PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

Brazos Bend 100

Name: Brazos Bend 100 2024 - A Pacer's Tale
Uploaded: 2024-01-17
Description: Held on December 5, 2026. Finishing the 100 mile within 32 hours qualifies runners for the Western States 100 lottery. 119 runners earned qualification in 2024, and 133 in 2025.

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USDec 5, 2026100M · 100km · 42.195km +1 more events

Djmaschek · CC BY-SA 3.0

Race date in 55 days: Dec 5, 2026 Sat
City · Distance: Needville · 100M · 100km · 42.195km +1 more events
Entry fee: $120Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenTBD ~ Sat, December 5, 2026See how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 11, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Held on December 5, 2026.

Finishing the 100 mile within 32 hours qualifies runners for the Western States 100 lottery.

119 runners earned qualification in 2024, and 133 in 2025.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2

BrittRan in 2017 · Finish time 26:31

“We crossed the finish line together in 26:31.”

At the Brazos Bend 100, the runner tackled 100 miles for the first time. Despite cold and fading strength late on, the runner finished alongside a companion.

Read the original on Britt Miller Kelly Art

ultrascott

“And that actually worked. By taking away my out, I focused instead on just moving forward.”

At the Brazos Bend 100, cold, mud, and stomach trouble made for a difficult race. The runner took pride in keeping moving and finishing.

Read the original on distance ahead

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Brazos Bend 100 2024 - A Pacer's Tale

Goku Runner

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Marathon

Entry cost $120

until Oct 30, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost $100

until Oct 30, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Ultra

Entry cost $260

until Oct 30, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 100M

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 06:00

Event	Start	Time limit
100M160.9km	06:00	32h
Ultra100km	07:00	31h 30m
Marathon42.195km	08:00	—
Half21.0975km	08:30	—

City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

21901 Farm to Market Rd 762, Needville, TX

FINISH

Elm Lake

Cutoff
100-mile 32 hours, 100K 31.5 hours, marathon 31 hours, half marathon 30.5 hours, overall finish closes at 2:00 p.m. Sunday

The events are the 100M, 100K, 26.2M, and 13.1M.

The start is at 21901 Farm to Market Rd 762, Needville, TX, at 6:00 AM local time.

The course is a loop course that returns to the starting point.

Typical race-season temperature: around 13°C (55°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers
Aid stations: 4 locations: Elm Lake (start/finish, crew available), Nature Center (no dropbacks), Sawmill (dropbacks available), 40 Acre Lake (unmanned water supply)

Participant benefits

Finisher medal

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Drop bags can be left beside the Elm Lake barbecue grill during packet pickup, while pacer bib can be collected at packet pickup or start line.
The dates and location for the 2026 runner pickup will be posted on the official website closer to the event.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startStart/finish is inside Brazos Bend State Park at 21901 FM 762, Needville, TX, well outside Houston with no…

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

Start/finish is inside Brazos Bend State Park at 21901 FM 762, Needville, TX, well outside Houston with no public transit access. Private car only.

Getting to the finish

Same location as start (loop course), Elm Lake Pavilion area within the park.

Start shuttle

No public shuttle from any city; only an internal parking overflow area with a possible parking shuttle if needed.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Brazos Bend 100 has been an official Western States 100-mile qualifier for more than five years,

and runners who finish within 32 hours earn a chance to enter the Western States lottery the following year.

In fact, 119 runners in 2024 and 133 in 2025 secured lottery eligibility through this race.

Time limit has cutoffs of 32 hours for the 100-mile race, 31.5 hours for the 100K, 31 hours for the marathon,

and half marathon 30.5 hours, while the overall finish closes at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Aid station consists of four aid stations along course: the crew-accessible Elm Lake start/finish main aid station, the Nature Center aid station,

which does not accept drop bags, the Saw Mill aid station, which does accept drop bags, and the unmanned 40 Acre Lake aid station, which provides water only.

This is also a cupless race, so runners must bring a personal bottle or running vest.

Registration is handled through RunSignup, and the 100-mile Entry fee is $260.

Race organizers expect more than 300 ultrarunners to participate.

Times are local to Needville. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Rancho Emperador Dreams to life

Accommodation · 269m

View on Booking.com

Lake Woodlands Sunset Kayak Tour

Sunset kayak tour on the lake · $224

View on GetYourGuide

Houston Half-Day City Bus Tour

$41

Brazos Bend 100

About Brazos Bend 100 — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run

Brazos Bend 100 runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

See it on video,feel it through their stories.

Brazos Bend 100 2024 - A Pacer's Tale

How to enter Brazos Bend 100 — registration routes

How to reach the start line —start with what fits you.

Marathon

Half

Ultra

Brazos Bend 100 course map and elevation

Your 100M

21901 Farm to Market Rd 762, Needville, TX

Elm Lake

Participant benefits

Finisher medal

Where and when to collect your Brazos Bend 100 race bib

To the start line,step by step.

Pick up your bib at the expo

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Getting to the finish

Start shuttle

From race morning to after the finish.

The race is one day,the trip can be longer.

Rancho Emperador Dreams to life

Lake Woodlands Sunset Kayak Tour

Houston Half-Day City Bus Tour

Houston｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service from William P. Hobby Airport

Houston: Guided Tour of Downtown and Galveston Island

Color Factory Houston Admission Ticket

Houston Downtown & Mansions Half-Day Private Tour

Hotels near the Brazos Bend 100 start line in Needville

Hotels that make race morning easy

Rancho Emperador Dreams to life

Time for you, before and after the finish

Lake Woodlands Sunset Kayak Tour

Houston｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service from William P. Hobby Airport

Color Factory Houston Admission Ticket

Houston Museum of Natural Science Admission Ticket

Houston Museum of Art Ticket

Houston CityPASS

Houston Museum Pass

Downtown Aquarium Houston Admission Ticket

Houston Meow Wolf Radio Tave Ticket

Houston Open-Top Double-Decker Bus City Tour

What to see in Needville after the race

Seeing Needville with the medal on

Houston Half-Day City Bus Tour

Houston: Guided Tour of Downtown and Galveston Island

Houston Downtown & Mansions Half-Day Private Tour

Houston Space Center Half-Day Tour

Total cost and budget for Brazos Bend 100

Trip prep too,light and in one place.

Runner stories and questions about Brazos Bend 100

With runners who dream ofthe same start line.

Frequently asked questions about Brazos Bend 100

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

To the start line,
step by step.

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

With runners who dream of
the same start line.