race.vacations
Brazos Bend 100
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Brazos Bend 100 2026

Waco, TX

Saturday, December 5, 2026

Registration open

Entry price
$255.4–$263.5

Weather

MonthAvg high / lowBand
December48–67°FCool
Moderate cold risk~0.58 in typical precipVery humid — average ~80% relative humidity. 23% daily chance of rain; ~0.58 in on days it rains. Typically 40–70°F race-day range per RD.

Historical averages for planning — not a forecast. Always check conditions before race week.

Route & course

100 Mile

Multi-loop · Trail · starts 6:00 AM
Elev gain
200 ft
Elev loss
200 ft
High point
45 ft
Low point
40 ft
  • Repeated loops from a basecamp
  • Easy crew and drop-bag access
Start · 43 ftFinish · 43 ftParking

Five loops of ~20M each on crushed rock, soft hiking trail, and horse trail. Virtually no elevation — the only 'hill' is a 10-ft rise over 0.1 mile. No cups at aid stations; mandatory hydration carry. WSER qualifier: sub-32h finish earns a lottery ticket. 119 qualifiers in 2024, 133 in 2025.

100K

Multi-loop · Trail
Elev gain
125 ft
Elev loss
125 ft
High point
45 ft
Low point
40 ft
  • Repeated loops from a basecamp
  • Easy crew and drop-bag access

Same loop as other distances. Finish line closes Sunday at 2 PM.

Marathon (26.2M)

Multi-loop · Trail · starts 7:30 AM
Elev gain
50 ft
Elev loss
50 ft
High point
45 ft
Low point
40 ft
  • Repeated loops from a basecamp
  • Easy crew and drop-bag access

Two loops of ~13.46M each. Finish line closes Sunday at 2 PM.

Half Marathon (13.1M)

Loop · Trail · starts 8:00 AM
Elev gain
25 ft
Elev loss
25 ft
High point
45 ft
Low point
40 ft
  • Start and finish in the same area
  • Easier spectating and repeated aid access

Single loop of ~13.46M. Finish line closes Sunday at 2 PM.

Brazos Kids Kilometer

Loop · Trail
Elev gain
—
Elev loss
—
High point
—
Low point
—
  • Start and finish in the same area
  • Easier spectating and repeated aid access

Travel

Base town
Waco
Nearest airport
AUS · 40 min
Rental car
Recommended
Rideshare
Limited
Lodging
Good
Facilities
Good
Trip length
2 nights
Travel complexity
3.5/10

HOU is close (~45 min drive) and well-served by major carriers. A rental car is essential — no public transit reaches the park. Rideshare at 4–5am race morning is unreliable. Lodging in Sugar Land or Rosenberg fills up; book early.

Getting around

  • Parking — Nature Center Parking

    Main parking area; 1/4–1/2 mile walk to Elm Lake start. Shuttles run to start. Overflow parking near main park entrance also uses shuttle.

IAH is also an option but adds ~75–90 min drive. Park camping exists but fills fast for race weekend. Main parking at Nature Center with shuttles to start.

Best for / avoid if

Best for

  • Road runners transitioning to trail ultras
  • Runners chasing a WSER qualifier
  • PR hunters on a flat, fast surface
  • Houston-area locals wanting a low-travel destination race
  • PR chasers
  • Western States qualifiers
  • first time ultrarunners
  • runners seeking a flat ultra

Avoid if

  • You want technical singletrack or significant elevation
  • Repetitive loops mentally break you down
  • You need crew-accessible trail variety
  • seeking technical trails
  • wanting major elevation change

First-timer mistakes

Treating the flat course as easy and going out too fast — the challenge is entirely mental and time-on-feet across identical loops. Also, aid stations have NO cups; you must carry your own hydration.

Community reports — 2026

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