This is the December edition of Trail Racing over Texas’ popular Brazos Bend races with the marquee event being the 100-mile.
The Brazos Bend 100 is the largest trail race in Texas and one of the fastest trail races in the world on flat and smooth trails with incredible support from four aid stations per loop. The course is 99.9% flat, and the only “hill” is a 10-foot rise over 0.1 of a mile. The rest of the ~16.7mi loop is flat surfaces that move from hard crushed rock, soft hiking trails under tree canopy, and smooth horse trails. Most runners get away with a road shoe. Conditions in December can have a mix of anything but are typically great for running.
Brazos Bend is a spectacular State Park located just South of Houston/Sugar Land and is most known for its abundance of birds and American Alligators among other wildlife. The gators are a part of the race; there has never been an incident in the parks 50 year history. Enjoy them on your run, from a distance, and you may get some unique race photos!
Complete the 50K or 50M in April AND the 100K or 100M in December to earn the Brazos Bend Challenge Coin.
Western State Qualifier
The Brazos Bend 100 miler distance is an official Western States Endurance Run qualifying race. Since BB100 is held in early December, around the same time as the WSER lottery, a sub-30 hour finish will earn you a lottery ticket to the following year’s lottery for the next years WSER.
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Don’t
So normal policy is 75% credit 30 days out but now it’s 25% credit six weeks out when UOU CANCELED? For every spot that gets a useless 25% credit (because … MORE
So normal policy is 75% credit 30 days out but now it’s 25% credit six weeks out when UOU CANCELED? For every spot that gets a useless 25% credit (because it really is useless, why would anybody out of state make travel plans that rely on no rain), you’re going to sell it anyways and make even more money. HIGHLY disappointed with this.
Harder than you think
Sure, it's a flat race on easy terrain. But the 120% humidity just means you cannot sweat. TROT race means a lot of nice volunteers though so you are taken … MORE
Sure, it’s a flat race on easy terrain. But the 120% humidity just means you cannot sweat. TROT race means a lot of nice volunteers though so you are taken care of at each aid station.
Wildlife Galore!
Brazos Bend is a beautiful park and it was amazing to see how many alligators were around. Registering for this race is absolutely worth it, just to experience a very … MORE
Brazos Bend is a beautiful park and it was amazing to see how many alligators were around. Registering for this race is absolutely worth it, just to experience a very scenic part of Texas! The race company Trail Racing Over Texas did an awesome job and I am a big fan of the sweatshirt and buckle the 100 mile finishers received.
The course is deceivingly hard despite being so flat and known as being fast, but this year’s had much more humidity than expected. Between that and the flat terrain, it definitely made for a challenging race. Using the same muscles over and became painful and the humidity made it tough to run. Thankfully it was mostly overcast, but when the sun came out, it was pretty miserable. Once it was night, it stayed fairly warm, but running became much easier. The aid stations were well stocked during the day with lots of good food, but the night food was the best. There was also soup, quesadillas and mashed potatoes. We had 5 aid stations on each of the 6 loops, including the start and finish.
Seeing the same scenery over and over did get a little boring, but it was fun to see alligators throughout the first half of each loop. I also saw an armadillo, a snake, some frogs, a couple of raccoons and some deer. The first half of the loop was mostly along a fire road with water on either side and it was really cool to see alligators in the water and occasionally on the side of the trail. Their eyes glow orange when illuminated by the headlamps at night! Some of us were even stopped by a gator at night on the path and some sticks were throw to encourage it to move along.
Despite the loop being almost 17 miles and a couple hundred runners in the 100, it got very lonely as everyone was spread out. This is definitely a race I’m glad I experienced though and highly recommend it!
Mind Over Matter!
Running a hundred miles is hard, but if you are doing your first ultra race this is the course for you. The support from the member of the TROT team … MORE
Running a hundred miles is hard, but if you are doing your first ultra race this is the course for you. The support from the member of the TROT team are great and the other runners are just as amazing. The course was a tad muddy due to rain but still nice to run on. Yes the course is mostly flat with some false flats and rocks. The trails are nicely covered and I did spot an alligator!
My First Ultra
It was an amazing and humbling experience! It made me wanna do the 100 miler which I did the next year and it was amazing! They put on a an … MORE
It was an amazing and humbling experience! It made me wanna do the 100 miler which I did the next year and it was amazing! They put on a an amazing race and great course for a first timer.
My 1st Ultra (50)!
29 marathons under my belt at the time. Never an Ultra and had only completed 1 trail marathon so really had no idea what to expect. Thought this would be … MORE
29 marathons under my belt at the time. Never an Ultra and had only completed 1 trail marathon so really had no idea what to expect. Thought this would be a “1 and done” experience for me, but after finishing in what was a surprising time for my expectations I will definitely run another ultra!
