Run For The Water
Two Decades of Miles That Matter. 100% to Burundi.
Gilbert Tuhabonye survived the 1993 Burundian genocide and escaped by running, literally, before building a life and a running community in Austin. The race he co-founded turns that story into infrastructure: every registration dollar goes toward clean water systems in one of the world's poorest countries, and every mile logged in Austin becomes part of that same mission. ESW handles full event operations for Austin's largest downtown waterfront race, the city's only 10-miler.
Run For The Water is held each November in downtown Austin, a 10-mile, 5K, and Kids 1K road race that runs from downtown to Tarrytown and back along the waterfront. The 2026 race marks the event's 20th anniversary, taking place Sunday, November 8. ESW manages full event operations: course setup, start and finish line, participant management, vendor coordination, and the post-race celebration. One hundred percent of event proceeds fund clean water system construction in Burundi, and the race has averaged roughly 4,000 participants and about $300,000 raised for the mission each year.
The Gazelle Foundation was co-founded by Gilbert Tuhabonye, who survived the 1993 Burundian genocide and escaped by running. He later carried the Olympic torch at the 1996 Atlanta Games, won multiple collegiate national championships, and became a coach and community leader in Austin, where he founded the Gilbert's Gazelles running group. Run For The Water grew out of that community and has run every November since, now heading into its 20th anniversary. The race has won Austin Fit Magazine's "Best Of" reader's poll eight times, and its 10-Miler carries an RRCA Championship designation, drawing a competitive field chasing course records that include a 49:07 men's 10-mile mark set in 2013. Ahead of the 20th-anniversary edition, organizers collected two decades of participant stories and memories as part of the milestone celebration.
Run For The Water has always been about more than a race. It's a community connected by purpose, compassion, and the belief that every mile can help change lives.
Full operations for Austin's only 10-mile road race and largest fall waterfront event.
Run For The Water runs from downtown Austin out through the hills of West Austin before returning for a flat, fast finish along the waterfront, with a timed 600-meter Hill Challenge built into the 10-mile course for runners chasing the competition. The start and finish areas take over the 1st Street Bridge, one of downtown Austin's busiest crossings, for a single tightly-windowed morning: setup begins at 3 a.m. and the bridge is fully reopened to traffic before noon. The start arch itself goes up around 4 a.m. on Cesar Chavez Boulevard and comes back down within ten minutes of the starting gun, clearing the way for 5K runners finishing on that same stretch of road later in the morning. ESW manages the full production around the route.
Key Project Leads
“What stands out about Run For the Water is how the quality of the race directly fuels a global mission. We know that delivering a premium, seamless experience on the course helps draw participants year after year, and that translates directly into real communities getting access to clean water. Knowing that our logistical expertise plays a small part in that much larger picture is a powerful motivator for everyone on our staff.”
“Being entrusted with an event that requires such precision, from city permitting to such a compressed timeline on the bridge and at the start line, is a direct reflection of our team's experience. We are proud to maintain one of Austin's most iconic road running events, ensuring safety and a world-class experience while adhering to the tightest logistical schedule.”
Run For The Water has operated for nearly twenty years as Austin's only 10-mile road race. The Gazelle Foundation directs 100% of event proceeds to clean water projects in Burundi. ESW manages full event operations: course setup, start and finish areas, participant flow, vendor coordination, and the post-race celebration.
~4,000
Average Participants
Historical annual average across the 10-mile, 5K, and Kids 1K each November
$300K
Raised Each Year
Directed entirely to clean water system construction in Burundi
100%
To the Mission
Every dollar of event proceeds funds the Gazelle Foundation's work in Burundi
8x
Austin Fit Magazine "Best Of"
Reader's poll winner, one of Austin's most recognized fall running events
As a runner, there's nothing better than lining up for a race that challenges you. But Run For The Water has always meant more than the time on the clock. For 20 years, this running community has helped turn miles in Austin into clean water in Burundi.
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