3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The location! This was the first ever ultra distance trail race at this nature preserve (both a 25K and 50K distance) and Spectrum Trail Racing secured access to part of the gorgeous, back-country area for the race course.
The race directors! Husband and wife duo, Mallory & Jason Brooks, organized this race and – as with every Spectrum Trail Race – they provided the quintessential Texas trail race experience. Brick-oven pizza, live music, local, craft beer, and awesome (and useful!) race swag!
The course! Only ONE loop for the 25K race across varying terrain.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The weather did not cooperate with us this day – Cold and drizzly the whole way through! Fortunately, everyone who ran in and worked the Spectrum race was extremely positive and encouraging, so the weather did not hamper my experience overall.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I was proud of my pacing this race. Candidly, I ran this race, but did not “race” this race – Mentally, I was better for it! I had much more restraint in the early miles which gave me the energy to push the pace in my late miles.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
First four miles of this course are FAST! Watch your pacing because the first (of many) big climbs begin at mile 5 and are pretty unrelenting. Race directors are awesome about marking the course, so you can expect the chance to really focus on your running and less on navigating/worrying if you missed a turn.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
YES! The course runs through a 12,000-acre wilderness preserve that protects San Antonio’s drinking water. Course runs through wooded areas and grasslands and up (and down) steep slopes to overlooks.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
The course runs through varying terrain, so there are a few climbs that present a challenge throughout the loop. You definitely won’t be bored!
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well-organized. Everything was easy from check-in to finish.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes! In the 25k, first male finished in 2:04:20 and first female at 2:31:14.
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 registration online (www.spectrumtrailracing.com) and super affordable pricing. Race directors provide all information on how you can camp or lodge for the race and are great about keeping you updated if accommodations/registration is filling up!
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Full spread! Brands featured include Clif, Tailwind, Epic, and Human Nutrition Project.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
Be sure to wear trail shoes because the jutted limestone makes for a rugged course! I wore a racing vest with soft flasks and found that was perfect for the course layout (several aid stations and water drops).
How’s the Swag?
AMAZING! Here, finisher’s received a custom race BOCO hat. Keep in mind you only get the swag if you EARN it!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5 Stars for the inaugural race – Looking forward to years to come!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
It was pretty close to home. Last year I think I traveled out of state for all but one.
The entire course is runnable and covered. You can run the whole thing, no big climbs or downhills.
Seeing some familiar faces and the volunteers. Everyone was super nice and helped me out.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The entire course is runnable. You can outrun yourself early on and be walking a lot. It’s good and bad at the same time.
The mud and roots. My feet took a beating from these two. I changed socks on every loop and they would be steaming like crazy. I also kicked roots and cursed.
Humidity. It felt like it was about to rain most of the day and night. It did rain a few miles up the road. It only got up to 65 but I did sweat a whole lot. Some people where shivering uncontrollably at night when the temps dropped.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
It’s not rocky like the name says. Petition to change it to Rooty raccoon!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Finishing…I’ve had trouble finishing a 100 so this one felt good. Also, I kept my stomach together the whole time.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Look out for roots and check the weather. There are some speedsters that usually show up so run at your pace.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Take it easier the first loop to finish better. Also, I changed my shoes the last loop which I shouldn’t have; my Nike kigers were doing so well all day with no issues but I wanted to have dry feet and that led to some nasty blisters.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
It’s fast and rooty. It’s four 25 mile loops so you’ll be able to see your crew a lot and get an idea of how far things are.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yeah, but it all kinda looks the same.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Yes, most people get hurt by the roots and fall, and you can outrun yourself. There were a few huge mud puddles that were ankle deep.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Yup, Tejas Trails has their shit together and always puts on top notch events.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yeah there are always a few speedsters every year. Usually the winner is around 12:30-14:00.
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.
Nope, you could sign up last minute and get a hotel with no problem.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Pretty standard stuff you’d expect.
Weather and typical race conditions
You can’t predict Texas weather. It could be hot or cold or both
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
Depending on the weather,
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
People mainly stay at the aid stations.
How’s the Swag?
The shirt is nice. The buckle is cool too.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Set in beautiful hill country
Great course markings and use of a small space for a big race
Great support from RD’s and volunteers
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Felt like 80% of the course was on rocks or hard pack. The feet took a pounding.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Nothing much out of the ordinary here.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Not a great race for me. I tried to enjoy the scenery and learn lessons for the next one.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Respect the course. I thought the minimal (in relation to many other ultras of the same distance) elevation would make Bandera much easier. But you still feel the climbs at the end and the hard pack and rocks really wear on you.
It’s January, but it still gets hot in TX, especially if you’re used to running in temperate climates.
An extra pair of shoes can be a big help. Just as a comfort for the feet or to switch to in case of a blow out.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
No matter how good you feel coming in, it’s going to feel bad at the end, be prepared.
Pacers can help you push yourself harder than you might on your own. Try to learn how to do the same without one.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Learn to run on rocks.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes, beautiful Texas hill country. The course fits in a good amount of scenery in a small space.*
* – 2019 not run on the normal Bandera 100k course
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Coming into the race, I’d say no, especially in comparison to other courses with more elevation and/or technicality. But, at the end of the race, I’d tell you it’s plenty difficult.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Impressively well put-together, especially considering the very last minute venue change.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Very much so. Being a Golden Ticket race for Western States brings out the speed.
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.
Texas is big and races there can hold a lot of runners, so getting into the race is fairly easy. But the location is somewhat remote, so you’re either camping onsite or in for a longish drive the morning of the race.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Standard
Weather and typical race conditions
Freezing in the morning, pretty hot (esp coming from Seattle in January) in the day, and back to cold as the sun starts to set.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
Shoes that can protect you from pounding on rocks all day.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Absolutely. The course loops through most aid stations multiple times and the aid stations are a short distance (not via the course route) from each other.
How’s the Swag?
Standard. They go big for the top prizes though.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
It was certainly a different course than my standard and would be a good entry ultra given the lack of technicality. But it’s way out there in Texas, so you either have to really want to get to this particular race or have it be part of a larger trip.
Summary: Rocky Raccoon 50M and 100M are popular trail races for beginners looking to complete their first ultras or veterans looking for a PR in either distance. All runnable trails on soft pine needles, wooden bridges and minimally technical, yet sometimes rooty terrain, with minimal elevation change. Loop course with generous cutoffs, and includes a 100k on the day of the 100m and a 50k on the same day as the 50M. In 2016 the course was adjusted to accommodate construction, and in 2018 was changed from 20 mile loops to 25 mile loops because of damage from Hurricane Harvey.
Race Details
Lessons Learned from Race Reports
It’s more rooty raccoon than it is rocky, with tons of roots to stub your toes on and trip over, and the later into the race, the more likely you are to trip on them. Pick up your feet, know that you’ll stop picking them up as well as the race progresses, and stay positive in spite of stubbing your toes along the way.
Not a hilly course, but not many flat sections. Constantly rolling along and the small rollers feel like big hills by the end.
