When
Saturday, December 5th, 2026
Where
21901 Farm to Market Rd 762, Needville TX
Distances
Ultra · Marathon · Half
About this race
Event Details
Date: December 5th, 2026
Location: 21901 Farm to Market Rd 762, Needville, TX
Race URL: Brazos Bend 100
Race Overview
- Qualifier: Western States 100 Lottery Qualifier (sub 32-hour 100-mile) with 119 qualifiers in 2024 and 133 qualifiers in 2025!
- Format: This is the December edition of the popular Brazos Bend races, with the marquee event being the 100-mile.
- Course: 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.
- Top Performers: The top 3 runners were under 16 hours in 2024.
Course Description
- Elevation: The course is 99.9% flat, with the only "hill" being a 10-foot rise over 0.1 of a mile.
- Terrain: The ~16.7mi loop features hard crushed rock, soft hiking trails under tree canopy, and smooth horse trails.
- Shoe Choice: Most runners will use a road shoe like the Altra Vanish Carbon 2, Torin 8, or Flow 2: a trail shoe may be better under wetter conditions.
- Weather: Conditions in December can vary but are typically great for running, generally between 40-70 degrees.
Wildlife Encounter
- Park Features: Brazos Bend is a spectacular State Park known for its abundance of birds and American Alligators.
- Gator Safety: The gators are a part of our race: there has never been an incident in the park's 50-year history.
- Photography: Enjoy the gators from a distance, and you may get some unique race photos!
Challenge Coin
Complete the 50K or 50M in April, AND the 100K or 100M in December of the same calendar year to earn the Brazos Bend Challenge Coin.
Cutoff Times
- General Cutoff: For all races, the finish line closes on Sunday at 2 PM.
- 100M Cutoff: 32 hours.
- 100K Cutoff: 31 hours.
- Final Lap: Final lap starts will be assessed to meet the course time limit at the discretion of the race director and staff.
Updates
Information for the 2026 event is continuing to be updated as we get closer to event day. We do not expect any major changes, but stay tuned to your email for updates. The RunSignup page is your best place for event information. Please try our AI Chatbot to ask any questions you may have.
Course map
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