Event Description
The Big Tex 2024 is moving closer to Houston and will be hosted at Stephen F. Austin State Park in San Felipe allowing a large grass area for personal aid setup around our group dining hall screen shelter as well as reserved campsites and full hookup RV sites. The group dining hall area hosts a large grass area for runners to setup personal crew spots (see below information).
The SFA State Park has a network of wide, well-maintained, trails, primarily crushed gravel, with minimal elevation change.
Back for year two, The Big Tex Backyard is a "last runner standing" format event with a 4.17 mile "yard" starting every hour, on the hour, until there is only one remaining. Standard backyard format rules will apply (see below details). 2024 is a Bronze Ticket race to Laz's Big Dog's Backyard road to the 2025 Silver Ticket Races to the 2026 National Championships to the 2027 Backyard World Championships.
All participants will receive a Big Tex hoodie, a special customized poster with their completed yards stamped, and fully stocked aid station support. Runners completing 24 yards will receive a 100mi buckle. The winner will win a dollar for every mile they run and the seconder will win a dollar for every yard they finish!**
2024 Schedule
Friday, November 1st
Noon onwards: Personal Tent/Aid Setup at SFA State Park Group Dining Hall area in designated area (see below).
Noon to 5 PM: Packet pickup at SFA State Park Group Dining Hall.
Saturday, November 2nd
7 - 8 AM Bib Pickup at SFA State Park Group Dining Hall
8 AM Start
Finish TBD! At the completion of your run you can pickup your finishers hoodie and stamp your completed yards on your poster.
Daylight Savings Reminder (extra lap!):
Sunday, November 3, 2024, 2:00:00 am clocks are turned backward 1 hour to Sunday, November 3, 2024, 1:00:00 am local standard time. You will not lose your 1 AM Yard, we'll just be starting two different yards at 1 AM on Sunday, back-to-back. No different, every hour on the hour.
Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour earlier on Nov 3, 2024 than the day before. There will be more light in the morning and less light in the evening.
Backyard Format Rules
The Backyard format is simple: 100 miles divided into 24 hours give you 4.167 miles for a "yard" (lap). Every hour, on the hour, a new yard will start and you must finish within the hour and be back in the starting corral for the next one to stay in the run. Complete as many as you can, last runner standing wins.
Runners and crew will be able to set up a personal area with chairs, tents, etc. around the start/finish course-line area for personal aid, gear, and rest between yards (not during).
We will give a 3-minute, 2-minute, and 1-minute warning to be inside the starting corral for the next yard.
All runners are required to be in the starting corral before the top of the hour.
Failure to line up in the starting corral will result in the disqualification of the runner. Participants must start a new yard at the sound, and continue out on the course (not back to their tent, etc.).
Once you are on the course, you are not allowed any aid from your crew or any other individual. No non-competitors on the course (including eliminated runners). Except for restrooms, competitors may not leave the course until each loop is completed. Runners are responsible for their own aid on the course (carried with them). You must be on and stay on the course unless you need to use the bathroom.
No artificial aids (including trekking poles) are allowed.
Once you complete the yard, and assuming you have finished within the hour, you may use the bathroom, eat, drink, sleep, ponder the next yard, etc., but you MUST be back in the start corral at the beginning of the hour to continue into the next hour’s yard.
Runners will continue until ONE runner completes a FINAL lap. (i.e. If there are two runners left and one does not complete the loop, then the one that completed the loop will be declared the winner).
No pacers whatsoever.
You must checkout with the race director once you can not complete a yard or decide not to begin the next yard.
Live tracking will be online (stay tuned for link).
The TROT volunteers and crew will provide aid at the start/finish line. See the volunteer tab (once available) to signup to help out and earn TROT race credits and more.
Campsite and RV site reservations must be made through the State Park Reservation system. Only active runners may leave personal gear set up in the grass area at the start/finish, there is no camping in this area.
Aid Station and Support
We will have one fully stocked aid station at the Start/Finish line.
There will be a timing tent, an aid station tent, and a medical treatment area.
Runners should set up their own support area around the start/finish for extended rest periods, personal gear, and preferences for food and hydration.
Aid Station Items (subject to change/while quantities last for non-critical items):
Fluids: Water, Ice, Gatorade (NO CUPS)
Soda: Coke, Ginger Ale, Orange.
