Fitness for a cause

Going bananas: Third annual Gorilla Run 5k returns to the streets of Austin thisweekend

This coming Saturday, the streets of Austin will be overrun with hundreds of gorillas grunting and beating their chests. No, it’s not a remake of the campy '70s flick, Planet of the Apes, it’s the third annual Gorilla Run, a 5K fun run where all participants wear gorilla suits.

The Gorilla Run is more than just a typical 5K race, and not just because people will be running in full suits of fur. I like to think of it as a triathlon of sorts with three important components: running, supporting a good cause, and beer drinking. The event is held to raise money for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund (MGCF), an international charity working to save the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda.

And at the run's end, participants are greeted with a cold Silverback Pale Ale made by event sponsor Thirsty Planet Brewing.

“The event got started in Austin as an extension of the Gorilla Run in Denver. It’s been going on for eight years in Denver. Austin has a reputation for both fitness and fun, so we knew it would be a good fit for the city. Now Austin may overtake Denver in popularity with more than 1,300 expected to run this weekend,” says Jon Partridge event co-director.

That means there will be more gorilla-suited runners in Austin than actual mountain gorillas in the world. The current mountain gorilla population is estimated to be about 880. “Since the conservation fund has been up and running, the numbers of gorillas in the wild has tripled. Hopefully with more support it will continue to get better and better,” says Partridge.

Actual gorillas can run in short bursts up to 20 miles per hour, but only for about 20 yards on their hind legs. The elite runners at the head of the pack would have no trouble beating them in this race.

Partridge explains it's the mix of seriousness and silliness that makes the race unique. “The race is timed with official numbers and finishing spots. Some people take the Gorilla Run very seriously. It’s hilarious to see someone dressed in a gorilla suit running with determined speed. While you can race it, it’s more about raising awareness and having fun.

"Last year we had people on roller blades, skateboards and even a pedicab. The race starts with guys from Thirsty Planet Brewery dashing off on bikes dressed as huge bananas and hundreds of gorillas chase them down the street. It’s quite a sight.”

Austin borrowed the tradition of having a brewery as a main sponsor from the Denver race. The Wynkoop Brewing Company in Denver made the original Silverback Pale Ale to raise additional money and awareness for the MGCF. Thirsty Planet Brewing brewed about 70 kegs of Silverback Pale Ale this year to sell at 20 bars around Austin and to serve after the race.

Thirsty Planet slightly altered the original recipe, but brews Silverback with the same special ingredient, Grains of Paradise, which is an important part of the gorilla’s natural diet in Africa.

“Having the brewery involved is a fun way to get people involved who might not want to do the run. Along with my event co-director, Tammy Smittle [wife of Thirsty Planet Brewing’s founder Brian Smittle], the brewery is doing awareness building events like a pub crawl to call attention to the goals of the event,” says Partridge.

Event participants are encouraged to donate and raise money for the MCGF, and based on the amount they raise, they are eligible to win prizes. Last year the Austin event raised more than $60,000 for the cause and they are aiming to raise up to $80,000 this year.

Proceeds from the Austin Gorilla Run will help support the construction of a new Wildlife Veterinary Education facility at Makerere University in Uganda. Students taught at the facility go on to help protect Africa’s struggling wildlife.

Registration is still open for the Gorilla Run. Your entry fee of $110 (for first time adults) includes a gorilla suit that you get to keep afterwards, race participation and an after party with live music, beer and beverages, food vendors and an awards ceremony.

Packet and gorilla fur pick-up will be held Tuesday, January 15 at RunTex on W. Riverside, Wednesday at The Tavern, Thursday at Hopfields, Friday and Saturday at RunTex.

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High Score

Austin named the nation's pickleball capital in industry report

Photo by Henry Selis Photo

Other Racquet Social Club is back after city woes.

It's no secret that Austinites love pickleball. A new study proves just how much by ranking Austin the No. 1 city for pickleball in the whole country. Dallas and Houston also made the top 10 at Nos. 3 and 8, respectively.

