue toward Ben White Boulevard. Bruce says you should run those first 3 miles 10-15 seconds per mile slower than your goal pace. If it looks like it’s going to warm up while you’re out there, you may want to adjust your goals.
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In general, having a 10-to-15 second range for your minutes-per-mile pace can be helpful.
And make sure to start hydrating early. Remember, it’s a 26.2-mile race.
“Once you’re heading downhill on South First Street, use miles 4 through 6 to find your rhythm,” Bruce said. “The whole first part of the marathon, you’re just working conservatively, an honest effort. You want to hit the aid stations as early and often as possible, but don’t stress out if you miss one. If you’re used to taking energy gels along the way, do so — but only if you’ve practiced that in training.”
The 2024 Austin Marathon finish line is set up on Congress in front of the Texas Capitol on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024 in Downtown Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Find a running buddy or pace group
Miles 7 to 9 follow West Cesar Chavez Street on up through Lake Austin Boulevard. Here, Bruce again emphasizes staying conservative and suggests teaming up with someone to run. “If you find runners who are consistently at your pace, it can really benefit you to run with them,” she said. “Pace groups can be really helpful, too. Psychologically, they help you share the workload.”
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The Austin Marathon course is relatively challenging and miles 9 to 17 are quite hilly. Bruce recommends breaking it down mentally and focusing on one section at a time.
“Approaching the halfway mark, there’s a pretty decent hill going up Guadalupe Street,” she said. “Running uphill, it’s important to run within yourself. Don’t get angsty and don’t overcompensate. For hills, I tell runners to maintain a steady effort and not worry about pace. Passing people on the uphills is a big confidence booster if you’re maintaining an even effort. Remember, the hill will end and you can recover on the downside. You’ll run faster during that recovery and make up the time you may have lost on the uphill.”
The second half: make up some time
The course gradually descends during the second half with most of the uphills run and done. “Miles 14 to 17 along Speedway and 41st Street are not bad compared to what you’ve already run,” Bruce said. “This is a good stretch to make up time if you conserved properly in the first part.”
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The course then runs through the University of Texas campus, but you’re not in the clear yet. There are still 8 miles to go.
“If you haven’t already, this might be a good stretch to grab on to a pace group if you’re feeling OK,” Bruce said. “You can never be sure of anything in the marathon. You can run through a bad patch and come out the other side. What will help, get you out to the other side of a bad mile or two, is encouragement. Friends, family and crowds cheering along the sidelines can be a huge help. Austin has some of the best spectator energy.”
Take it on home
The last 6 miles covering Tillery Street and on to East Cesar Chavez are all about not falling apart.
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“Just be smart,” Bruce said. “With half a mile to go, there is a steep little hill on 11th Street. Just work your way up it knowing that the finish line is around the corner. You can do it. Once you turn on to Congress Avenue and see the finish line and the cheering crowds, soak it all in. You ran a marathon. You did it!”
Former Tulane and South Carolina track and cross-country star Bradley Makuvire won last year’s men’s race; Kenyan Janet Rono won the women’s race.