Electrolytes: Pickle Juice, Salt, and other high sodium drinks and snacks
Sweet: Cookies, Candy, Peanut Butter, Nutella, etc.
Salty: Pringles, Trail Mix, Chips, etc.
Food: Sandwiches (PB&J, Nutella, PB, etc), Bean burrito rolls, fruit (bananas and oranges) additional snacks.
Medical: Bandages, Vaseline, Band Aids (limited), etc. ( NO NSAIDS e.g. ibuprofen) , Feminine Care Products, Wildsense: Chaffing Balm and Bug Spray.
Cooking (evening only): Grilled Cheese, Quesadillas, Soup, Noodles, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Ramen, Potatoes, and other "fun ultra concoctions".
Other: Cooling bucket, Gatoritas (hot weather), and other surprises!
We will have everything you need at our aid stations and usually throw in something extra at each event to make it fun. It's not uncommon to see cakes, pies, watermelons, etc… You never know what the surprise will be!
Aid stations are for registered runners only, during the event (not before). Serving is by our volunteers and staff only. Crew members are not to use aid station supplies. Runners and crew are encouraged to have their own supply, especially for particular items, such as preferred gel, or certain diet requirements. You must bring your own cup/hydration device.
The Road to "Big's": Bronze Ticket
Update from Laz on the road to Big's: TROT has applied for a 2025 Silver Ticket and with the application will receive a Bronze Ticket for 2024 (this year). "Bronze ticket winners earn a spot in a silver ticket race, and silver ticket winners earn a place on the national team to compete on the third Saturday of October 2026. The top 50 winners of the national championships earn a place at Big's world individual championships on the third Saturday of October 2027."
Drop Bags
We will have a group ground tarp at the Start/Finish area for drop bags but runners are encouraged to set up their own area along the course line - bring a tent, tarp, chairs, supplies, etc.
Pacers & Crew
This event does not allow pacers, due to the backyard format rule.
Crew should only assist their runners in the start/finish area at the completion (and before the start) of each yard.
The grass area surrounding the start/finish group dining hall shelter is our runner, crew, and spectator area where groups can set up their personal gear and support, limited to a maximum of 10ft x 10ft per runner and please consider grouping up - space will be limited. Setup in this area can begin on Friday at Noon onwards. We will also have a fully stocked aid station for runners in this area. There is no race or crew support to runners allowed during the laps, only between.
Limited amounts of crew (1-2) are allowed to overnight in this area while supporting their active runner in the race. There are no fires in this area (current fire ban).
Leave no trace, full cleanup of all items in your area, please.
Camping sites, RV, or screened shelters with private parking should be reserved directly with the online state park booking system. We recommend this option for the parking alone. This is where family, friends, crew, and finished participants should retire between laps and after the event is over for the runner.
Passes, Parking, and Camping
We will have a large grass area to setup personal support areas for between loops. It is highly recommended for parking and overnighting to reserve a campsite, especially for crew/family/support. Even if you do not plan to camp, it is a cheap amenity to reserve your own campsite.
Campsite and RV site reservations must be made through the State Park Reservation system. Only active runners may leave personal gear set up in the grass area at the start/finish, there is no family/crew camping in this area.
Park entry ($5) will be included in the runners registration. All non-runner guests 13 and older need a special events park pass (annual State Park Passes are not accepted during the event). Please pre-purchase via the TROT online store and show proof at packet pickup for wrist bands. Park attendants may ask at time of arrival, please show digital receipt or registration. Do not stop at the park HQ for park passes, proceed directly to parking unless you need to check-in for a reserved site.
We will have porta-potty's around the start/finish and the washroom/shower facilities at the park will also be available for use.
SWAG
Big Tex Backyard Hoodies can be picked up at packet pickup, we will have both styles available if we run out of the 2024 (green) design for late registrations.
PARTICIPANT GIFT
For 2024 we will be custom-stamping your completed number of yards onto your very own backyard poster! Thanks to Laz for the permission to use a photo of him.
MAPS & COURSE INFO
The tentative course is available below via Strava, final measurements will be made and tweaked to ensure accurate distance. The start/finish corral will be next to the pavilion.
Planned Route:
VOLUNTEER
Earn future race credits, race swag, free park passes, food, and volunteer hours (as needed). Club support options are available as well for team aid station takeovers. The SignUp Genius link will open around August. Since this event has an unknown finish day/time the later shifts will be tentative.
See the RunSignup registration page for Volunteer Signup.