From the cover
Running scene in uence picks up the pace in Austin
The big picture
Austin’s marathon events are drawing more and more runners from across Texas and the U.S. Annual participation in the Austin Marathon
All distances (marathon, half marathon, 5K)
Events ranging from the casual to the more competitive draw tens of thousands of people every year, a boost for local running businesses, sponsors and other groups. Through Austin’s marathon alone, hundreds of thousands of dollars are sent to charities each year. The marathon is also now one of the best- attended 26.2-mile contests per capita nationally, according to race organizer High Five Events. “The running culture here is top tier, and the number of people who run who are athletic or just out for leisurely runs, it’s by far one of the biggest in the U.S.,” said High Five owner Stacy Keese. Trail races, brewery runs and local 5Ks can o er less intense yet still popular options. One, the Zilker Relays, most recently drew nearly 1,800 people, according to sponsor and local run group programmer Austin Runners Club. “What makes Austin’s running scene really stand out is its ability to bring people together to build genuine connections and a supportive community that extends far beyond the run itself,” community engagement manager Jasmine Adgerson said.
19,224
10K 25K 20K 15K
13,490
0
2017
2018
2019
2020 2021*
2022
2023
2024
2025
Runner demographics
By the numbers 81% of 2024 runners were from Texas, including 46% from Austin Top 5 participant cities: Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, New York 2024 marathon participants came from all 50 states and more than 50 countries
Economic impact
$22.4M
2016 2017 2014 2015 2018 2020 2021* 2019 2022 2023 2024
4%
0-19
37.9%
20-29 30-39 40-49
28.8%
15.8%
50-59 9.1% 60-69 3.7% 70 and up 0.9%
$62M
*NO RACE WAS HELD IN 2021 DUE TO COVID 19. SOURCE: HIGH FIVE EVENTS COMMUNITY IMPACT
TOTALS WILL NOT ADD TO 100% DUE TO ROUNDING DATA FROM 2024
$0 $40M $80M
Zooming in
we do, so that we can make sure that not only does the event have the coverage it needs, but the larger system also has the coverage that it needs,” she said. Outside of special events, Stedman said EMS han- dles daily calls related to running or heat-related illness on Austin’s streets and trails during the hot summer months.
Austin processes dozens of special event permits for major races each year, and the activities also draw public safety resources when taking place. For operational security reasons, the Austin Police Department and Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services don’t share exact sta - ing details for special events. Both agencies said they plan for security, tra c control and medical
assistance depending on event size and risks. EMS Capt. Christa Stedman said ambulances, special response units and motorcycle medics are typically at high-pro le runs like the marathon to deal with anything from a fall to dehydration or cardiac arrest—while still leaving resources for the overall 911 system. “That’s why we sta these things the way that
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