With six lanes for a roomy run on 15th street, runners get a chance to pass two notable Austin towers, the University of Texas clock tower and the historic #6 Moonlight Tower, popularized by the movie “Dazed and Confused.”
Approaching the 3K mark, runners begin to anticipate the King & Queen of the Hill segment for the fastest hill climb ahead. Cresting the hill and checking off mile 2, runners enjoy a long downhill to recover. Riding the downhill slope, runners pause at the intersection of Enfield Road for one of the race’s most iconic photo locations.
As the course narrows, runners enter the Clarksville Neighborhood. The highest point on the course is just past the 4K mark, only 119-feet about the starting elevation.
Hitting the halfway point of the race, the 5K point is marked by a wall of enthusiastic sound, the local high school horn ensemble makes the most of the bridge acoustics as runners dip under MoPac Expressway.
Turning onto Winsted Lane, runners travel south through the Tarrytown Neighborhood towards the river before approaching a short ascending set of hills. The third and largest aid station greets runners as they crest the hills and a long sloping downhill builds back their confidence.
Runners will make two quick turns onto Lake Austin Boulevard and then Veterans Dive before dropping down to the river and checking off mile four.
The course terrain flattens as runners make a sweeping loop around the Stephen F. Austin High School campus. Turning eastbound onto West Cesar Chavez, runners head back into downtown along the northern shoreline of the Colorado River where they’ll find the 8K mark, the final course aid station, and mile 5 mark.
Runners dip under the arches of the Lamar Boulevard Bridge and emerge to the cheers of spectators above on the adjacent Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge.
Runners will make a sweeping turn onto the South First Street Bridge. More live music from local drum and bugle corps usher runners towards the final kilometer.
Runners begin to overlook the Finish Line Festival on Vic Mathias Shores. Spectators line the course with signs and cheers as runners check off mile 6 and make their final turn onto West Riverside Drive, finally reaching the Finish Line Festival.
