Brazos Bend 100

Race Date

December 5th, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsored by Altra Running and NeverSecond

Qualification

• Lottery Qualifier: Western States 100 Lottery Qualifier (sub 32-hour 100-mile).
• Previous Qualifiers: 119 qualifiers in 2024 and 133 qualifiers in 2025.

Event Overview

This is the December edition of our popular Brazos Bend races, with the marquee event being the 100-mile.

• Largest Race: The Brazos Bend 100 is the largest trail race in Texas.
• Fast Course: One of the fastest trail races in the world with flat and smooth trails.
• Course Support: Incredible support from aid stations on a multi-loop course.
• Top Performers: The top 3 runners were under 16 hours in 2024.

Course Details

• Elevation: The course is 99.9% flat, with the only "hill" being a 10-foot rise over 0.1 of a mile.
• Loop Length: The loop is approximately 16.7 miles.
• Surface Types: Hard crushed rock, soft hiking trails under tree canopy, and smooth horse trails.
• Shoe Recommendations: Most runners use road shoes like the Altra Vanish Carbon 2, Torin 8, or Flow 2: trail shoes may be better under wetter conditions.

Weather Conditions

Conditions in December can have a mix of anything, but are typically great for running, generally between 40-70 degrees.

Location

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.

• Wildlife: Enjoy the gators from a distance, as there has never been an incident in the park's 50-year history.
• Unique Photos: You may get some unique race photos while enjoying their presence.

Brazos Bend Challenge

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

• Finish Line Closure: For ALL races, the finish line closes on Sunday at 2 PM.
• Time Limits: 32h for 100M, 31h for 100K, 31.5h for Marathon, 31h for Half Marathon.
• 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.