The Austin Marathon and Cap10K are two of the most highly anticipated running events in the city, with the Austin Marathon being the 25th most popular running event in the country and having 100,000 spectators, according to the Austin Marathon website. The Cap10K is the largest 10K in Texas and the 6th largest 10K in the country. 

The Austin Marathon typically sees around 17,000 runners from all 50 states and over 30 countries. The course takes runners through various areas of Austin, including downtown and historic neighborhoods such as Hyde Park, East Austin, and South Congress. 

Similarly, the Cap10K race is usually attended by 20,000 to 25,000 runners and starts and ends near the Texas State Capitol building. The race route also takes runners through downtown Austin, as well as neighborhoods like Clarksville and Travis Heights. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 and 2022 Austin Marathons and Cap10K races were held virtually, where runners completed the race on their own and submitted their times online. Senior Nicolas Gallego is running the 13 mile Austin Half-Marathon for the first time this year, and has been training consistently for it.

“I start with shorter runs, and then I do track workouts,” Gallego said. “Track workouts can vary. I won’t get into the specifics of track workouts because they’re really just numbers. You’re naming distances, you’re running at different speeds and times. But really, once you’re done with all that stuff, and you start training with long runs, like 7, 8 miles, gradually increase it until you can run [more].”

Sophomore Tessa Cook ran in the Cap10K last year and is planning on running again this year. She enjoys running, and treats the event as a hobby rather than a serious investment. 

“Last year, I decided to do it because I had already been doing a lot of training,” Cook said. “I like to run after school between four and six miles and the 10k is six miles. So yeah, it was like, ‘this will be nice.’ This year, I’m trying to run a little bit faster than my fun runs, but I’m not making any serious effort because running is mostly just a hobby for me.”

Running, in general, can feel very rewarding even when doing it as a hobby, according to Gallego. Gallego said that the challenge is good for both his physical and mental health.

“It’s definitely a big achievement,” Gallego said. “You accomplish something and it’s fun. It can be bad while you’re running, but once you make it, you’re like, ‘Yeah, I just did that. Look at how tough and strong I am.’ And the physical benefits are, ‘Hey, I’m in shape. Yeah, I can run and I can move. I don’t hurt all the time. I’m healthy.’”

Junior Vance Mader is also running the Cap10K for the second year in a row. He does cross country, which he said helps with staying in shape. Mader uses his track meets to practice for the event.

“All of the races in cross country are five kilometers, so it was a little bit of a step up to do the 10K last year,” Mader said. “Other than that, I haven’t done very much running outside of cross country practice, which happens in the fall. Track has recently started up and I’m doing that occasionally. That should hopefully get me in a little bit better shape.”

Mader explained that his goal during the 10K was to keep pace with the rest of the group running. He said that if his experience goes well, he plans on running it again in his senior year but this time with some friends.

“Yeah, I’m mostly doing it for fun, but I feel like if the group that I’m going with is too slow, I’ll speed up, or if the group that I’m trying to get to is too fast, I’ll slow down,” Mader said. “I’m not trying to push myself as hard as I would be for a track meet or cross country meet. I think it’s really fun to do it with some friends, especially if they’re into running. That would help, but if they’re not, you can help push them along if you’re an experienced runner.” 

According to Mader, running in a long event takes a lot of mental strength. He said that one’s success depends on how serious they are about training, and that it’s not easy.

“Running is a very individual sport, where you have to have the right mindset going into it, and going out of it to actually get through the race at the time that you want,” Mader said. “And I’d say that’s what differentiates it from other sports because there is still a team aspect, but it’s mostly how hard you want to push yourself. That’s how far you’re gonna go.”