This year’s gorilla run was an amazing experience. Over 1000 people dressed in gorilla suits came together for a day of exercise, fun, and fundraising for the highly endangered Mountain Gorillas. From the crazy costumes, the big families, the people flying in from thousands of miles away, the brilliant music, and bibulous after party, and so much more, this event was more than a success. This year, there was even a wedding proposal at the finish line!!!

We had 1023 people in the official Guinness World Record count, just 39 gorillas short of the world record set by the Denver Gorilla Run in 2009. That’s OK. Every single one of the organizers is confident that we will break the record the next time we try. This event will keep going and keep growing; it’s becoming an Austin tradition!

We want to thank all of you who participated. We want to thank everyone who dressed up, because it makes the whole day twice as fun! We want to thank our bands Achachay! and SPEAK for playing awesome music. We want to thank those of you who dragged out reluctant friends and family and converted them to Gorilla Run supporters. We want to thank everyone who came to our gorilla gatherings and helped us promote, ever since the race ended in 2011. We especially want to thank everyone who raised money for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund.

Finally, we want to thank our sponsors, for making this all affordable. Thirsty Planet Brewery, Fado, RunTex, Bob FM 103.5, Austin Zoo, Bash Photo Booth, Build A Sign, C2Magazine, CastleHill Yoga, CompuZone, CultuerMap, Dane’s Body Shop, Ellis & Salazar, Grabber Warmers, GoLocal, Gorilla Glue, Hideous Liquors, HoneyMilk, Kung Fu Saloon, Mighty Fine Burgers, MOTOACTIV, NuRiche, P. Terry’s, Pub Crawler of Austin, Red Star, REI, Roger Beasley Volvo, Select Physical Therapy, Silverback Store, United Body Works, Whole Earth Provision, Windsor Communities, Yelp, and Zocalo.

Check out these awesome photos from Evolution Farms Publishing:

Bonita Jeter - 1st Place Female

Next year, can you be the most creative gorilla? Can you beat Teo, Bonita, and Andrew as the first to cross the finish line? Participants outdid themselves with the creativity and variety of the costumes. Check out the photos to see some the full gamut of gorilla expression.

Most Creative Individual – Grape Ape
Most Creative Group – Monkey Business

Highest Fundraising Gorilla – Bob Broilo, $825
Senior Gorilla – Sue Vilick, 76 years old
Furthest Traveled Gorilla – Elias Volanakis, 1,709.80 miles from Portland, OR
Largest Family – Bringin’ Silverback, 19 gorillas

Teo Ledesma, 1st place Male Finisher

First to finish male - Teo Ledesma
2nd place male – Tim Kitching
3rd place male – Ryan Omohundro

First to finish female – Bonita Jeter
2nd place female – Margaret Collins
3rd place female – Emily Behncke

First to finish on wheels – Andrew Crowder

Money Raised for the MGCF -  There are a few more expenses we need to tally, but we can confidently say that just over $55,000 was raised!

2012 AGR Largest Team - Bringin Silver Back

You can register online, or in person at RunTex Friday January 20th from 11:30a – 6:30p and starting at 7AM on race morning, Saturday January 21st.

Race Day Intinerary Start/Finish line begins this year @ RunTex 422 Riverside  (just south of the river). No designated parking area so get there early. Registration: 7-8:30am *Guinness Book Count: 8:15am *Costume Contest: 8:30am Race Start Time: 9am *Party Time (free admittance for AGR participants): 10am-2pm  (bring your i.d. and your dancin’ shoes)
Guinness Book Count Make every gorilla count!  If you would like to be a part of the Guinness Book attempt (and we strongly encourage that you do!), please arrive at the holding area no later than 8:15AM. The holding area will be located at the starting line location in front of RunTex at the S. 1st Street and Riverside Drive intersection. For the count, we encourage you to wear your entire suit if possible, but if it is preferred for you to not wear your mask, that is fine. But to count as part of the attempt, you must be wearing the body portion of the suit. After the group has gathered in the holding area, it is required that the group remain in the holding area for approximately ten minutes while video and photos are taken to document the attempt. Any participant who leaves the holding area will not be counted with the attempt. We anticipate the entire process to take no longer than 30 minutes, so we hope that you will join us in our attempt to break a Guinness Book World Record!  Costume Contest 8:30am Dress Your Gorilla Up! Last year, this fellow was our big winner.  Think you can top this love struck ape?! PROVE IT!  Show up with your gorilla mask and game face on! AFTER PARTY BLOCK PARTY @ FADO THE FESTIVITIES DON’T END AT THE FINISH LINE Head to 4th Street in between Lavaca and Colorado Streets 10:00am-2:00pm featuring ACHACHAY! & SPEAK Free for AGR participants, suggested donation for non-AGR particiapnts  free food + drinks available for purchase + Silverback Pale Ale (brought to you by Thirsty Planet) DON’T FORGET YOUR I.D. IF YOU PLAN ON DRINKING

After the race the whole band of gorillas will traipse on over the block party on 4th Street (between Lavaca and Colorado) for free food provided by Fado and music by the incredible local groups Achachay! and SPEAK. The music starts at 10 AM, and will continue into the afternoon. The awards ceremony will be held at the block party around 11AM. If you can’t convince your friends and families to get furry, at least bring them to hang out. Entry is free, but we suggest a $20 donation at the door.

Many of you returning gorillas will remember Achachay! performing after last year’s run. They made a music video of that historic day… check it out to get pumped up for Saturday!

DON’T FORGET YOUR I.D. IF YOU PLAN ON DRINKING

Check out our video! Go to our facebook page us what song is playing in the car that the banana stops in front of and we’ll enter you in a drawing for a $10 Mighty Fine gift card! We’ll pick the winner later today. Remember to “Like” us if you haven’t already.

