The 31st annual Austin American Statesman Capitol 10,000—Austin’s annual spring fling—gets underway Sunday morning at 8:45 a.m on Congress Avenue at Barton Springs Road, right across the street from the Austin Statesman. More than 15,000 runners and walkers (and a variety of other costumed things) are expected.
Conditions for Sunday morning should be ideal: The long-range forecast is for overcast skies with temps in the mid-50s. There’s a slight chance of rain, but even it materializes it shouldn’t dampen anyone’s spirits.
The Cap 10 course is not easy. Right from the starting gun, there are all sorts of ups and downs. In the first mile, the Cap 10 course climbs—a deceivingly tough uphill north on Congress—to the Capitol. It becomes ever harder after that with a series of long, tough hills in the second and third mile on 15th and along a steep ascent on Enfield. The fourth and fifth mile are relatively flat, but in the last mile along Cesar Chavez, there are the familiar series of tricky little uphills that will test your resolve just before you hit the South 1st Street Bridge on the final stretch to the finish on Riverside along Auditorium Shores.
The course records are Nicodemus Malakwen’s 29:42 (set last year) and Natalie Nalepa’s 33:43, set in 1997. Malakwen’s time is now considered the course record although there are have been several times faster than his. But none were on a certified course.
Malakwen 's status for the race is uncertain. Although he's run in Austin several times, he is having visa issues and it's not known whether he'll run on Sunday. The rest of the elite field will include ’05 champ Bernard Manirakiza of Austin as well as former UT All American Joe Thorne (who won the Daisy 5-K two weeks ago) who are expected to have a duel at the front. Defending women’s champ Albina Gallyamova, who is 43,will be looking to win her third Cap 10 in a row and fourth overall. The only other four-time champ is Cassie Henkiel of Austin, but she is prepping for the Olympic Marathon Trials on April 20th and is not expected to run.
This year’s race benefits the University Medical Center at Brackenridge.
Packet pickup and prerace registration begins on Friday at the Crockett Center (10601 North Lamar), a half mile south of Braker Lane. Hours are 10-8 p.m. on Friday and 10-7 on Saturday.
