Runner Bummer

Another major Austin event canceled as COVID-19 cases continue to run high

The Austin Marathon is the latest victim of the coronavirus.

Photo courtesy of High Five Events

SXSW, ACL Music Fest, F1, and Broadway in Austin are just a handful of the local events that have shut down due to COVID-19. As of November 18, we can add another major name to the list: Austin Marathon.

Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K were originally scheduled for February 14, 2021 — which would have been the 30th anniversary of the race — but have been postponed as coronavirus cases continue to spike across the country.

While the 26.2-mile race portion will be rescheduled for 2022 (along with the anniversary celebration), there will be running in 2021. Austin Marathon announced that it will host a modified Austin Half Marathon, KXAN SimpleHealth 5K, and the Manzano Mile on April 25, 2021.

"These changes were made with the confidence of Austin Public Health that we could coordinate and plan an in-person event.⁠ ⁠These were difficult decisions to make, but the health and well-being of our participants, staff, and community will always be our first priority," organizers said in a statement.

In 2020, the Austin Marathon attracted more than 17,000 runners and 100,000 spectators spread across the race route, which begins and ends in downtown and travels through South, West, North, and East Austin. It boasts athletes from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and more than 30 countries, according to numbers from Austin Marathon, and is the 25th largest marathon in the U.S.

Those who have already signed up for the 2021 race may either transfer their registration to the April 25 date or activate a free deferral option for the 2022, 2023, or 2024 Austin Marathons. Registered participants should have received an email with details, or they can visit this website for more details.

sports downtown

Refill, revere, rejoice

Austin distiller refills Kentucky Bourbon bottles for $1 in UT gameday stunt

Photo courtesy of Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Still Austin is filling up empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles and adding its own label in a display of Texas dominance.

Cheap bourbon isn't usually something people line up for, but in this case they know it's good. Still Austin Whiskey Co., a favorite Austin distiller, is offering $1 refills of its own Cask Strength Bourbon on empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles on November 23.

The promotion celebrates the Texas Longhorns vs. Kentucky Wildcats football match the same day. This is a highly anticipated game because the two teams have only been matched up once, back in 1951. Kentucky coach Mike Stoops reportedly also upped the ante by saying the Longhorns have "no weaknesses."

Essentially, this is a parallel challenge by Still Austin: Replace your Kentucky Bourbon with our Texas spirit and watch the Lone Star State win again.

"Why would I ever taint your bourbon with dried up Kentucky juice[?]" asked a (frankly, terrifying) customer on Instagram.

There is a misconception that bourbon has to be made in Kentucky. The Kentucky Distillers’ Association itself points out that, "According to the 1964 Congressional Resolution, in order to have “Bourbon” on the label it must be made in the United States of America and meet all other federal “standards of identity” for Bourbon."

Still Austin CEO and co-founder Chris Seals is setting the record straight with a little snark, inviting both fans and "skeptics" to stop by to take advantage of the deal.

“We’re deeply grateful to Kentucky for inventing the stuff, but after 200 years of the same old bourbon, people want something new,” said Seals in a press release.“The idea that great bourbon can only come from Kentucky is a myth based on decades of misinformation. We’re inviting everyone still holding onto this old guard notion to ‘Kentucky Fill Up’ to experience the difference for themselves.”

The product he's chosen to represent the brand, the Cask Strength Bourbon, is described as "a deeper more 'metal' version of our beloved straight bourbon." It's 116 proof (58 percent ABV) and has won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition twice, in 2022 and 2023.

Still Austin will only refill 500 bottles. Here are the rules: The bottles have to be 750 milliliters, clean, intact (with the original cap on hand), and they must have originally contained bourbon from a Kentucky Distillery. There are two time slots for refilling at 9 am and 11:30 am. Patrons can get tickets ahead of time at stillaustin.com.

In addition to the fill-ups, Still Austin will host a watch party starting at 2:30 pm. More Texas-Kentucky crossover will include Frozen Texas Julep cocktails, Texas fried chicken, and an armadillo derby race. There will also be exclusive merch and giveaways. Still Austin is the official corporate partner of Texas Athletics.

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Fans of Austin sports and Austin food and drinks can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm December 12 at Distribution Hall. Find out more about it here.

whiskey university of texas longhorns