Events
Race Website
Additional race information can be found at https://www.trailracingovertexas.com/bigtexbackyard.
Place
San Felipe, TX US 77473
Extra Park Pass Entry
For non-registered runners, per person 13 years and older. Show receipt of this transaction at the race check-in to receive your wristband. Runners' passes are their race bib (no wristband), included with registration. Volunteers do not need to purchase a pass. Purchase passes on the TROT Store.
Parking on the right side of the park road. Stop at the trail crossing and watch for runners.
This is for day-use only. For camping reservations please reserve online.
Start/Finish Area / Camping / Spectators & Crew Support
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. Primitive camping is allowed Friday night through the race.
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.
Description
LAST RUNNER STANDING - 2024 BIG DOG'S BRONZE TICKET
NOVEMBER 1st, 2024 at 8 AM
The Big Tex 2024 takes place 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 set up 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!**
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, the 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, aid, 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 from the start). 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, aid station, 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. A single runner can not continue solo beyond the final yard.
You must check out with the race director once you can not complete a yard or decide not to begin the next yard.
**Overall Cash Prize Rules: Overall winner per backyard rules must complete one more yard than everyone else (otherwise no winner), no seconder payout if more than one seconder.
Silver 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."
Daylight Savings:
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.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
2024 Schedule
Friday, November 1st
Noon onwards: Personal Tent/Aid Setup at SFA State Park Group Dining Hall area in the designated area (see below details).
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.
Parking
Parking is on the RIGHT side of the park road only. If you have a reserved campsite, please park there. Parking will begin at the entrance to the main start/finish lot (parking for staff/volunteers/emergency access only), and fill along the park road on the right-hand side only. Please park courteously so that we can fit everyone as close as possible. Do not park on the grass.
You can proceed directly to the race headquarters at the dining hall screen shelter to pick up bib (runners park pass) or wristband (crew, family, friends). You do not need to stop at the park entrance office. Make sure all guests have purchased a park pass ahead of time.