Races
Bandera 100K
Hill Country State Natural Area. Two counterclockwise 50K loops. Sotol and limestone. Six thousand six hundred feet. Texas hill country that bites back.
- Start1,654 ft
- High1,987 ft
- Low1,416 ft
- Finish1,578 ft
Geometryderived
The cruxSecond 50K loop on rocky Hill Country tread at night (near mile 65)
Course DNA
The Course
Bandera 100K runs 100K through Bandera, Texas. +3,376 ft gain and -3,451 ft loss. Surfaces skew 85% rocky trail / 15% dirt road. Second 50K loop on rocky Hill Country tread at night. High point near 1,987 ft. Low near 1,416 ft. January temps run 35°F to 65°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 50.
The Work
Train for 3,376 feet of climbing across 100K. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 25 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 65.
Kit
January in Bandera, Texas: plan for 35°F to 65°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 25 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 25. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 85% rocky trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 50.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 25. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 50. Second 50K loop on rocky Hill Country tread at night near mile 65 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 33 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
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Sources (1)
- Qualifier: golden_ticket: https://www.wser.org/entry-info/