With it being a loop course that you repeat 4 times (2 for the 50), this has its benefits of learning the course and knowing what’s coming, but also the mental challenge of taking on the exact same loop several times.
Weather is incredibly unpredictable, as previous years have seen freezing temps, snow, torrential downpours, heat and humidity, and everything in between, even as the race progresses. Have drop bags and/or crew with lots of different clothing, gear, and fueling options to adjust with the weather.
Have a good headlamp – you will start in the dark and nearly every runner will run several hours or more in the dark, so have a good headlamp to see all the roots to trip over.
Make sure crew has chairs to sit on at Dogwood; otherwise they have to sit on the ground. A tarp will work too.
Some sections of forest roads along the park border, which are more runnable. If it’s been particularly wet, this can be a muddy mess, and if it’s been particularly dry, it can be a sandy, dusty mess. Again, weather plays a big factor in this race.
If it’s wet, the mud can be more like clay, which gets very slick
The first loop will be the most crowded, then it thins out and it’s nice to see people on the out and back portions
This is a CUPLESS Race! No cups given for cold food/drink (cups given for hot food/drink at night). You are required to stay at the aid station with any paper and/or styrofoam cups/bowls and risk being DQ’d if you leave the aid station with them.
There is a $5 park fee to be paid upon entrance to the park for anyone over 12.
No dogs allowed on course or at any aid station.
Elevation
Total gain/loss: ~11,128 (100M), ~5,564 (50M)
Ft/mile gain: ~111
Total climbs: Countless rollers per loop, anywhere from 20-80 feet with a couple of 100 foot climbs
Total aid stations: 7 per loop – Dogwood (start/finish), Nature Center, Gate, Damnation, Far Side (water and gels only), Damnation (again), Nature Center (again)
Furthest distance apart: 4.27 (100M), 4.27 (50M)
Locations:
100M: 3.78, 6.5, 9.5, 14, 18.3, 21.3, 25.1
50M: 3.78, 6.5, 9.5, 14, 18.3, 21.3, 25.1
What’s available: Typical aid station fare plus Tailwind, Vfuel gels, and Saltstick. Depending on the weather, cold stuff when it’s extra hot and hot stuff when it’s cold. Not all aid stations will have the same foods. There will be meat & vegetarian options with no claims to gluten free or vegan needs.
Crew access
Access at all locations. No parking at Gate, Nature Center, Damnation, or Far Side. No tents at the Start/Finish, but pop up shelters allowed.
Crew instructions/directions: Best places to crew are at Dogwood (Start/Finish) and Nature Center. There is one road in and out of the park, Park Road, and the distance from Dogwood to Nature Center is about 1 mile. No parking at Nature Center, so it’s best to walk/run/bike, as you have plenty of time to get between the two aid stations.
Pacers
100M – Allowed to start from any aid station after 50 miles. Only one pacer at a time, no muling, if age 60+ you can have a pacer the entire race
50M – Allowed to start from any aid station after dark. Only one pacer at a time, no muling.
Summary: A 2+ day timed event on a .69045 mile loop course, with a mixture of crushed granite and pavement, and mainly flat, this is the second year on this course. It’s run in in Buffalo Run Park in Missouri City, TX, which is in the SW part of Houston. The race starts on a Sunday and runs through 1/1/2019, also has a relay option for teams up to 10 runners. While there is a wide range of abilities and speeds, the overall purpose of the race is to raise money for pediatric cancer and that is highlighted throughout the race and course.
Weather in the past has tended to start in the 50’s and have a chance for mist or sprinkling rain at some point during the event. This time of the year in Texas is fairly volatile, so plan accordingly!
Have a plan for where you might rest during the event – some went to a hotel, some used their own tents or tents the race had available
Lots of positive reviews about the aid stations, the volunteers, and the race organization
Bring warm clothes for the cool nights, especially if you’re walking
Know how to take care of blisters and other foot care – lots of mentions of hot spots, blisters, blister care in the med tent, etc.
Bring changes of shoes, especially ones with toe box room to account for swelling, and changes of clothing for day and night
Take the time to rest if needed. Lots of runners take rest breaks, thinking they are done, then they have a few hours rest and are ready to get going again, running better than pre-rest
Some runners have designated times they’ll rest, like the heat of the day, or 3-4 hours at night
For runners doing any event over 24 hours, most rested at some point and ate solid foods, and some had a plan on when they rested, others rested on a whim. Lots of runners pointed out afterwards that they wished they had planned their rest rather than waiting until they were too broken to continue.
While road shoes work, consider having trail shoes on hand in case your feet feel like they’re getting beat up
Elevation
Total gain/loss: Minimal to none. Super flat course with minimal elevation gain.
Nothing specific noted on the race website, but race reports noted typical aid station fare, both hot and cold, salty and sweet, and water and electrolyte drinks all offered at the start/finish location. As with most races, if you have special dietary needs, bring your own stuff.
Crew access
At start/finish, being a loop course. Crews can set up in the infield and tents are allowed. More crew details here.
Summary: Taking place in the self-proclaimed, “Cowboy Capital of the US,” the Bandera 100k always brings a fast crowd because it’s a Western States Golden Ticket Race. The most often mentioned feature of the race is the plant life along the trail, which promises to bite, scratch, and sting. The terrain is varied, with few switchbacks and lots of short, steep, climbs and descents, along with rocks and plenty of runnable trails along the way. The 100k distance runs two 50k loops and there is a 50k and 25k race as well.
Lessons Learned from Race Reports
Cupless event so make sure you have your own cup/water bottle, but they will have cups for hot food
TX winter weather is incredibly unpredictable – bring several clothing options no matter what the forecast says leading up to it
In more years than not, race reports talk about it being cold, at least in the morning and evening
There is an out and back section early on, so be prepared to pass runners going the other way, particularly the faster folk out front, as this race draws fast runners
Climbs are short and steep, many with loose rocks, so have good shoes and be patient
You run through some deep trenches (3-4 feet), so a bit different compared to other trail races
The Enchanted Forest looks cool in pics, but it also looks difficult with the shadows that the leafless trees cast on the ground – be careful with footing, especially since there are lots of rocks
You can hear the finish line when you still have one more climb left, so be prepared for that and not discouraged with it happens (twice!)
Rocks, rocks, rocks. If you stop paying attention, you will likely clip a toe and fall!
TONS of intersections, so know the course, know what markings to look for, and pay attention and don’t just follow who is ahead of you.
Lots of sunshine and exposure on the course – wear a hat and sunglasses
First 5 miles and last 5 miles of each loop are some of the hardest sections due to climbing
Patience is huge with a two lap course – lots of people don’t leave anything for lap #2
The trails are still quite technical even though they are runnable, and the climbs are short, steep pop ups, but they wear you down
Consider wearing knee-high compression socks or long pants if it’s cold or because of the sotol cactus plants alongside the trail
That being said, the sotol is fairly hard to avoid, so embrace the pain!
You can go from super techy to suddenly very fast and flowy, so being able to transition gears is big.
Compared to 2016, the current course is about 1.8 miles longer with an extra 1500 feet of vert, so expect some slightly slower times.
