Why Runners Move to Austin TX

The reason I moved here too

"How the hell did she beat me out the door?"

I woke up at 5:30 a.m., chugged two cups of coffee, and started my usual pre-long run breakfast of oats, chai seeds, and honey.

I tend to procrastinate before a long run. On this morning, I got up a solid hour and a half before my girlfriend Dani, yet she was out the door and running on the trail while I was clipping my toenails.

It's Saturday, and my plan is to run 14 miles. For some reason, runners keep Saturday as the sabbath for long runs. 14 miles around the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, though everyone simply calls it "The Trail." A beautifully manicured loop that takes you past all the cool parts of the city, including Barton Springs, Zilker Park, Rainey Street, and Congress Bridge.

Map from the Trail Conservatory

I believe it's the best running trail in the country and why many runners call Austin home.

When I moved here from Ohio, I chose a rather ugly apartment building near the railroad tracks. I picked it because I could see the trail from my back patio—that's all I needed.

Why Don’t Other Cities Recreate “The Trail?”

The first two miles took longer than usual. I stopped a bunch to take pictures for this article.

The sun rose. Water on the lake started to evaporate, forming a cloud like a soft blanket over the water. Austin is famous for its sunrises and sunsets. Even during Austin's low times, like in 1885 when a serial killer ran loose in the streets, the city's mayors have always leaned on their sunsets and sunrises to attract people.

Photo from Longhorn Dam

I noticed a Great Blue Heron hunting small fish on a log in the water. My mom's a birder, so I thought she would like a photo. The damn thing flew away before I pulled out my phone.

The trail's connection with nature made me fall in love with this place. It's rare to find such a natural retreat within an urban center, but here it is—in Texas. I wonder why other cities don't replicate this wonderful idea.

The story goes that “The Trail” originated from a chance meeting in London between Lady Bird Johnson, the First Lady of the United States, and Ann Butler, the wife of Austin's Mayor Ray Butler. Both women were captivated by the river walk along the Thames and wondered, "Why can't we have something like this in Austin?" Construction on the waterfront trail began in 1971.

I ran into Dani, who was running counterclockwise with her friends.

I stopped shortly after because I came upon my favorite stretch of the trail, the area between Congress Bridge and the boardwalk. If you hit this area just as the sun rises over the downtown buildings, a beautiful yellow color will split through the trees like light cutting through stained-glass windows in a Catholic church.

Area between Congress Bridge and the boardwalk

I’ve been in Austin for two years now. I know all of this should be getting old. I ran 1,200 miles in 2024, most of them on this frickin trail, but the scenery never gets old.

You Never Have to Run Alone in Austin

My brain usually shuts off from mile 7 – 12 of long runs, which is a good thing.

When I played golf growing up my brain would basically go on cruise control, almost blackout, between holes 11 – 16. If it didn’t, I knew I was working too hard and that it was a difficult round.

I’m listening to David McCollough’s John Adam’s audiobook on Spotify. I like listening to boring biographies while running so I can zone in and out of the story and not feel guilty about missing things.

The trance broke when I encountered a group of runners heading in the opposite direction. I recognized a few of them, and some shouted my name. The running community in Austin might be the best in the country. You never have to run solo if you don’t want to.

Jo’s Run Club in Ausin

I remember my first week in Austin; I stopped by the Fleet Feet store and asked the manager if there was a run club I could join.

She looked confused. In Columbus, all we had was one run club. I thought one club was enough. I thought one run club meant your city was on the ups as if one run club meant your city qualified for the World’s Fair.

“Oh no, sweetie.” She said.

She sat me down and took out a piece of paper. She then wrote down all the clubs I could join. She explained to me that I could run all day every day with a club if I felt so inclined.

That was nice of her to do.

Because the trail loops, you get a feel for the running community in Austin because you’re constantly passing clubs and people you know—like passing people in the hallway in high school.

Last Mile

I hit a wall at mile 13.5. I didn't pack any energy gels because I forgot to buy them at REI this week. Part of me wants to see how far I can run without using them—like that Seinfeld episode where Kramer tries to see how far he can drive on empty.

I now know that's really stupid. Don't be a Kramer. You should definitely fuel correctly when running long distances.

I got through the wall and finished 14.37 miles, approximately one loop around the trail plus another loop crossing the First Street Bridge. I walked to Trader Jo's and picked up some breakfast taco materials, our favorite post-run meal.

Photo from Congress Bridge

The trail in Austin inspires people to run, which is a beautiful thing. I can’t imagine that Lady Bird Johnson was much of a runner in the 1970s, nor do I think she anticipated how the sport would evolve into an important community builder. Yet, sometimes, you have to make a gamble.

I think she understood that investing in nature and outdoor activities is timeless and usually pays off in the long run.