You won’t find the crowd support along an Ultra course like you may or may not at other races. Note to self! However, on this course you had beautiful scenery to view much of the time as the entire race is run on the trails of the Brazos Bend State Park. They offer a 100, 50, 26, and 13 so lots of other runners on the course as well which helps for the absence of crowd support.
This course is FLAT!!! Based on what I’m learning this is NOT typical for trail running. It also is mostly smooth (no branches, stumps, big rocks, obstacles) so minimal tripping and falling. My one other trail marathon I took 6 full face plants where my entire body touched the ground and after the fact learned that’s not uncommon in trail races. Things to learn!
Weather was cold, but from what I hear we got lucky. Many years this race is cold and rainy or muddy. Be prepared.
Definitely a different vibe with trail racing and I think I may like it better. It’s not as competitive. There can be a LOT of walking going on b/c let’s face it running 50 or 100 miles with no walking is impossible for most of us. It’s completely acceptable. Everyone is supportive of each other. It’s all about finishing and not a focus on the time it took. Love the “attitude” of trail runners.
My husband ran his 1st full marathon that day. With a 30 hr course limit due to the 100 mile course I figured there was plenty of time for him to finish and encouraged him to go for it. He said he never felt intimidated even with the 100 mile rock stars on the course passing him and he was walking. Again, trail running seems to be more accepting of any and all paces.
The 50 mile course is 3 loops. People set up their personal “station” at the start line area. When you return to the start to begin your next loop you can stop at your personal station to drop off clothes, get your own fuel, change shoes, or whatever it is you may need. LOVED that concept vs in a typical marathon I am packing everything I may need for 26 miles.
Food on the course is over the top for races sponsored by this group: TROTS. This was my 2nd trail run and both were put on by TROTS. Not sure if other Ultras and Trail races have this much food offered on the course or not. Mashed potatoes & ramen noodles at the start of each loop. PBJ sandwich, cookies, crackers, chips, candies, pies, and more at each of the aid stations along the way. You won’t lack for something to eat along the way. For me there was no need to pack food based on what they provided. They did advertise tacos at the finish line. What they didn’t say was it’s a taco truck, you have to walk back to the pkg lot to get to them and oh yea….you have to pay. 🙁
Extremely well organized race. Given the distances and length of time this race takes for the 100 milers it runs incredibly smooth. I didn’t witness a single hiccup all day.
Limited bathrooms along the way. Not what I was used to from road races. 1 or 2 in the state park that you pass by and don’t recall any port a potties elsewhere on the course? Your in the woods, though, so……
My 1 “complaint” about this race and the other TROT race I’ve completed is the swag. The tshirt was terrible!!! Nowhere does the race say what event I completed. Just says Brazos Bend 100. That’s it. For non runners they wouldn’t have any clue what this was! My husband’s 1st marathon and imagine his disappoint that he finally gets to claim his 1st finishers shirt and no mention of a marathon? Silly I know, but we runners can be silly that way! 🙂 My 1st Ultra and I too was disappointed it didn’t say 50 mile Ultra or something. Also, very minimal differential in the medals based on what race you ran. Wish the shirts were different for each race, clearly spelled out the race/distance and difference in medals based on distance. The other TROT race I completed was the same “complaint”.
Overall a GREAT race based on the price, the flat and smooth course, the scenery, the food and just the atmosphere/attitude among trail runners. If you have not attempted a trail runner and/or ultra before do NOT hesitate. Don’t think you can’t just because you are slow or for any other reason. Even if you walk most or all you will be supported and encouraged and you can do it!
An authentic Texas race
Here is what I consider positives about the race: the course was very flat, almost as flat as possible. The scenery is interesting. I've lived in MA, CO, and CA … MORE
Here is what I consider positives about the race: the course was very flat, almost as flat as possible. The scenery is interesting. I’ve lived in MA, CO, and CA and this was NOTHING like running in those places. Running along swamps with alligators and wild boars is very unique. The three laps of 16.7 miles is easy to digest and helps you navigate how much more you have left to run. The course is really well marked. You would have to be pretty clueless to get lost.
What could be improved: I would have appreciated mile markers. My GPS didn’t make it through the entire run so the last lap I didn’t know how far we had left. At the very least, mile markers at the aid stations would have helped. The first two aid stations were a bit far apart (4-5 miles). It wasn’t a big deal on the first lap when you don’t need them, but subsequent laps it felt far. The flat course I think was actually harder for me. Others might prefer it, but I was using the same muscles over and over and found myself wanting a hill once in a while.
All in all, a quality race. I am glad I did it.