Runners took their mark for 27th Annual Austin Marathon

Runners took their mark this Sunday and laced up their running shoes for the 27th Annual Austin Marathon. The marathon started in 1992 and has since continued to grow over the years.

Around 15,000 runners participated in the marathon.

“Once the gun goes off the thrill starts to really build up,” said Joel Sumner.

Runners took their mark at Congress Avenue and Cesar Chavez Street and headed south to Ben White Boulevard. Athletes had the opportunity to tackle the Austin Marathon which takes runners on a 26.2 mile run, half marathon or 5k.

Many athletes trained for months. “I trained through the fall and got a good base and did some road races,” said Hillary Montgomery who ran the half marathon.

This year, marathon organizers unveiled a new course which put runners to the test. The new route sticks to a more centralized location of the city while highlighting Austin landmarks.

“It fits the Texas hill country perfectly it does have rolling hills and can be challenging for some runners,” said William Dyson, High Five Events Organizer.

Runners made their way across the finish line located on downtown Congress next to the Texas State Capitol.

Elite Athlete Program runner Joe Whelan took first place in the Austin Marathon amongst male competitors. “It felt horrible it was so painful the last hill was so difficult,” said Whelan.

Elite Athlete Program runner Allison Macsas came in first in the woman’s Austin Marathon.

“I’m so thrilled compared to last year this was a whole different game I felt super strong the whole way through,” said Macsas.

Macsas said her hard work paid off. “I was an Olympic trials qualifier which I really thought was impossible on this course. I qualified by about two minutes,” said Macsas.

The race not only brings in thousands of runners from all over the world, but organizers with the marathon are expecting around 100,000 spectators to the city.

“Austin in known as one of the best running cities. People love to come here for running, eating drinking, and shopping,” said Dyson.