The report was published by TeachMe.To, an online marketplace for learning sports (and sometimes music) from private instructors. It used data from its own platform, USA Pickleball, Places2Play, local pickleball associations, and more. It also referred to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), which named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America, with a growth rate of 223.5 percent over three years.

Similarly, TeachMe.To ranked Austin as the fastest-growing city for pickleball, and citing this as the main reason for the overall title of "the nation's pickleball capital."

It name-checked the Austin Metro Pickleball Association (AMPA) — with approximately 3,000-3,500 members — and the Austin Pickleball League (APL), estimating that overall, "15,000-20,000 people play pickleball at least occasionally in the greater Austin area." About half of those players — about 8,000-10,000 people — play at least twice a month.

The report did not include gender data on Austin, specifically, but it did note that not only are two-thirds of pickleball players female; women's involvement in the sport is also growing 50 percent faster than men's.

New courts everywhere
This probably isn't a surprise to people who have noticed the number of courts opened around Austin in recent years. By 2024, TeachMe.To's data shows 32 dedicated courts in Austin, and thanks to with a utility rate of 92 percent it doesn't look like that'll be slowing down.

In the summer of 2023, the online booking platform Swimply noticed how many pickleball courts there were in Austin compared to such great demand, and added courts to its service. In fall 2023 and summer 2024, at least two important developments expanded that availability: Other Racquet Social Club opened as a friendly, country club-like neighborhood option, and national chain The Picklr announced it's bringing five locations to Austin and Round Rock.

Perhaps because Austin is such a food-obsessed city, there seems to be some growing opportunity for food and beverage hospitality around pickleball, too. Other Racquet recently started hosting the Bill's Dips food truck, a spinoff of the popular downtown restaurant Bill's Oyster; and a pair of bars with pickleball courts, Drifters Social Coffee & Cocktails and The Pickle Pub, also opened in South Austin this year, with strong online ratings already.

The trend has even reached into real estate (see this cute house with its own pickleball court) and inspired athletes to introduce similar sports to the local market, as in the case of the padel club Paddle39. TeachMe.To's report also mentioned tech companies adding pickleball to their campuses.

Aside from growth, the study also considered lesson activity (including information about teacher availability and diversity of clinic offerings), infrastructure, community vitality, the tournament scene.

Austin had the highest concentration of all the cities of players under 40 (65 percent), as well as the highest share of national lesson bookings. At 16.90 percent, that means about one in six of the pickleball lessons contracted through this platform were in Austin. Lesson demand, the report says, is growing 125 percent year-over-year.

Elsewhere in Texas
Dallas was No. 3 thanks in part to its "central location" according to the report.

"The city's 45 dedicated courts and 85 [percent] public accessibility rate have fostered one of the most active competitive scenes in the country, with 8,500 registered league players," it says. "The combination of strong tournament presence, extensive infrastructure, and a 112% growth in lesson bookings solidifies Dallas as a powerhouse in the national pickleball landscape."

Houston made No. 8 with an emphasis on integrating pickleball with other sports.

"The city's 22 dedicated courts have seen a 92% increase in lesson bookings, driven by innovative programming that includes the nation's first corporate league system," it says. "Houston's success in integrating pickleball into existing sports infrastructure while maintaining 72% year-round utilization demonstrates a sustainable model for rapid growth."

Overall predictions
After laying out data about the top cities in pickleball, the report made some predictions. As the Austin newcomer mentioned above believes, the report also thinks padel is the next big thing. It also guesses more cities will act like Houston by focusing on hybrid facilities.

It also expects to see an expanded professional circuit and mainstream coverage, more technology used on the court, a rise in the prevalence of young players, and more opportunities in corporate wellness and real estate. "Dedicated pickleball facilities will become as common as swimming pools in luxury developments," it says. Texans will be the judge of that one.

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