This late-year showdown through Brazos Bend State Park brings a unique twist to ultrarunning: sharing trails with resident American alligators. The sellout event offers four distances to 900 registrants—100-mile, 100k, marathon, and half-marathon—with the longer races serving as Western States 100 qualifiers.

The pancake-flat course winds through varied terrain, from hard crushed rock to soft canopy trails and horse paths. With only one 10-foot hill, the course moves fast. Recent optimizations include a new connection from Elm Lake to the Nature Center, reducing two-way traffic and road crossings while ensuring accurate distances. The 100-miler covers six loops of 16.7 miles each, while the 100k tackles a 5-mile loop plus four 14.2-mile loops, bypassing the Hale Lake segment.

Four fully stocked aid stations provide everything from fuel to medical supplies, spaced every 3-6 miles depending on your distance. Runners must carry their own hydration as no cups are provided. The Start/Finish at Elm Lake Pavilion serves as race headquarters, buzzing with crews and spectators.

November’s mild Texas weather invites holiday costume wear, with the top three outfits earning free future race entries. Pacers join after 50% completion for the longer distances. Buckles await 100-mile finishers, while shorter distances earn medals.

Cutoffs are generous but firm: 33 hours for the 100-miler, 32 hours and 15 minutes for the 100k, with all races ending Sunday at 3:00 PM. The combination of wildlife encounters, flat-and-fast terrain, and festive atmosphere creates a distinctive ultrarunning experience.