Daisy 5K

Even before the shopping mall was open, hundreds gathered at the parking lot of the Round Rock Premium Outlets on Sunday.

These early risers were not there to get their hands on the latest bargain. They were there to participate in the 33rd annual Daisy 5K put on by the Austin Runners Club.

Megan Baker is a the Director of Volunteer Services for the Austin Runners Club.

“We decided on the Round Rock Premium Outlets because we were having problems finding a location that was affordable as well as beneficial to our participants,” she said.

The event is usually held in the Downtown Austin, but Baker said the costs associated with holding the event there led them to move.

“Since we’re a nonprofit club, a lot of the downtown barricades and
police that are required are sometimes too costly for a club like ourselves,” Baker said.

However, runners like Irene Xenitis said this course was just not the same as running downtown.

“I still like to go downtown. I think it’s a lot more fun,” she said.

On top of that, Xenitis said the course was a little different from what she was used to.

“It was kind of flat, so I think it made it harder to run,” she said. “Whereas in downtown, there are hills where you can break it down a little bit.”

But Baker said the location comes at a high cost, when taking into account the application fees and permit fee, on top of the cost for barricades and police.

According to the Public Information Specialist with the Austin Transportation Department, the application fee is $359. There is also a permit fee accessed of $100 per block, for up to 15 blocks.

“I do think that looking at outside space, whether it be parks, it’s malls like the Domain or the Galleria and what not, I think they are going to become more popular just because we can’t afford to pay for all the costs associated with the race and still have beneficiaries,” Baker said.

This year, the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas was chosen as a beneficiary of the race.  Click here to see the video.