Elevation
Total gain/loss: 6500,6500 (estimate based on several Strava activities)
Ft/mile gain: 104.8
Total climbs: N/A, the entire thing is rolling with gains anywhere from 50-350 feet at a time, but they feel relentless
Course Map/Elevation profile (Old elevation profile with new one still in the works, but still similar to the current course)
What’s available: In addition to typical aid station fare of salty and sweet foods, they offer Tailwind and Saltstick. See this page for more info on what’s typically available and special foods for hot/cold weather.
Access Locations: All aid stations, though parking is only available at the Lodge, which is the start/finish and halfway point. No vehicles at other aid stations; walk, bike or run there.
Race: Hoka Bandera Endurance Event 25k Runner: Coach Frank FisherRace 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 ...
Race: Hoka Bandera 100K Runner: Ricke Harris Race Date: 01/09/2021 Location: Bandera, TX Results: 15:17:15 Strava Activity Link: https://strava.app.link/Lm0OWzDcedb 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? COURSE - The beautiful vistas and challenging terrain. Two loops with a lot of rocks and steep climbs ...
Race: Bandera 100K Runner: Rick H Race Date: 01/11/2020 Location: Hill Country State Natural Area, Bandera, TX Results: 15:54:31 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/3004736853 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? Challenging course. Beautiful landscape. Positive volunteers and well-supported. Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t ...
Race: Bandera 100k Runner: Olin Berger Race Date: 01/05/2019 Location: Camp Eagle, Texas Results: 13 OA, 9:59:51 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2062630903 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? Set in beautiful hill country Great course markings and use of a small space for a ...
Texas weather is unpredictable. It was dry for this race all of about 2 hours. After that – it rained hard, then just sprinkled for 4 hours, rained hard again, sprinkled some more, got foggy, then sprinkled some more. I saw some of the gnarliest falls – from trips and falls. First mile this old guy tripped, broke his glasses, and tore up his elbow. Saw the same guy later in the race do a Charlie Brown fall when Lucy pulls the football away. The Dude’s feet went up over his head, it was awesome – but only because it wasn’t me and he didn’t get terribly hurt…
Texas people are very nice people. And they have their crap together. It made everything really fun and entertaining.
The trails are actually pretty nice trails, they are soft, covered in roots and very runnable.
Because you do the loop multiple times –
You know exactly how far you have to go
You know when you are getting close to an aid station
You know when you are getting close to finishing a climb or descent
You know when you are getting close to the finish itself
You can have a planned pace and easily check your pace throughout the race
You actually get a firsthand glimpse into what is happening at the front of the race since they will come flying back by you (multiple times)!
BONUS: if you see a root that looks like a snake – after the 3rd time you are freaked out by it, you might (and I say might – since late in the race you might hallucinate a snake) realize that stupid root you’ve seen 6 times now is NOT really a snake.
Not so much:
Texas weather is unpredictable. It was dry for this race all of about 2 hours. After that – it rained hard, then just sprinkled for 4 hours, rained hard again, sprinkled some more, got foggy, then sprinkled some more. I saw some of the gnarliest falls – from trips and falls. First mile this old guy tripped, broke his glasses, and tore up his elbow. Saw the same guy later in the race do a Charlie Brown fall when Lucy pulls the football away. The Dude’s feet went up over his head, it was awesome – but only because it wasn’t me and he didn’t get terribly hurt…
The mud or more so, the clay. I personally love wet and environmentally demanding races, but didn’t seem to manage well here. It was so freaking slippery. Water on dirt is fine, unless that dirt is clay. I’d say 2/3rd of the route we ran this year was covered in clay type dirt and it was very very slippery. So slippery in fact that I tore my calf muscle due to slipping going up a small incline.
As I ran the first mile I said to myself – these roots aren’t so bad, then I saw that old guy go down, then in a matter of 20 more minutes watched multiple more people trip all over the place. I got really worried that would be me later in the race. Luckily I was relegated to a crawl with my busted ass calf so didn’t get the opportunity to actually run much past mile 65 but if I had, I am sure the roots would have been calling my name. Tripping sucks, and I saw plenty of bloody knees and elbows to know that I don’t want to trip.
Weirdest thing:
There are some seriously impressive people that run these races. It was great to see a very large assortment of people running. There was a 14 year old kid, an 82 year old man, large people, small people etc. Sometimes I would see people that were absolutely crushing the race, and I would continuously ask how the heck they were so fast! At the same time, I know a lot can happen in a hundred and any given day people can have a race of their lives or a tough outing. That is what makes these races interesting. Anyone that has the guts to step out on a race course is simply an awesome person regardless –even when they are faster than me ☺
Other thing I saw was people taking naps at aid stations. Hadn’t seen that before, and I wanted to but didn’t.
Highlights
Seeing the race develop, it was inspiring to see the leaders come back at me each time on the loops, some of them are very intense
Running with my buddy Dan. I had a great time, and they provided the exact amount of motivation I needed to keep me going, without ever going back into the Demon cave (I was in the pain cave from mile 65 on).
Running my second 100 miler and completing it as well as getting to see Dan finish his first 100 miler.
Having my dad not have to worry about logistics. He knew where to go each time, since it was the same!
I did take my lessons learned from my last race and executed them well.
Seeing 2 sun rises is fun, but they weren’t true sun rises since it was more cloudy and rainy.
Lessons for next time
I think I will plan on having my feet taped before the race ever starts. My pinky toes, my insteps and my heels. For whatever reason I can run 50 milers and 100k’s no problem, but with 100 miles I get blisters. Having your feet taped mid race eats up time.
I would have liked to not have pulled my calf. Not sure how to prevent that though… Stupid calf.
The only thing I can think of is not running two 100 mile races within 3-4 months.
I feel like I started well, I was perfectly on the pace I wanted to be on. I think I hit 50 miles at almost 11 hours perfectly. If it weren’t for my calf, I was really happy with my performance until that point. Plus I finished, and to me that meant a lot. My dad told me at one point, you can go home and people will say “yeah a torn calf –that sucks, stopping makes sense” or “DANG! You finished 100 miles with a torn calf!?” Not sure if that was stupid or not, but darn it my dad has a way of motivating me to keep going…
The other thing is that there are a TON of people that run this race. The first loop was extra crowded because the volume of people. Just be patient, it thins out pretty quick.
Most Important Course specific knowledge
Don’t go out too fast unless you are Matt Urbanski. It’s easy to do. Don’t do it.
They say the roots come out at night. To hell with that! They are out all day long. All day, all night. They don’t go away. Even when I had been relegated to a walk they were still there, making you look down constantly. Just waiting to take one of your toenails off, or worse take you down to the ground.
Keep your attention on the trail, and what I mean by this, is don’t turn your head around to look back and try to keep running. I saw more people trip or slip this way. It is silly and an easy way to get hurt.
Fix small issues early. If you have a rock in your shoe. Stop and take it out, don’t let it manifest and cause bigger problems later. I did wear gaiters which I would recommend.
