Saturday shakeout
An easy 3K shakeout jog, race-pack pickup, and the expo with 40 local vendors.
Home · About Us
More than just
a race.
Since 2019, the Marigold Mile has grown from 300 neighbors jogging around the park lake to Austin's biggest charity running weekend — 5,000 runners, one cause.
Our story
It started with a school nurse and a crazy idea.
In 2019, school nurse Elena Marsh noticed too many kids returning Monday mornings hungry. She challenged her running club: turn our Sunday long run into a fundraiser. Three hundred runners showed up, and the Marigold Mile was born — named for the marigolds blooming along the park lake that morning.
Seven years later, the idea hasn't changed: runners chase personal bests while every entry fee becomes weekend meal packs for children facing hunger. Last year we funded 41,000 packs. This year, with 5,000 runners, we're aiming for 60,000.
5K
Runners in 2026
60K
Meal packs goal
14
Cheer zones
400+
Volunteers
Life at Marigold
A weekend, not just a race.
Where the money goes
Every mile feeds a child.
After course costs, 100% of entry fees buy weekend meal packs assembled by volunteers and delivered to 34 Austin-area schools every Friday. Our books are audited annually and published each spring.
$15 = 3 packs
A 5K entry feeds a child for three weekends.
$30 = 6 packs
A 10K entry covers a month and a half of weekends.
$60 = 12 packs
A full marathon entry feeds a child for a whole semester.