Former College Baseball Star Dawson Bailey Shifts to Austin Marathon

After a successful Division I baseball career, Dawson Bailey has found a new athletic passion in running the Austin Marathon.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Dawson Bailey, a former college baseball star who hit 22 home runs and 35 doubles for Niagara University, has traded his baseball cleats for running shoes and is set to compete in his first Austin Marathon. After playing professionally in the MLB Draft League, Bailey moved to Austin, Texas and was inspired by the city's robust running scene to take up long-distance running as a new athletic challenge.

Why it matters

Bailey's transition from a power-hitting college baseball player to a first-time marathon runner highlights how athletes can find new ways to challenge themselves and pursue athletic fulfillment even after their original sport ends. His story resonates with many who seek to reinvent themselves through new physical pursuits later in life.

The details

After a successful college baseball career that included being among the top home run hitters in Niagara University history, Bailey played professionally in the MLB Draft League. However, shoulder injuries forced him to reconsider his baseball ambitions. He then moved to Austin, Texas in 2024 and was inspired by the city's running culture to take up marathon training, signing up for the Austin Marathon after watching a podcast by one of the race's sponsors.

  • Bailey played his final college baseball season as a graduate student in 2022.
  • He played professionally with the State College Spikes in the MLB Draft League in 2022.
  • Bailey moved to Austin, Texas in 2024.
  • Bailey began training for the Austin Marathon in August 2025 after watching a podcast by race sponsor Bare Performance Nutrition.
  • The 2026 Austin Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Dawson Bailey

A former college baseball star who hit 22 home runs and 35 doubles for Niagara University, and later played professionally in the MLB Draft League. He has now taken up marathon running and is set to compete in his first Austin Marathon.

Niagara University

The Division I NCAA school where Bailey played college baseball and established himself as one of the top home run hitters in program history.

State College Spikes

The collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League where Bailey played professionally after college.

Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN)

A sponsor of the Austin Marathon whose podcast inspired Bailey to sign up for the race after moving to Austin.

Nick Bare

The founder of Bare Performance Nutrition, whose podcast about training for a first marathon motivated Bailey to register for the Austin event.

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What they’re saying

“This marathon is my way of proving to myself that growth doesn't stop when one chapter ends — it just asks you to show up differently.”

— Dawson Bailey (statesman.com)

“BPN is one of the Austin Marathon's sponsors. The podcast was all about how to train for your first marathon. I always had the marathon in the back of my mind and after that podcast, I hopped on my laptop and signed up. Once you register for the marathon, your runs become more intentional.”

— Dawson Bailey (statesman.com)

What’s next

Bailey will continue his training regimen in the weeks leading up to the 2026 Austin Marathon on February 16th.

The takeaway

Dawson Bailey's transition from a power-hitting college baseball player to a first-time marathon runner in Austin demonstrates how athletes can find new ways to challenge themselves and pursue athletic fulfillment even after their original sport ends, inspiring others to reinvent themselves through new physical pursuits later in life.