If you have Verizon, cell coverage is actually pretty good. My buddy Dan ran with his Garmin and its live tracking feature told my dad and Dan’s parents exactly where we were at all times. That was pretty slick and made things really convenient for them. It was great.
This year we did a weird loop that was not the normal course, but the out and back for the 3rd aid station was a turn around point. It only had gels and water, so if you plan on needing more food or calories, pack extra when leaving Damnation.
ALWAYS check in with the aid station to make sure your number was captured. There was some drama of someone cheating because their number didn’t get captured. He was actually DQ’d. So just make sure someone gets your number at each aid station and everything is good.
Aesthetics
Yes this is sort of a pretty course. It had some nice features like running by a lake. BUT, compare this to something like Whistler Alpine Meadows, then this race is lacking. The big draw is the speed, convenience, and ease of crewing
Difficulty
This is not a super easy course for three reasons (they say this is a great beginner 100 miler, and I tend to agree mostly due to the atmosphere this race provides).
There is NOTHING easy about 100 miles. Period. I don’t care if it were bone flat, 100 miles is a long friggin distance!
The unpredicatability of the race
Getting wet, cold, frozen, overheated, dehydrated are all potential issues. It all depends on the weather
The trail
Roots – need I say more. These aren’t your normal roots, these are big ass roots. WA trails have some roots, but the saying that everything is bigger in Texas fully applies here.
The trails were never really conducive to getting some good speed going. There was not really a place where I felt like I could easily get a flow going. There are lots of turns and no real straightaways. If there were, unfortunately they were so muddy we could hardly get anything going on them.
Organized and well run
Very well run. Tejas trails has got this race so well-greased, it was amazing, they had so much food, water, drinks, aid station help, and folks providing the most amazing aid it was fantastic!
They even had feet people at multiple aid stations (the main one and damnation) that took good care of my feet.
I liked the half-way point aid station Damnation – it was a music party and the folks there were genuinely having fun but being super helpful!
Competition
This is a USATF trail 100 mile championship race – or something like that. So it brings with it some speed. Interestingly it doesn’t bring a ton of sponsored runners, but there was still some solid speed out there.
I on the other hand was far too back to really care about the competition aspect for myself so it didn’t matter to me. (Other than wanting to know how I am doing)
Logistics
It is relatively easy to get to. It’s about 45 minutes from the Houston airport
There are no hotels immediately close nearby, so me and my dad (and Dan) stayed at an air bnb within 20 minutes of the race.
There is a 5 dollar charge for entry into the park, so on race morning, there is a huge line that builds to get into the park – plan to leave 20 minutes earlier than normal to wait in line. THIS IS DISCUSSED IN THE RACE PACKET BUT PLENTY OF PEOPLE MISSED IT.
Drop bags for Damnation were supposed to be dropped off the day before the race at packet pickup. I missed that fact, but it didn’t hinder me much since the aid stations were so good.
Drop bags for the main headquarters were dropped by the runner on the morning of, and it was labeled by bib number.
There were no trail work requirements or prerequisites to run this race, which made things simple.
Aid Stations
Great aid stations.
They really were efficient at the aid stations, if you wanted to get in and out, the aid workers were really good about helping folks out. If you wanted to chill and recover, they would help with that too.
Weather and typical race conditions
This is what I discussed earlier – it was WET, MUDDY, and mid 50’s, but variable every year.
Gear
A vest is good here, but I saw plenty of folks just using a hand held water bottle.
A sock change is recommended every loop unless your feet are bullet proof. If you start getting blisters – take care of that stuff early since it will do nothing but get worse as you go along.
Spectators
This is not a super spectator friendly course, but I am not really sure what 100 miler is… Your family and friends get to see you at the HQ and that is it. You start and end at the HQ, and you go through it at least 1 time each loop. This race makes sense if your crew has a tendency to get lost, or you want to make it easy on them.
The packet says your crew can meet you at other aid stations so long as they walk. My dad actually hiked out to another aid station which was great and was really helpful. His watch said he put in about 40 miles by the end of the day.
Awards
Everyone that finished the 100 mi got a nice chrome buckle. If you go sub 24 hours, you get a bigger fancier one that says you did it sub 24.
Overall Score
I give this race an 6.5 out of 10. It was right up my alley in terms of difficulty (from an overall difficulty due to 100 miles) but by the fourth loop I hated the course, I hated the mud and well, I hated my calf especially. Seeing the race happen live was pretty cool and it was inspiring to see the top people going so fast especially in those conditions. I’d be interested to know what the regular course is like, but really don’t have a desire to go back down there. It was a nice set of trails (when they were dry) and the course was fast, but 100 miles is a long way, and I am looking forward to some more mountains on my next one. On to Cascade Crest!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
I really like running at White Rock Lake and 90% is around the lake, so I was really familiar with the entire course.
The race is pretty flat so the people I talked to said they PR’d or got close.
The weather was really nice that day, not too hot nor too cold.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The race has a 5k and 10k that starts 30 minutes after the half and the race is an out and back so the last 3 miles there were still plenty of people from the 10k on the course. It wasn’t too bad but I did notice that it got a bit crowded on turns.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Before the race I had planned on doing the first 10 pretty chill and picking up the last 5k and I thought I executed it well that day. I felt so good the last 5k and at the finish it made me wonder if I could have done it a bit faster.
Lessons Learned – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner or yourself on the next time around
Parking sucks. I got there an hour before and had to park 1/2 a mile away.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
It’s an out and back so you only need to know half the course.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
This race has been around for a few years and the organizer hosts a lot of other races around Dallas, so yes.
Logistics – Anything special regarding getting to/from the race, hotels around the course, registration…?
No issues with any.
Weather and typical race conditions
It’s called too cold to hold but its been warm some years. You can’t really predict the weather in Texas.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yeah
How’s the swag?
Nice, everyone gets a shirt. I also got a sweater as an award.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
This was the first race I did this year where I woke up from my own bed… so it being close to home was something nice. Oh and I told some of my family that I was doing it so they got to go.
It felt like a big time race but still felt “local”
I love running around White rock lake and we do a loop around it.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Marathoners and Half runners start together so it can be a bit crowded the first few miles.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I loved running through downtown, I felt like a tourist! I need to get out more. I thought I managed the middle miles well. I did a Matt U @ mile 19.
Lessons Learned – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner or yourself on the next time around
Don’t go out too fast since you start on a down hill & there’s a stupid hill at mile 21.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Yeah at mile 21 there a good hill that’ll slow you down a bit but it’s not too long.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Yep, from packet pick up to the finish line I had no issues.
Logistics – Anything special regarding getting to/from the race, hotels around the course, registration…?
It’s a big city so hotels are plentiful. The train station is about a block away from the start; it sells out about a week before.
Weather and typical race conditions
Its Texas… you never know… earlier in the week we were in the mid 80’s and race morning in the mid 30’s, so keep an eye on the weather!
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yep I saw some friends along the course.
How’s the swag?
Pretty good, event shirt & finishers shirt.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
With half marathoners starting at the same time as the full marathon, it feels a bit crowded until mile 9, when they split off.
