Race: Hoka Bandera Endurance Event 25k
Runner: Coach Frank Fisher
Race Date: 01/08/2023
Location: Bandera, TX
Results: 18th, 2:26:31
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/8360705673/overview
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
It’s a super cool weekend with the 100k being a Golden Ticket race, so the vibes are fantastic! I really liked the course; challenging, technical but still fun and runnable. It’s fairly big for a trail race so lots of good competition close to home for me.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Parking was not great, but not the worst. Other than that, I didn’t have any issues.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
We have this super fun plant here in central Texas called the sotol. It’s like if you sent an aloe plant to spend the summer in hell and it came back angry and dehydrated with lots of tiny razor sharp teeth. The course is covered in these plants, and they’re almost impossible to miss while you’re running. At the same time they don’t really hurt when you run through them, you’ll just have a these tiny little cuts on your legs at the end of the day.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
This was more of a hard training run for me, so not an ‘A’ race. My goal was to have a good strong run and beat my legs up a bit, so in the words of GW, “Mission accomplished!” I managed my effort really well, stayed on top of nutrition and hydration and had a solid race start to finish. The climbs and descents were strong, I handled the technical portions well, and came out unscathed (besides aforementioned minor scratches). I also wanted to stick my nose in it a little earlier in the race and ‘race it’, which I did, just so happened to be a really fast year.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Don’t worry about the sotol. The climbs are punchy but short. Shoe choice is worth considering. You’ll want something with some heavier lugs and a rock plate, or lots of cushion to protect your feet. I did slip a fair bit, but lots of dry rocky sections with loose dirt, and also a good amount of bare rock on the downhills which can also be slick for some outsole compounds.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Arrive a little earlier for better parking. The course is tough, but not scary tough. It’s very runnable so don’t be afraid to attack the front section a little harder.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Lots of rocks, but if you stay focused and go it’s not as slow as it looks. The first 7.5 miles are the most technical and slower part of the course, which is also where most of the vert comes in as you go up and down 3 large hills. It gets fast after that till the last climb around mile 13.5 which is probably the steepest and rockiest climb of the whole course, but it’s super short and only takes a 1-2 minutes. It pitches down real quick to a short technical descent and then you can hammer home the last 1.5 miles.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes, this is a very pretty part of Texas. Quintessential Hill Country with a number of really nice views along the course.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Yes. If Courtney Dauwalter says it’s tough, I think it’s tough. Although it doesn’t have a ton of vert, the technicality and punchy ups and downs make it a challenge. The conditions can certainly add to it too.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well done! Tejas Trails kills it.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes! Lots of super fast regional folks as well as out of state peeps. I was impressed with how fast this race was. My time would normally be top 10, so this was an extra fast year. It made it lots of fun though, and some tight racing all the way through.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Easy to get into, but it is a big weekend event that’s in a remote part of Texas so not a lot of hotels/lodging near the race course. There is camping around the start line. San Antonio and Kerrville are also both around an hour drive.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
The 50k goes on at the same time as the 25k on Sunday, so well stocked aid stations with lots of volunteers. I didn’t stop so not totally sure what’s there, but given the size of the event I would expect a good spread.
Weather and typical race conditions
It’s Texas in the “winter”… It could be 75* and 99% humidity with some showers like it was for the 100k on Saturday, or it could be 55* clear and sunny like it was the next day for us.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Other than shoes like I mentioned above, not really. Aids are close enough to not worry about having to carry a lot of water. Some people wore longer shorts or tights to protect their thighs from the sotol, but I don’t think it’s that bad.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yep. Really easy access for spectators. They do charge for non-racers to enter the state park, but the way the course is setup it’s easy to get around. Plenty of people cheering around the course.
How’s the Swag?
Nice long sleeve T-shirt. Cool awards for podium peeps, some sotol style sculptures, buckles for the 100k.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5 out of 5. Highly recommend the 25k for anyone looking for a good race in the winter. I think I’ll come back for the 50k next year. Of course, the 100k is a Golden Ticket race and Western States qualifier. Probably one of the better options to get the WS qualifier for those of in the Texas and southwest regions.
Frank Fisher is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.