The EAS Run for the Water 10-Miler isn’t exactly a new race. There’s always been a 10-mile race as part of the RunTex Distance Challenge, but this year’s 10-miler is so different than prior races that it might as well be classified as a brand-new race. So we will.

With a spanking new course, new title sponsor (thanks EAS) and new beneficiary (the Gazelle Foundation), this race has been rekindled and given a giant boost of adrenaline.

More than 1600 runners are expected for the EAS Run for the Water 10-Miler which will be the second race in the Distance Challenge series. It’s set for Sunday morning (November 11th) in downtown Austin at 7 a.m. And, contrary to preliminary plans, it will start and finish at 4th and San Antonio, right near Republic Square Park, just a few blocks north of Lady Bird Lake.

Packet pick up and registration begins Friday (10-7) at the main RunTex store (422 W. Riverside) and continues through Saturday (9-6). There is raceday registration and packet pick up at Republic Square Park.

The 10-mile distance in the Distance Challenge has always meant tough courses (remember the mountainous climbs on the Pervasive course?) and the EAS course follows that tradition. But it isn’t nearly as hard as the Pervasive course (or even the Girls Scouts 10-Miler last year). EAS will certainly be hilly, but the course covers very familiar terrain for most Austin runners who will have probably done numerous training runs (and a few races) on portions of the course.

Starting on San Antonio, the course heads south a few blocks before plunging west down Cesar Chavez. There’s a short, steep climb up Veteran’s to Lake Austin Boulevard before the course rolls up Exposition (for about a half mile) to Enfield.

The fun starts on Pecos where you’ll have a solid mile-long climb to Scenic. Between miles four and five, will be the hardest part of the course. But following that, there are some nice downhills before the course picks up Lake Austin Boulevard at the Hula Hut (seven-mile mark) and retraces itself. The last little character test is the series of short ups on Cesar Chavez in the final mile.

There will also be a 5-K (at 7 a.m.) and a special Gazelles Kids K at 9. There will be plenty of free parking available downtown as well as at free lots at One Texas Center (on the south side of the river), the City Hall Garage and the State Garage at Nueces and 4th.

Profits from the race will be directed to the Gazelle Foundation, a nonprofit, which is earmarking funds to build wells in war-torn Burundi. Burundi is the native home of two of Austin’s best and most beloved runners—Gilbert Tuhabonye and his cousin Bernard Manirakiza—who have given so much to the running community.

Tuhabonye won’t be racing Sunday as he is directing the volunteers staffing the water stations, but Manirakiza will be racing for the first time in months. Look for him at the front.

For more info, go to www.runtex10miler.com