Course is much more rolling hills than flat
If it’s windy at all, you’ll likely notice it in the latter miles around White Rock Lake, miles 11-20
If it’s rainy, the roads can seem slick
Weather is unpredictable, could be cold, rainy, windy, humid, hot…
Easy to get caught up in the speed of the half marathoners at the start
Course
Type:Two loop course, with one of the loops being a lollipop loop off the main loop
Start/Finish Info: Starts and Finishes at Dallas City Hall Plaza. There is parking available or runners can use the DART Rail. There are 4 start corrals, each with different closing and start times – know your corral information!
Hills: 70ft miles 0-3.5, 160ft miles 4-7.5, 50ft miles 10-10.5, 50ft miles 11-11.5, 120ft miles 18.7-21, 50ft miles 21.5-21.8
Race: BMW Dallas Half Marathon Runner: Scott Sayler Race Date: 12/12/2021 Location: Dallas, TX Results: 1:49:09 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/6375974175 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? Great course! Nearly perfect weather. Well organized! (see below...no negative comments) Highlights of your race – What ...
Race: Dallas Marathon Runner: Alan Date: 12/10/2017 Location: Dallas, TX Results: 2:56:09, 28th overall Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1309667511/overview 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? This was the first race I did this year where I woke up from my own bed... so it being close to ...
Summary: The Capt’n Karl’s Trail Series takes place on the hilly, steep & rocky trails of Pedernales Falls State Park along the Pedernales River, which is 9 miles east of Johnson City & 43 miles west of Austin, Texas. The terrain is run along lots of challenging, technical single track along wooded trails & (seasonal) creek crossings. It is a 2 loop 30k course that starts and finishes at the same location.
Race Details
Lessons Learned from Race Reports
Cupless race, at least for cold drinks
1.5 miles into the race you’ll cross over a field of boulders running along the Pedernales River, followed by about 5-6 miles in a straight, gradually inclined line next to a wired fence that seemingly never ends.
Have a good headlamp!
The course is runnable for the most part, around two-thirds of the trail is mainly dirt and light rocks. The other third of the trail can be very technical (rocky) with slippery rocks, interspersed throughout the course.
Big difference between the first loop and second loop not only because of daylight for most of the first loop, but also because 2nd loop is quite isolated with runners being spread out.
The course was marked well for the most part, but there were some long stretches where you couldn’t spot a marker for what seemed like forever; keep your head about you as best you can in the dark and in the latter miles of the race in order to pay attention to where you are and not freak out if you don’t see a marker.
Elevation
Total gain/loss: 2600/2600
Total climbs: 4×300 feet, but with lots of rollers within those climbs and in between the climbs. None of this race looks flat.
Longest climb: From miles 1.5-7.3, gain 300 feet with lots of false summits along the way, from miles 10.9-12.4, gain 300 feet with false summits. Since it’s a loop course, you’ll hit these same climbs at miles 19.7-25.6 and 29-30.6. Otherwise, lots of hills from 50-100 feet of gain.
Steepest climb: Countless climbs of ~100 feet in .2-.5 miles throughout
Runner: Jeff K (the team was Jeff, Chris, David, Ben, Armon, and Zach)
Date: 3/31/17
Location: Bastrop to Luckenbach TX. 192 mile relay
Results – 23hrs:45min (6 runner Ultra team) 1st place overall
3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most
I have never done a Ragnar relay and surprised how fun it was. My nephew Chris, who lives in Houston and his buddy put the team together and they initially recruited me to be the “old guy” on the team. Actually, it turned out that I wasn’t the oldest as Christopher’s dad (My brother in law) got on the team as well. We ended up with a diverse age group ranging from age 24 to 58.
We won the race. The next team was an hour slower.
Our youngest team runner Ben, was 24. He was really fast. He could run the shorter 2-3 mile segments in the 5min pace range, and the remainder in the 6’s It was really exciting to watch.
Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Definitely could have done without the 90 degree heat. I got the stomach cramps from dehydration after the second leg, and sunburned to top it off.
Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race
Things get generally weird between 2AM and 5 – like you are in a dream state.
Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular
Our team was in the last wave to start at 11:30AMon Friday. I was in position three of the rotation. It was already hot and that took its toll on us because we weren’t doing a good job of pace management. At this point in the race we should have been going slow, but we were trying to catch up to the teams who started earlier and pass them. This ultimately lead to one of our runners dropping in the third segment because he just couldn’t keep any fluids or food down anymore. We then had to figure out how to cover the remaining legs with 5 runners and manage one of the 5 that wasn’t feeling so well. Doing this was like trying to solve an impossible puzzle and almost laughable to watch. No matter what combinations of who was doing what, it just seemed like somebody was going to get stuck with a bunch of extra miles! I ran a double leg in the 4th to cover for the runner who was out. The team was kind enough to let me know this right as I was finishing my leg that I could just “keep on going” and they’d meet me 4 miles down the road at the next checkpoint <ugh>.
Towards the end of the 5th segment it was around 4-5AM and still very dark. There was this weird exchange where they had it decorated like a Santa’s Village complete with reindeer. It even had this LED projection on the trees that looked like twinkling stars. It was very surreal like you were on an acid trip. Later we had a really good laugh about that.
By the start of the last segment, We knew we had passed a lot of runners and thought we were in the front or very close. There was a race announce that there were two legs cancelled in the 6th and we were to just drive to the checkpoint and start running again. This actually worked well because we had another runner who was basically done after the 5th. I had to pick up a longer segment than originally planned and finished it as strong as I could. We would stop the van more than usual to set up a cheering station for our runner with cowbells and stuff like that so it made the last few hours really fun.,
Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
We had a couple dedicated drivers (Chris’ and Ben’s wives) this helped immensely as the runners didn’t have to worry about it.
Organization of your stuff is key. The van quickly become a sea of clothes, banana peels, empty GU packs and junk. I used a simple strategy where one compartment of my pack held all electronics and the other clothes. this made it easy to find stuff.
If you can, bring your own iPhone portable battery pack. There will be a lot of competition for plugging it in to the van.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I found out the hard way that team with some fast dudes and “effective pace management” can be mutually exclusive. During the first part in the heat, I ran the opposite of proper pacing. We all did. Had I done this differently, I know I could have crushed the later segments in the cooler weather and not had any dehydration issues.
Aesthetics – is it a pretty course
Yes. You would see a lot of wildlife like deer and wild turkeys, and ranches with real Texas longhorn steers. I think the river section with the cypress trees was the nicest, but it was unfortunately at night.
Difficulty – is it a tough course
The question I had before this was … “Is a 50K or 50 miler harder or easier than a relay?” The feeling is quite similar at the end of both. Because of the sleep deprivation, and the fact you get cramped from riding in the van, the last leg is kind of like those final miles in an ultra.
Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Ragnar is run by a corporation – Reebok I think. It has the feeling of a corporate marathon with a lot of marketing behind it.
Competition – is there a strong field?
It probably varies greatly between race locations. It seemed like in this Ragnar, some teams might have had a couple fast runners and the rest were recreational. Some teams were clearly out there for the fun of it which was awesome. Our team of 6 had two sub 3hr, two low 3hr, and two 4hr marathoners and we won the race. Had we had to race against a team that was comprised of the top 6 Chuckanut finishers, we would have been toast.
