

Brazos Bend 100
Brazos Bend 100 offers a fast, flat trail experience through a Texas state park known for its wildlife.
Race Date
Dec 5, 2026
Location
Needville, TX
Quick facts
- Date
- Saturday, December 5, 2026
- Location
- Needville, Texas
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 100 Miles, 100K, 26.2 Miles, 16 Miles
- Course
- Loop Course
- Terrain
- Mixed
- USATF certified
- Not listed
- Finishers on record
- 294
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Brazos Bend 100, held in December, is a popular event at Brazos Bend State Park, just south of Houston. While the 100-mile race is the main draw and a Western States Endurance Run qualifier, the series also includes half marathon, marathon, and other ultra distances.
The course is noted for being exceptionally flat, with minimal elevation changes, making it a fast option for runners. The terrain is a mix of crushed rock, soft trails under tree cover, and smooth horse trails, with most runners opting for road shoes. The park itself is a unique setting, known for its abundant wildlife, including American alligators, which runners might spot from a safe distance.
With a median field size of around 147 finishers and growing, the race draws participants from approximately seven states. The December weather is typically favorable for running, with temperatures generally between 40-70 degrees Fahrenheit. The event boasts strong support from aid stations, contributing to its reputation as one of the fastest trail races.
Race-provided description
December 5th, 2026 Sponsored by Altra Running and NeverSecond Western States 100 Lottery Qualifier (sub 32-hour 100-mile) with 119 qualifiers in 2024 and 133 qualifier in 2025! This is the December edition of our popular Brazos Bend races, with the marquee event being the 100-mile. The Brazos Bend 100 is the largest trail race in Texas and one of the fastest trail races in the world on flat and smooth trails with incredible support from aid stations on a multi-loop course. The top 3 runners were under 16 hours in 2024. The course is 99.9% flat, and the only "hill" is a 10-foot rise over 0.1 of a mile. The rest of the ~16.7mi loop is flat surfaces that move from hard crushed rock, soft hiking trails under tree canopy, and smooth horse trails. Most runners will use a road shoe like the Altra Vanish Carbon 2, Torin 8, or Flow 2 but under wetter conditons a trail shoe may be a better choice. Conditions in December can have a mix of anything, but are typically great for running, genneraly between 40-70 degrees. 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. The gators are a part of our race; there has never been an incident in the park's 50-year history. Enjoy them on your run, from a distance, and you may get some unique race photos! 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: for ALL races, the finish line closes on Sunday at 2 PM (32h 100M, 31h 100k, 31.5h Marathon, 31h Half Marathon). Final lap starts will be assessed to meet the course time limit at the discretion of the race director and staff. 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.
Logistics
Race Day
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Start Time
8:30 AM
Giveaway
T-Shirt
Start Location
21901 Farm to Market Rd 762, Needville, TX, 77461
Course Info
Course Type
Loop Course
Terrain
mixed
Scenery
Park, Rural
Surface
Dirt Trail, Paved
Difficulty
Ultra-Flat
Net Drop/km
0 m (Flat)
Separation
0.0%
Also Offers
Quality Score
Solid Pick462 years running
~147 finishers a year
growing or steady
7% returning runners
3 timing sources · 8 photos
runners from 7 states
winner 1:19:19
typical high 70°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
54°
Afternoon (High)
70°
Pleasant conditions — light layers at start, comfortable by finish
0.1"
Precipitation
12 mph
Wind
79%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 294 finishers actually crossed the line across 2 years.
Most recent
2025
Total finishers
294
Median time
2:37:25
Latest turnout
165
States
9
Turnout by year
2024–2025
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Brazos Bend 100?
The Brazos Bend 100 is held on Saturday, December 5, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM.
Where does the Brazos Bend 100 take place?
It takes place in Needville, Texas.
What distances does the Brazos Bend 100 offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 100 Miles, 100K, 26.2 Miles, 16 Miles.
Is the Brazos Bend 100 course flat and good for a PR?
The Brazos Bend 100 is a ultra-flat, loop course course.
How many people run the Brazos Bend 100?
HalfRuns has finish records for 294 runners who have completed the Brazos Bend 100.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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