Guest Park Passes

Registered runners/pacers, volunteers, and campers DO NOT need to purchase a pass.

Every guest 13 and over entering the park will require a special events state park pass for the weekend, which includes park entry, shuttle, trail & facility use. This fee goes directly to Brazos Bend State Park. Receipt of digital payment should be shown at packet pickup in exchange for wristbands for the weekend. You may pick up pre-purchased wristbands for others with a digital receipt. 

Extra park passes are available on the RunSignup Event Store in the final month leading to the event.

Volunteer

Not running but available to help? TROT Volunteers earn free race credits, park entry, camping area, meal, T-Shirt, and instant community while having fun helping our runners.

Please consider volunteering and share with friends, family, running club, etc. 

We are in special need of volunteers for packet pickup on Saturday morning!

Personal Support Area at Elm Lake:

Runners, family, friends, and crew are encouraged to set up their own hang-out support area around the large grass area at the start/finish for extended rest periods, personal gear, and preferences for food and hydration. It is common for clubs, teams, and families to have a canopy set up to enjoy the day. Note that "camping style" tents are no longer allowed in this day-use only area. Any camping tents will be asked to be taken down or removed overnight.

There is no camping at Elm Lake Pavilion. You may set up on Friday, from Noon onwards, and leave the setup overnight (we are not responsible for personal items). 

Runners can have access to their personal gear between loops, in addition to the main aid station and food trucks. The personal support area is more than enough for runners without a crew; in addition to our aid stations on course, a drop bag is not necessary. 

Saturday Arrival Instructions:
We recommend arriving and parking at least one hour before your event to give yourself plenty of time for the shuttle ride and packet pickup, if you have not done so already. 

To make race morning even smoother, consider taking advantage of our pre-race packet pickup options on Wednesday at Good Times and Friday at the park.

Park gates will remain open on Friday night, just be sure to have pre-purchased passes for guests on the RunSignup event store in case you are asked to present at the entrance before arriving at packet pickup at Elm Lake. Registered runners, your bib is your park pass; you will be allowed to enter the park to pick up.

Please try to carpool with fellow runners, crew, pacers, friends, and family - there are limited parking spots. Ulta Crew/Family/Friends, who are not driving with their runner, should consider coming after the 5k/10k events have finished, around 9:30 AM more spots will begin to open.

Shuttles will be running continuously between Elm Lake and all race parking lots starting at 4 AM. Be sure to make a note of where you parked so you can easily catch a ride back after your run!

A Guest Park Pass from TROT is required for non-registered participants: Purchase here

Please try and carpool to save parking and reduce traffic. Support crew may enter the park later in the day, especially easier once the shorter events have wrapped up.

See the 2026 Event Information tab in the menu for more detailed information on parking, shuttles, guest passes, aid stations, course maps, live tracking, and more.

Parking

Follow the guidance on race morning by park staff for the next available parking. Parking will begin at the Elm Lake area before moving to the extra lots. Do not park outside of designated parking spots, off pavement, or along the roadways. Speeding and parking are heavily enforced by park police; you will get a ticket. Do not park in ADA spots without proper placards.

• Elm Lake (limited spots - do not park in the pavilion lot or any spots marked for volunteers)
• Nature Center
• 40 Acre
• Overflow (main entrance lot)

Carpool reminder, the fewer vehicles entering the park, the easier parking will be! More spots available after 9:30 AM.

Shuttles

School buses will run continuously on Saturday between the Main Start/Finish at Elm Lake Pavilion and the parking areas within Brazos Bend State Park. All participants and guests are welcome to use the shuttle. Please be considerate of amount of gear and loading time. 

Please try to remember which parking lot you are directed to in the morning so you can let the bus driver know for your return trip.

The Nature Center is a half-mile walk along the course if you prefer not to wait.

Pacers

Pacers are only allowed on the final lap of the 50M and must remain with their runner at all times. Each athlete is only allowed ONE pacer unless under special approved circumstances. Registered participants who will also pace after completing their own event do not need to register as a pacer, but should check in at the timing tent prior to pacing to receive a separate bib.

Registration as a pacer is done the same way as a participant, through RunSignup. Registration must be completed by the pacer themselves, for insurance purposes, and the registered runner must be listed during pacer registration. Pacer registration includes park pass, parking, and event support. The option to add-on a race shirt will be offered before the order deadline. Pacer registration will open on Run Signup one month before the event and remain open through race day.

Crew should only assist their runners around the designated aid stations (not on course). Only runners, pacers, and volunteers can utilize aid station supplies.

No pacers allowed in the 5k, 10k, 25k, or 50k events (unless under special safety circumstances and agreed to in advance by the race director). You will not be alone on the trails; there are plenty of runners of all paces on very smooth, easy-to-follow trails with lots of support. 

Guides (running the entire duration) should register through the normal participant registration process. 

Camping & Accommodations

Camping at the event area, parking lots, pavilions, and Car Camping is NOT allowed. Park staff will be checking vehicles and canopies left overnight in parking areas and Elm Lake.

Camping must be reserved through the online reservation system: https://texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com/

The closest accommodation will be AirBnB and hotels in Rosenberg and Sugar Land.

Volunteer Camping: Please email info@trailracingovertexas.com to secure a volunteer camp spot for Friday night

Food Trucks

We will have HoneyBrew Coffee in the morning and Watson's Favourite BBQ during the day for food and drink purchases.

Drop Bags

We highly recommend not using the drop bag option for Sawmill. From Sawmill back to the Elm Lake start/finish area is 4.5mi where it is more efficient to use a personal support setup area for access between each loop. We will have plenty of support at both the Nature Center and Sawmill Aid Stations. If you would like a drop bag at Sawmill, please leave it by the BBQ at the Elm Lake Pavilion at packet pickup on Friday or Saturday. Drop bags should be small personal items/nutrition only; this is not a camping trip. We will get them out to Sawmill and returned once the aid station is broken down post-event. Please pick up from the Elm Lake pavilion after the race. Unclaimed drop bags will be held for one week at the TROT warehouse. 

Live Tracking & Results 

See the results tab. Lap and finish times will only update when a runner crosses over the timing mat at the start/finish line.

Medals, Buckles, and Awards

You will receive your finishers medal or 50M Buckle immedietly upon finishing your race at the finish line. Awards for the following categories will be called once we have the top three for the division finished.

50 Mile and 50k Ultra Marathon:

• Top Three Overall Male/Female
• U19 Top Male/Female
• 20-29 Top Three Male/Female
• 30-39 Top Three Male/Female
• 40-49 Top Three Male/Female
• 50-59 Top Three Male/Female
• 60+ Top Three Male/Female

Brazos Bend 25k, 10k, and 5k: Top Three Male/Female

• Overall
• U19
• 20-29
• 30-39
• 40-49
• 50-59
• 60+

Race Photos and Social Media

Free event photos will be available on Friday after the race via the RunSignup photo page and the TROT Facebook Page. The TROT Social Media Channels will have race day updates and posts. Please tag @TrailRacingOverTexas #BrazosBend50 #BB50 so we can share your posts.