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.
Luckily for me, our team captains set it all up. All I had to do was book my own flight
Aid Stations
Not all the exchange points in a Ragnar have food and water. You need to bring all your own stuff in the van.
Weather and typical race conditions –
This one was hot, like 90’s during the day. Evenings and early morning were 60-70s.
Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
The Ragnar handbook lists everything you need to bring. And more.
Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends
Could be, if they want to drive around and follow you
Awards –
We just got the same finisher medals as everyone else
The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it
I think Ragnar is a bucket list kind of thing. Someone might be able to convince me to do it again, but it might be a while. I think with the right group you can have a fantastic fun time.
What aspects of the race did you like the most? I love the loops. The predictability of this race make it really manageable both psychologically and logistically. The weather. We had a perfect day. Chilly in the morning, not humid during the day, and generally overcast. This made for fast running conditions. Positive vibe. There is a good feeling at this race. I’ve been here five out of the past seven years and it’s just a fun place to race. It’s not that Huntsville, TX has anything special I like, but when I’m in the state park at this race, it feels good, both as a racer and as a crew/support person.
3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most
I love the loops. The predictability of this race make it really manageable both psychologically and logistically.
The weather. We had a perfect day. Chilly in the morning, not humid during the day, and generally overcast. This made for fast running conditions.
Positive vibe. There is a good feeling at this race. I’ve been here five out of the past seven years and it’s just a fun place to race. It’s not that Huntsville, TX has anything special I like, but when I’m in the state park at this race, it feels good, both as a racer and as a crew/support person.
Relying on the kindness of crew, Eric Schneider. Photo: Alan Velazco
Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
We still have to wear this darn ankle chip timing device. It cuts up my skin and was my biggest race “wound” I had to recover from. It’s time for them to catch up with technology advances and get some better timing devices. And while I’m on this topic, given that they have us a wear a timing device, it would be really nice if they had more tracking check points for spectators at home to follow. It’s a small park and it seems reasonable to have more checkpoints than just every 20 miles.
Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular
I managed this 100 mile race better than any 100 miler I’ve ever run – this was my 10th attempt at the distance. I stayed in control all day, I pushed myself but stayed within my capabilities, and I worked hard all the way until the finish. I had a huge PR and I finished 3rd in the race. I have felt for a long time that I was capable of this and it was so awesome to finally put it all together on race day. I remember a specific spot on my way back to Damnation aid station on loop 5 when a Macklemore song I’d never heard before came up on my mix – Ten Thousand Hours. I got goosebumps and wanted to pump my fists in the air as certain lines totally clicked at that moment with me. The gist of it is that people that do well at their craft do so because they put in the time and they work hard to become what they want. I felt it all coming together out there this year at Rocky and it felt awesome!
Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
It’s not flat and there are lots of things to trip over. Train on trails and learn to pick up your feet and maneuver through uneven and rooty trail so that when you’re tired during this race, you don’t kick a root, fall on your face, or tweak something and ruin your race. And while there are no big climbs, it’s rarely flat. There are constant rollers that are runnable (I ran the entire course), but most people will likely need/want to walk at some point, so be ready for this and don’t let it mess up your mental game when the little hills don’t feel so little later on.
Along the lines of my first point, have a good headlamp so you can see the roots well. I love my Petzl Nao and never felt like I had trouble seeing the rocks and roots. The first 45 minutes is in the dark and there will be dark before the finish so do yourself a favor and make sure you have a comfortable and highly effective headlamp!
Aesthetics – is it a pretty course
It’s nearly all in the woods of SE Texas. If that’s your thing then it’s pretty. I don’t run this race for the aesthetics. 🙂
Difficulty – is it a tough course
It’s 100 miles, it’s all runnable, but running for 100 miles is difficult.
Come and get it! Tailwind, we’ve got your tailwind here! Photo: Alan Velazco
Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
They’ve got this race down. It was smooth and I had no logistical problems whatsoever.
Competition – is there a strong field?
Fast times. Some years are faster than others. It’s been the USATF national championship race for the past few years so it typically brings at least a few fast folks.
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.
I don’t think it sells out. Packet pickup is straightforward. Crewing, aid, drop bags – all that stuff is standard with no weird rules to abide by.
Aid Stations
I feel really good about how I handled this aspect of my race, and as such, I can’t comment much on the aid stations. I heard others saying how awesome the aid stations and their volunteers were, but I only utilized them for refilling Tailwind at Damnation aid station each loop. I drank most of my calories, but had crew handing me new bottles at all aid stations except Damnation, so I rarely had to stop. I ate my own food, primarily Pringles, along with some Clif Bloks. I had a couple ginger chew candies early on and three gels total on the day, but all of this was from my crew. I also had big hits of Starbucks Coldbrew coffee through the middle three laps which tasted great and gave me some caffeine. My stomach was good all day. At one point I pounded too many calories and had to wait to eat again for longer than normal. My fingers got a little puffy at one point so I backed off on liquids for a bit and ate more Pringles. And on lap 5 when I got to pushing myself harder, I went with gels and Tailwind so as to take less risk with food and stomach issues while I pushed it to the finish. Super happy with how this big logistical piece played out.
Pacers –
I was able to have one for the last 40 miles. My teammate Alan was there for me for the final loop and it was really helpful having him there with me. I told him ahead of time how I work with pacers and what my expectations were and everything went according to plan. We literally said maybe 30 words to each other the entire time, I ran in front of him, and I even kept my headphones in. However, his presence those final 20 miles definitely helped me to stay on my game and to work hard all the way until the end.
Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
I wore my Salomon 12L vest (more comfortable than my 5L) – it was nowhere close to fully packed. I wore my Salomon compression shorts, my compression racing shirt, and Nike Wildhorse 3 shoes. Everything went smoothly with gear and I didn’t have to change anything out all day. As always, I recommend practicing with what you’re going to race with and to go with what gets the job done and is most comfortable to you. For me, it’s my tight clothes and my pink compression socks!
Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends
Depends on how much they want to move around. They can be at Mile 0, 3, 16, and 20 of each loop if they want to make the effort to move along the main road in the park. They could also just camp out at the start/finish and catch you every 20 miles. And while there aren’t a ton of spectators on the course, there are so many loops and out and back sections that I was always seeing runners and giving and receiving support that it didn’t matter that spectators weren’t overly plentiful.
Awards –
Altra giftcards for some of the top finishers along with some yard art. Belt buckles for all finishers. There was cash for some of the top finishers if they are USATF members.
The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it
5 out of 5 stars. I love this race, and I love it all the more now that I nailed a 14:04!
Highlights of your race: I finished. At mile 20 I really, really, really wanted to pull the plug. I was already a big sweaty mess and it was only getting hotter and sunnier and I could feel my stomach starting to revolt what little nutrition I had put into it. When I mentioned it to Matt, he gave me this look that said he wouldn’t even consider it and said, “Nope, you’re not quitting. Get back out there. Walk out of here if you have to, but you’re going to finish.”
