Events
Description
Since 1985, this Santa Fe classic starts at Aspen Vista parking lot on Hyde Park Road (NM-475) in Santa Fe, NM. The route climbs six miles and 2000 feet to the summit of Tesuque Peak in the Santa Fe National Forest and then returns to Aspen Vista, for a round-trip total of 12 miles. Race proceeds benefit Wings of America, a charitable group supporting running programs for Native American youth and teens.
Help us make our goal of $5,000 in donations to Wings Of America through this site here . A $10 donation is appreciated if you can afford it.
We acknowledge, and give thanks.
This great race, which we gather to run each year, is held on the ancestral lands of the people of Tesuque Pueblo. We honor their enduring connection to this region and acknowledge a painful history of displacement and colonization.
As a running group, we move through landscapes rich with culture and history. We commit to deepening our understanding of these lands and the indigenous peoples who have been its stewards for millennia. We express our sincere gratitude to the Native communities, past and present, and stand in solidarity with efforts to preserve and protect these lands for future generations.
Place
Santa Fe, NM US 87505
Course
Click the icon below to download the attached PDF.
The Big T race is a 12-mile up-and-back run on the Aspen Vista Trail in the Santa Fe National Forest. Elevations start at 10,000 ft and top out at 12,003 ft at the radio towers. The race starts at the Aspen Vista trail head, 14 miles up Hyde Park Road, just before you get to the Ski Basin and there are guaranteed spectacular views when you break out of the trees before you get to the top.
Download: GPX file
Race Day Instructions
Hello Runners!
The Big Tesuque Trail Run starts on Sunday, October 13th! We wanted to include some important information about the race. Please email us at info@santafestriders.org if you have any additional questions.
The Course
The race starts at the Aspen Vista Picnic Area, mile marker 14 on Hyde Park Rd (NM-475) in Santa Fe. The course climbs FS-150, a closed dirt-and-rock road. Runners will climb roughly 2,000 feet in 5.8 miles to the radio towers at 12,030 before descending to the finish. The grade is nearly constant, with a few short, flat patches and a few steeper patches. A link to a gpx file can be found above this section.
There are two aid stations, one at Mile 3/9 and one at the summit. At the summit, there will be a course marshal at the turnaround calling to you. The turnaround point is a metal fence pole with a bright pinata. Please go around the pole.
Race Dedication
This summer, the Big T lost a friend and long-time runner Jim Westmoreland. Jim was an avid runner for many decades and ran the Big T a phenomenal 33 times. We ask that you take a little time during the race to think of Jim, and to enjoy the day – he would have wanted that.
Construction and Parking
There is ongoing construction on Hyde Park Road. The road will be open on Sundays, but plan on giving yourself extra time getting up the mountain on race morning.
Please, please carpool to the race. Parking is very limited at Aspen Vista Picnic Area, made worse by construction this year. Check out this Facebook page here if you want to connect with another runner or two. We recommend meeting at either Fort Marcy Park or Dale Ball Trailhead, both on the way to the race.
If you cannot find parking at Aspen Vista, there is more parking at Vista Grande, one mile past Aspen Vista and at Ski Santa Fe 1.5 miles past Aspen Vista. It is a downhill run from both locations, which can provide a good warm-up before the race.
Early Check-in
There will be an early check-in on Saturday October 12, 12-4pm, at the Running Hub, 1100 Don Diego Ave, Santa Fe, NM. If you are concerned about time on race morning, please stop by on Saturday. It will make your race morning less stressful and give you a chance to purchase some last-minute gels and gloves at the Running Hub. The Running Hub is a race sponsor, and they are our go-to running store. The staff there are all experienced runners and can help with any gear or training question. There will be no race-day registration for The Big T.
Race-day Schedule
Bib pick up on race morning will begin at 7:30am, at Aspen Vista. If you’ve already picked up your bib, you are good to go.
THERE WILL BE AN 8:15AM “EARLY START” FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE MORE TIME TO COMPLETE THE COURSE. The main start is at 9am. All finish-times will be included in the general results. If you are competing for overall top-3, you must start in the 9am wave.
If you want to switch to the early start, especially if you think it will take you more than 3.5 hours to finish, please email us at info@santafestriders.org. There will be no switching on race morning.
Please wear your race number on your front and where we can see it. We use this number to record your finish time.
Performance by Cloud Eagle
This year, we are thrilled to have the Cloud Eagle dance and song group perform at The Big T. Stay around after you finish to enjoy this talented group from Jemez Pueblo.
Prizes!!!
We plan on awarding prizes for the top three overall, as well as the top three in each age group (10yr age groups). Awards will start at approximately 12:30pm, right after Cloud Eagle.
Food
We will have Boultawn Bagels before the race and hot burritos after you finish, generously provided by Posa’s Tamale Factory. Please limit one burrito per race entry, as we’d like all runners to get food at the end of their run. Unfortunately, we don’t have extra food to feed spectators. We will also have coffee. If you want coffee, please bring a portable mug – we are a cupless race. A big thank you to Boultawn Bagels for the most-awesome bagels!
Cupless
The Big T is “cupless” so please bring a bottle for water or Gatorade. The volunteers at the aid stations will have pitchers to quickly fill bottles. The pre-race coffee is also cupless, so please bring a portable mug or similar.
Self-seed at Start
We ask runners to self-seed at the start. If you haven’t heard this term, it means the faster runners in front, medium runners in the middle, and slower runners and walkers in the back. Self-seeding on a trail race is an important safety issue and we ask that you take it seriously. If you think you are going to take 3 hours or more, you should be towards the back of the starting area.
Summit Aid Station
The summit aid station will start closing around 11:15am. This will give early starters 3 hours to summit, which is equivalent to 2 mph walk.
Dogs
Please leave your dogs at home. They present a serious tripping hazard to runners, especially to runners descending at speeds of 10+mph. Please show this courtesy to your fellow runners.
Shirts
If you didn’t receive a shirt at pickup, please stop by the registration table after the race. We will likely have extra shirts.
If you don’t plan on running the race and would still like to pick up your shirt, please stop by The Running Hub Saturday October 12 between noon and 4pm. Unclaimed shirts will be allocated to runners who didn’t get a shirt when they registered.
Sponsors
We are incredibly grateful to our many sponsors, without which our race would not be possible. Please thank them if you shop at one of their stores, and please support these local businesses. They are an integral part of our racing community!
Race Website
Additional race information can be found at https://www.santafestriders.org/.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Directions
Race Participant Survey
Please complete the following survey to help us better understand your race experience.