Special thanks to Andrew Miller for making this video!

(1) January 16th – Red’s Porch 6-8pm

(2) January 17th – Snack Bar 6:30-8:30pm

(3) January 19th – Hopfields 6:30-8pm

(4) Friday January 2oth: Runtex on Riverside(422 West Riverside Drive) 11:30 am – 6:30 pm

(5) Race Day (January 21st), at RunTex Parking Lot, 7AM- 8:55AM

Remember that you can register at each of the packet pickups too! Bring a couple friends with you and give them the instant gratification of registering and getting their gorilla suit at the same time. Let’s break the world record!

Thrillist

Austin Gorilla Run
“Monkeying through the streets of Austin for the second straight year, the 5K race benefiting the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund sees participants don simian”
http://www.thrillist.com/sports/austin/tx/78704/south-austin/austin-gorilla-run_charity_events 

What Makes Austin

Planet of the Apes: Austin Style
“On January 21, 2012 downtown Austin will be a zoo, literally! People from all over the city will be dressed up in their finest Gorilla suits to participate in the 2nd Annual Austin Gorilla Run. ”
http://whatmakesaustin.com/planet-of-the-apes-austin-style/?sf2892314=1

Your News Now

Active Now
Race Director Unji Udeshi on Austin Cable TV… “Austinites are gearing up to take part in the Gorilla Run. The 5K will take place on the downtown streets of Austin with a few hundred runners walkers skate …”
austin.ynn.com/content/health/…/active-now—austin-gorilla-r…

Austin360.com

Great apes to take to Austin streets for Gorilla Run | Fit City
“Austin, Texas guide to the local recreation scene, including cycling, running and swimming offerings, as well as listings for area parks, golf courses and more.”
www.austin360.com/…/great_apes_to_take_to_austin_s.html

Austin Woman

Editor’s Picks
“This year, get in shape a la a gorilla and give our furry friends a fresh start. Austin’s second annual Gorilla Run—a 5K in which participants dress up in gorilla suits—is letting loose on Jan. 21 in downtown Austin.”
http://www.austinwomanmagazine.com/editor-picks-3

Austin Chronicle

The Austin Gorilla Run - Community Calendar
“Sat., Jan. 22, 9am (2011). $45 for children, $50 for returning runners (who own the previous year’s gorilla suit), $99.95 for first-timers. …”
www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/sports/event-1135430/ 

Yelp

Austin Gorilla Run 5k, Austin | Events | Yelp
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 - Downtown Austin, Austin, TX
When you run in the Austin Gorilla Run you will:1) Run a fun 5K with your friends2) You benefit mountain gorillas3) You get to keep your gorilla suit!4) Eat a …
www.yelp.com/events/austin-austin-gorilla-run-5k

Austin Fit Magazine

Events – The Second Annual Austin Gorilla Run
“750 gorilla suits in closets across Austin are awaiting re-emergence for The Second Annual Austin Gorilla Run! Come join us. January 21st for a FUN run …”
www.austinfitmagazine.com/events/view/1133

You can also find the event on many local calendars, including:

http://austin.culturemap.com/

http://impactnews.com/central-austin

http://do512.com/event/2012/01/21/austin-gorilla-run
http://www.downtownaustin.com/events/

The Denver Gorilla Run currently holds the record. We love our brothers and sisters at the Denver Gorilla Run, but we KNOW that Austin is a cooler, crazier city. Together we can break the record!

Technically we only need 1100 to officially beat the record. Yet Denver’s record is from 2009, and in 2011′s race they had over 1200 people. We can’t just win on a technicality. We need to set the bar much higher to hold onto the record!

Last year was the first year we ever held the race in Austin and we had almost 800 gorillas. The Austin Gorilla Run team thinks we can double our numbers, but we’ll need all the help we can get. Keep spreading the word! Get your friends and families involved and registered to race. Tell everyone you know on Twitter, Facebook, and your blogs that on January 21st, 2012, we’re breaking the world record for people in gorilla suits. Ask them to join us.

Let’s makehistory!

Link to the Old Denver Record

Thirsty Planet’s Silverback Pale Ale is now available! This is the beer brewed by Thirsty Planet Brewing Company specifically for the Austin Gorilla Run and provides proceeds for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. That’s right, drink beer, run a 5k, save gorillas (maybe not in that order).

Help save gorillas by ordering the Silverback Pale Ale at the following locations:

Abel’s on the Lake
Baker Street Bar and Grill
The Barber Shop, Dripping Springs TX
Bender Bar & Grill
Black Sheep Lodge
Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery
Cedar Door
Contigo
Dancing Bear, New Braunfels TX
The Dig Pub, Cedar Park TX
Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant Austin
Fion Wine Pub – Bee Cave, TX and Steiner Ranch
Hopfields
Icenhauer’s
Kingdom Austin Night Club
Little Woodrow’s Austin
Nasty’s
Red’s Porch
Snack Bar
Star Bar Austin
The Tavern Austin
Ten Oak
Whip In

Drink beer, run a 5k, save gorillas (maybe not in that order).

That’s right, the whole organizational team behind the Austin Gorilla Run will be at the REI on 6th and Lamar between 6:30 and 8:30 on Thursday January 5th. You and your friends can register for 10% off the registration price plus a 20% off REI coupon! This is a great opportunity to ask us any questions you have about the race, the after party, the gorillas, and the meaning of life.

This year’s race is less the three weeks away and we’re hoping to break the official World Record for number of people in a gorilla suit. So don your gorilla suit this Thursday and let’s show those gorillas some love!