3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most
The Atmosphere – This is our 5th time at Rocky Raccoon (1st time for the 50 since it’s been on a separate weekend from the 100) and the atmosphere is why we keep coming back (it’s certainly not the weather!). The aid station people are great, the race director and coordinators are great, and it’s a really supportive atmosphere of runners and spectators
The course – I like loop courses and out and back sections, so some people might hate this. I liked how I could see other runners ahead and behind me, how I could run the first loop and then strategize for the next two loops as to where I could go faster/slower, and it was so easy to remember aid stations and when I’d see my crew
The aid stations adjusted well to the heat – they had tons of ice on hand (I had them put it down the front and back of my sports bra), lots of cold water, and they would pour the cold water over me any time I asked.
Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The heat – Out of the 5 times we’ve been at Rocky (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017), one out of the 5 years has had great weather (last weekend for Matt’s 100), one had pretty good weather (Matt’s 16:26 in 2015), once was crazy humid (Matt’s DNF in 2014), one had crazy thunderstorms and rain and mud (both my and Matt’s redemption finish in 2012) and one was 19 degrees at night and not much warmer in the day (both my and Matt’s DNF in 2011). The weather is such a gamble that it’s a reason I’m not tempted to return for quite some time.
83 degrees with humidity
Did I mention it was hot?
Matt talking me into not quitting at mile 20
Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race
There are alligators in the park. When we ran the race in 2012 we visited the Nature Center and found out there were 40 adult alligators living in the park at the time, but we were assured that in the winter they hibernated and didn’t come out. Still, with it being 83 degrees outside, the thought crossed my mind that I might see one.
Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular
I finished. At mile 20 I really, really, really wanted to pull the plug. I was already a big sweaty mess and it was only getting hotter and sunnier and I could feel my stomach starting to revolt what little nutrition I had put into it. When I mentioned it to Matt, he gave me this look that said he wouldn’t even consider it and said, “Nope, you’re not quitting. Get back out there. Walk out of here if you have to, but you’re going to finish.” Of course I did just that and let myself walk out of each aid station, drinking Ginger Ale and eating Pringles for about 5-7 minutes before I’d run (shuffle) again, and that’s what got me through.
At the finish, aka, “What the hell was that!?!”
Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
-Be ready for roots, for rollers, and any kind of weather and pick the right clothes and food to accommodate at the last minute
-It’s really helpful to have crew, as crew can be at miles 3, 12, and 16 of each loop, and they only have one road to walk/run/bike on a 2 mile stretch to see you (not supposed to drive because runners cross this road and there’s limited parking). It’s also easy to have drop bags but I love the support of crew and it really motivated me knowing I’d see Matt and Paavo so often
-If you do have crew, it’s nice for them to have at least some chairs to sit on at Dogwood (the start/finish) and Park Road, as there’s not seating (there are benches at Nature Center), and some crews set up pop-up tents at Dogwood (enclosed tents are not allowed), along with plenty of food for the day. It’s a long day for them too and it’s fairly inconvenient to leave the park and go to Huntsville for provisions like coffee and food, so having everything they need for the day is helpful.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
-Tailwind doesn’t work for me. I tried drinking it several times throughout the day and I just couldn’t stand the taste or smell.
-Still need to figure out nutrition. Tailwind didn’t work, only ate 5 blocks the whole time, along with a handful of Pringles and some Ginger Ale. And I puked out everything at mile 43. Had I been able to keep eating in the heat I think I would have been able to have a better time. Then again, the heat contributed to my stomach issues, so who knows.
-I think it’s time to close the chapter on Rocky for a while. We’ve been here 5 out of the last 7 years and as I was running it, I thought, “This is the last time I want to think about Damnation aid station for a long time.” It’s been good but it’s time to move on before coming back again.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
-The course is quite rooty, so be ready to pay close attention and pick up your feet (especially with the first hour in the dark). That being said, there are some nice stretches of long forest roads that are smooth and easy to run on.
-The course was more sandy than I remembered, perhaps because it was so dry (it rained once the whole 2 weeks we were there)
Course Description
–0-3 (Dogwood to Nature Center) – Tiny rollers, rooty sections of the course, run on wooden bridges along the water, some important turns to pay attention to
-3-5.7 (Nature Center to Damnation) – Starts with tiny rollers and rooty single track trails, then finishes with a rolling forest road to Damnation aid station (you can see runners ahead of you on this road coming from Damnation to Park Road)
-5.7-9.3 (Damnation to Damnation) – Out and back starting on a dirt forest road and then turning onto a wide single track with some roots that will definitely grab you if you’re not paying attention. Lots of out and back traffic here so I was glad it was wider, and this was a pretty exposed section that got very hot, not much elevation change
-9.3-12.3 (Damnation to Park Road) – Mainly rollers on the forest boundary road for the park. Feels like you can see for miles and sometimes feels never-ending. Turns into more of a single track path for the very last bit into Park Road aid station
-12.3-16.7 (Park Road to Dogwood) – Starts out with single track, not super rooty, then follows power lines for a bit as it rolls, then turns on the same trail as you went out on to Nature Center, along the water, along the wooden bridges, along some of the rooty trails, and up a little hill. The trail then parallels the road and you have two road crossings until the finish (which is the turnaround where you do 2 more loops). Once you actually reach the finish, which I call the “landing strip” you thank your stars that you don’t have to go out for another lap
Aesthetics – is it a pretty course
Not really, but I’ve also been to UTMB, a course that makes everything else look not as pretty. It is at least all in the park, it’s mostly shaded, nice weather can certainly help, and it’s all trail and/or dirt roads, so no pavement other than the road crossings.
Difficulty – is it a tough course
On paper, no. It’s minimal elevation gain, it’s not overly technical, and times are fast. In reality those rollers along the dirt roads can seem endless, the roots can seem downright diabolical, and the weather can really mess with things.
Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well organized. The new RD (2nd year as RD) did a really great job, aid stations were great (I think Liza Howard was at Damnation and it made my day to have her pour ice in my sports bra because she’s such a badass), and though the RD changed, the supportive atmosphere did not.
Competition – is there a strong field?
Not like the 100 brings out. The winners were fast but there wasn’t a deep field (I placed 3rd female, which I’m certainly proud of, but had there been any depth to the field I would have been nowhere near 3rd).
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.
Nope, just sign up online in time. The race used to be on the same day as the 100 but they split them up to accommodate more runners and I don’t believe they sell out anymore.
Aid Stations
Full aid stations at 3.1, 5.7, 9.3, 12.3, 16.7 of each loop (3 loops)
The best crew a girl could ask for
Weather and typical race conditions –
All over the place. I believe typical weather is in the 60s for highs and 40s for lows, which is what it was the weekend before, but not our weekend.
Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
It is a cupless race, so I wore my Solomon vest with a flask and a collapsible cup, the flask for water and tailwind and the cup for Coke and Ginger Ale. Sadly, I dropped my cup somewhere on the third lap (RIP Green Cup) which makes me sad because Matt carried it on UTMB and it’s been one of Paavo’s favorite all-time toys, and it’s his travel bath cup (ok, ok Amazon can fix that)
Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends
Yes, as they can see you at miles 3, 12, and 16 of each loop. They can see you at other spots, but it takes a little more work to get to them, so check the course map for other spots.
Awards –
Top finishers and age groupers get locally made art. I got a huge metal butterfly, along with a $100 gift card for Altra Running gear. Score!
The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it
4 out of 5, with all the important stuff being 5 out of 5, and it’s the people and great atmosphere that have kept us coming back. I’d say the volatility in weather and the fact that I’ve been there so many times and am a bit tired of the course is what’s going to put me on a little Rocky hiatus for a while.
The Grasslands Trail Run is held in the Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands, more than 20,000 acres managed by the U.S. Forest Service and situated north of Fort Worth. The trails loop among rolling hills and through a mixture of pine and oak grove forests, open fields, and livestock. There are 50 mile, marathon, and half marathon races.
Surface
Horse trails, with some rocks and roots, and areas of deep sand.
The trail is a cloverleaf configuration with the start/finish located in the center and 5 out and backs. Lots of trail crossings and out and back sections have lead to wrong turns for racers in the past, so pay attention!
Start with an out and back of 4.8 miles on the blue loop.
Complete a full blue loop of 13.5 miles going clockwise (opposite direction from initial out and back).
Complete a white loop (gray on map) of 12.8, going counterclockwise.
Complete a yellow loop of 10.4 miles going clockwise.
Finish after completing a red loop of 8.9 miles.
Crew access
Furthest distance apart: 13.5 miles
Crew instructions/directions: Crew access available at the start/finish area, which the racers will cross 4 times (not including start and finish)
Supplies for 50-Mile and Marathon participants can be left in drop bags at the Start/Finish aid station, which you will pass through 4 times.
Pacers are only allowed with 50-Mile participants for the final loop. No exceptions.
3 Bests – Running with my brother, nice cool 50 degree start, cool race packet: cute 5th anniversary tech tee and beer ticket.
Not so much – This was only my second road race, ever. I did not enjoy running on the road.
Weird factor – The idea of the 10/20 is 10 miles, 20 bands with a headliner. The headlining band was scheduled to start 2 hours after the race start, well after I was ready to go home and get some food. The bands weren’t musically amazing, but to be fair they had to rally at 8am in the morning for the crowd of runners, so props to them for that.
Highlights of your race – I did a good job of pacing myself. I had negative splits for all, but miles 7 and 8. Then I kicked it into (my) high gear.
Lessons for others – The finish line is only .1 away from the starting line and the port-a-potty lines were non-existent at the finish compared to 50 people deep at the start. Walk the extra distance as part of your warmup.
Aesthetics – It’s okay. The course goes through a commercial and residential area of Austin called the Domain. It’s landscaped, but it’s suburbia.
Difficulty – Mostly flat.
Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants? Well organized.
Competition – No, I am not a top 16% runner in most races. The winners pack was limited to about 15 runners.
Logistics – A parking map is provided on the website in advance. It did not sell out.
Aid Stations – There were many. Port-o-potties at every band site. Water and Gatorade at 5 of stations. One cold towel station around mile 6.
Weather and typical race conditions – Very sunny. Cool to start, but in the 90 minutes I ran it warmed up by 10 degrees.
Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy? Nada
Spectators – My sister, her boyfriend, and our nephew were our 3 spectators. We got to see them 3 times as the course snakes back on itself a few different times.
Awards – Top 3 in most of the usual categories.
The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it 4 stars out of 5.
Share your pro-tips: Have each loop planned out in advance. From goal time, food, water, and clothing. This is a course where anyone could get a PR if the plan is in place. The temperature each year can fluctuate drastically. They have had snow years and years in the 80’s. The race can be cold at the start and hot during the day. Plan your clothing and hydration accordingly.
Distance raced and other options: 50 miles. 100 mile race is the weekend before.
Results: 14:24
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The people. Texas trailer runners are a super friendly group.
Volunteers. At each aid station there are super friendly trail runners to assist and encourage you.
The course. Being a loop course makes it easy logistically for the runner and the crews. Your crew can basically follow you the entire race.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you?
Out and back section of the course. This is not a usual thing but due to construction this year there was an out and back section.
Repeat sections- The course is set up in loops. For the 50 mile race you do 3 loops. In each loop there are sections that you go past multiple times. For example, one section I ran through a total of 6 times.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Texans- You meet some crazy fun people. Like the guy who wore very short american flag shorts and a collared shirt with the sleeves cut out.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I think I paced the first loop pretty well and in general had a good nutritional plan, at least until late in the race where I got tired of taking in gels.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Have each loop planned out in advance. From goal time, food, water, and clothing. This is a course where anyone could get a PR if the plan is in place.
The temperature each year can fluctuate drastically. They have had snow years and years in the 80’s. The race can be cold at the start and hot during the day. Plan your clothing and hydration accordingly.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
It’s definitely not a mountain scenic course but is pretty in its own Texas way. The parts by the lake are nice.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I think most people would call this a runnable course. The roots make it somewhat technical especially in the dark and late in the race. Overall, it is runnable and a place to aim for a distance PR.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Tejas Trails is a very well organized company. They have been around along time and know how to organize great events. Most of their races have been around along time and are very well marked and have volunteers who have been around for years.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
The 100 mile race typically has a very strong field and is sometimes the US 100 mile championships. The men’s and women’s 100 mile trail american records are on this course. The 50 mile is not typically a stacked field but still has very fast times.
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.
Rocky Raccoon is very easy to get into. For both races you can register day of. Logistically you can fly into Dallas and drive a few hours south to Huntsville or fly to Houston and Drive an hour north to Huntville. There are plenty of hotels in town and Huntsville State Park also allows camping.
I would recommend camping as this avoids race day parking. The park has little cabin like shelters for rent for a good price and hot showers available. The park is only 15 minutes from Huntsville if you need any last minute supplies.
Aid Stations
The aid stations have all the typical stuff and a decent selection of hot food including quesadillas, hot dogs, burgers, pancakes, and BACON.
Weather and typical race conditions
The weather can be hot or cold. In the past few years it has varied from 30-80 degrees. On average though I would say it is perfect running conditions.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
With the heat on race day I had bad chaffing problems which I think came from the excess sweating. Have a plan in place for chaffing.
Be ready for drastic weather changes. it could be cold at the start and hot in the afternoon. Have the right clothing in your dropbags.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
This is a great race for spectators. Crews have access to almost the entire course. I recommend having your crew bring a car or even a bike to get back and forth between the aid stations.
Awards – Each finisher gets a pretty nice medal and the overall/age group winners get custom awards. Usually something crazy Texas like. This year’s looked something like this:
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
On a 1-10 scale I would give this race a 7. I would recommend this race for people wanting to run a PR and for people looking to escape the winter cold/rain and run in nice weather. I think everyone should run a Tejas Trail race once in there life. If not Rocky Raccoon, consider Bandera or Cactus Rose.
Race: 
