Inaugural Longhorn Run 10K To Finish In DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium

By alcalde in Blog on April 14, 2010 at 4:33 pm | 2 Comments

Calling all runners: if you’re looking for a race to do Saturday, May 1, sign up for the first-ever Longhorn Run 10K and 2-miler benefiting UT Student Government.

This race, amazingly the only 10K on the Forty Acres, starts in front of the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, winds through West and North Campus, and features a spectacular finish in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (map with elevation chart)

Let the meek be warned: the hill of death on the north side of the stadium comes at mile 6. Get it!

The 2-mile route ducks into West Campus then veers back down 23rd Street and Inner Campus Drive, past Gregory Gym and the alumni center, to finish at DKR, as well.

“You can’t run this race and not know where you’re at,” outgoing SG president and lead organizer Liam O’Rourke said.

Heavyweights RunTex and Nike are sponsoring the race, the proceeds of which will go toward an endowment meant to support student groups working on social justice projects.

President Bill Powers was actually the matchmaker who set up O’Rourke with RunTex founder Paul Carrozza.

“Paul and I both wanted a sea of burnt-orange in front of the Tower and a legit 10K on campus,” O’Rourke said.

The Longhorn Band will be out there, as will the Texas Cowboys, who have agreed to start the race by firing the cannon. And instead of having one loyal friend cheering you at the finish, how about the Texas cheerleaders yelling for you?! They’ll be on hand too. 

Nike has been looking to do more races on college campuses and recently sponsored runs at Ohio State and U.S.C. This will be their first collaboration with UT outside of the Athletics department.

Anyone can run — not just students or faculty. Alumni and friends are welcome. The top three male and female finishers will win prizes, as will the top male and female finishers from each class. All runners will be timed.

The race fee is only $25, and there’s no horrible online registration fee! Sign up here. There’s room for 2,500 runners, and about 750 have signed up.

You know you should get up and run that Saturday, so you might as well do it for a good cause. Plus, you get this burnt-orange race shirt. Bonus!