Brazos Bend 100 is a late-year annual event that qualifies for both the prestigious UTMB World Series and the Western States 100. The popular event offers 5-course options to 900 lucky registrants: 100-mile, 50-mile, 26.2-mile marathon, and 13.1-mile half-marathon. The flat course through Brazos Bend State Park has a variety of terrain between hard crushed rock, soft trails under the canopy, and horse trails. Only one hill is 10 feet, so it moves fast, and the three longest races are UTMB qualifiers. The various distances have the same route through the park, but longer distances have multiple loops with the strict finish on day two of the event at noon, the official 30-hour cutoff time. Given the time of year, participants are invited to wear holiday costumes, and the top 3 best costumes receive comped entry to any future solo race on the schedule. See site photos of past winners for inspiration!
There are Aid Stations fully stocked with drinks and food. Water, Red Bull, Gatorade, Base Performance, and various sodas for liquids. Snacks include various sweets, salty treats, sandwiches, and burritos to keep runners fueled. Medical supplies at aid stations are limited, but support is present when needed. Pacers are allowed for the longest races and can begin after 50% of the course has been completed. Awards are presented to the top 3 men and women for each distance, the top 2 masters, and the top 3 teams for the relay. Medals are given to all finishers regardless of course length.
The Western States 100 is the grandaddy of ultra-running events. It is an epic 100-mile trail run from Olympic Valley to Auburn, CA, in one day on the last weekend of June. It is the world’s oldest 100 trail race, starting in 1974 as one of the ultimate endurance tests. Over the course, runners will climb more than 18,000 feet and descend 23,000 feet. See the dedicated Western States Endurance Run website for details on the lottery process, training, support, and volunteer opportunities. Participants must qualify for the race within two years and enter the lottery. If you are selected as part of the lottery, you are officially sent details to register within two weeks. If not completed in time, the registration will be available to runners on the waitlist of 50-75 people.
UTMB World Series is the ultimate global trail running series uniting the sport’s biggest stars and amateur runners through a leading international event series in the most stunning locations. The UTMB World Series gives all trail runners a chance to experience UTMB events worldwide, with 25 events taking place across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas in 2022. It is the only place runners can begin their quest to UTMB Mont-Blanc, home of the prestigious UTMB World Series Finals. The UTMB World Series integrates three levels of events:
- UTMB World Series Finals
- UTMB World Series Majors
- UTMB World Series Events
To qualify to enter the lottery for Finals or Major events, you must collect a “Running Stone” by finishing qualifier events in the 20k, 50k, 100k, or 100M categories. Only 1 Running Stone acquired in the past two years is mandatory to enter the lottery. Running Stones are cumulative, have no expiration date, and each Running Stone gives you an additional chance to be drawn. Collecting Running Stones is the only way to access regular runners’ UTMB World Series Finals. Discover the 25 events that will allow you to collect Running Stones in 2022 to enter the UTMB Mont-Blanc lottery from 2023 onwards here.
Brazos Bend 100 is produced by Trail Racing Over Texas, a producer of many of the best Trail events in Texas, including Brazos Bend 50, held each Spring in the same location.
