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50 Miler

Time: 7:15AM CDT 8:15PM CDT

8-Hour Run/Walk

Time: 7:15AM CDT 3:15PM CDT

50K

Time: 7:15AM CDT 6:15PM CDT

Marathon

Time: 7:15AM CDT 5:15PM CDT

Half Marathon

Time: 7:15AM CDT 3:15PM CDT

Half Marathon Ruck

Time: 7:15AM CDT 3:15PM CDT

10K

Time: 7:30AM CDT 12:30PM CDT

5K

Time: 7:30AM CDT 12:30PM CDT

8-Hour Relay

Time: 7:15AM CDT 3:15PM CDT

Labor Day Trail Marathon Challenge Bundle

Time: 7:15AM CDT 3:15PM CDT

Labor Day Trail Half-Marathon Challenge Bundle

Time: 7:15AM CDT 3:15PM CDT

Labor Day Trail 10K Challenge Bundle

Time: 7:30AM CDT 12:30PM CDT

Labor Day Trail 5K Challenge Bundle

Time: 7:30AM CDT 12:30PM CDT
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Top Two Finisher Awards

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Event Description

 INAUGURAL EVENT · 2026

LABOR DAY TRAIL CHALLENGE

RUN FREE: RETURN OF THE BULL

The gates are open. The bull is loose. Run Free.  Conquer the Lost Pines on single-track trails along the Colorado River

September 5  |   McKinney Roughs Nature Park, Cedar Creek TX
5K · 10K · 8-HOUR RELAY · HALF MARATHON & RUCK · MARATHON · 50K · 50-MILE 
 
Labor Day Trail Challenge
 
TRAILS
Single-Track & Fire Roads
Labor Day Trail Run
 
ECOSYSTEMS
4 Unique Biomes
Labor Day Trail Run
 
SETTING
Colorado River
Labor Day Trail Run

About the Race

Trade the bullpen for the box canyons. Return of the Bull

You’ve been penned up all year. It’s time to break the fences. Kick off your Labor Day weekend with an unforgettable trail running experience at McKinney Roughs Nature Park, a stunning 1,140-acre preserve just 13 miles east of Austin along the Colorado River. Choose from seven events that wind through the park's rolling box canyons, wildflower meadows, and towering loblolly pine forests.

Labor Day Trail Run

This is Central Texas trail running at its finest. You'll traverse four distinct ecosystems. Post Oak Savannah, Blackland Prairie, East Texas Piney Woods, and a lush riparian corridor, all in a single race. Expect technical single-track, scenic river overlooks, and the kind of terrain that makes every mile an adventure.

Labor Day Trail Run

 

THE RIO COLORADO 250

The river you run above on Saturday is the one the series is named for.

Two hundred fifty kilometers with Fit Foundation in a calendar year earns the Rio Colorado 250 buckle. Not instead of your race hardware. On top of it. Every kilometer counts, including the ones you cover in the timed events.

That last part matters. The 8-Hour Solo doesn't credit you a fixed distance. It credits you what you actually walk, run, and grind out between seven in the morning and three in the afternoon. Some of you will put more on the board in one day than a 50K would give you.

Here is the calendar. Autumn Harvest on October 10. Fields of Gold on October 24. The Colorado River Run on November 27. Star of Texas on December 13.

Four events in nine weeks. September 5 is the last quiet place to start.

The count begins at McKinney Roughs.

Return of the Bull marks the second chapter of the Rodeo Trail Run Series, following the inaugural Austin's Rodeo Trail Run at Grelle Recreation Area. All half-marathon, marathon, and 50K finishers receive a custom rodeo-style belt buckle and event shirt, the signature swag of the series.

Whether you're an ultra-distance runner chasing your first 50K, a seasoned marathoner ready to go the full 26.2, a veteran racer tackling the half, or a newcomer lacing up for your first 5K off-road, the Labor Day Trail Challenge has a distance for you. Unleash the grit. Master the Roughs. Run Free.

Choose Your Distance

SIX EVENTS · ONE EPIC COURSE
 
5K
3.1 Miles
Beginner Friendly
 
 
10K
6.2 Miles
Intermediate
 
POPULAR

🔥
HALF MARATHON & RUCK
13.1 Miles
Intermediate
 
 
MARATHON
26.2 Miles
Advanced
 
ULTRA

🐂
50K  or 50 Miles 
Ultra Distance

⏱️ 8-Hour Solo Run or Relay Challenge

Choose-Your-Own-Adventure: Run or walk for 8 hours. You can also grab your favorite running partner, build your duo, and take on the 8-Hour Relay Challenge! This high-energy format strips away the pressure of a fixed distance and replaces it with a fast-paced, strategy-driven race against the clock.

STARTS 7:00 AM · 8 HOURS
 

Course Highlights

WHAT AWAITS YOU ON THE TRAIL
Labor Day Trail Run
Lost Pines Forest Run through towering loblolly pines and eastern red cedars, an isolated pocket of East Texas ecology River Overlooks Scenic bluff-top views of the Colorado River from the Ridge and Bluff Overlook trails
 
Rolling Elevation Up to 469 ft of elevation gain on technical single-track through box canyons and ridgelines Aid Stations Fully stocked with water, electrolytes, snacks, and encouragement
 
Wildlife Corridor Four ecosystems converge here, home to 250+ bird species and diverse Central Texas wildlife Rodeo Series Buckle Every half-marathon, marathon, and 50K finisher earns a custom rodeo-style belt buckle from the Rodeo Trail Run Series

Race Swag & Awards

WHAT EVERY FINISHER TAKES HOME
TRAIL RUN RODEO SERIES
Rodeo Series Buckle
Custom belt buckle, signature of the Rodeo Trail Run Series. Every half-marathon, marathon, 50K & 50 miles finisher.
 
Event T-Shirt
with rodeo series branding
 LOST PINES
Finisher Medal
Custom Lost Pines design for all finishers

Awards

FOR THOSE WHO RIDE THE HARDEST

Overall Winners

Cowboy hat or plaque award for top male & female finisher in each distance event

 FINISHER RODEO TRAIL RUN SERIES • 2026

All Finishers

Every half-marathon, marathon, and 50K runner who crosses the finish line within cutoff earns a Rodeo Trail Run Series buckle. Medals for other distances.

 

Race Details

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
DateSaturday, September 5, 2026
DayLabor Day Weekend
Start Time7:00 AM
LocationMcKinney Roughs Nature Park
Address1884 State Hwy 71 West, Cedar Creek, TX 78612
SurfaceDirt / Single-Track Trail
Chip TimedYes
Stroller FriendlyNo (trail course)
Getting There: Located on Hwy 71 just 13 miles east of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Look for the distinctive rock wall entrance with windmill on the south side of the highway. Free parking available in the main lot with additional overflow parking.

Nearby Accommodations: Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa is adjacent to the park. Additional hotels available in Bastrop (8 miles east). Make a weekend of it, race Saturday, relax Sunday and Monday.

Rodeo Trail Run Series

The Labor Day Trail Challenge is the second event in the Rodeo Trail Run Series. Ran the Austin Rodeo Trail Run at Grelle in March? You're a series veteran. New to the rodeo? Welcome to the herd. Either way, you'll earn one of the two signature series buckles and shirt when you cross the finish line.

LABOR DAY TRAIL CHALLENGE 2026
McKinney Roughs Nature Park · Cedar Creek, TX · September 5, 2026
Sponsor Opportunities Available
Fit Foundation
Half Marathon Ruck
13.1 miles. Same trail. Weight on your back.

Rucking is covering ground with a loaded pack. Same course as the half marathon, same start, same finish line, same cutoff. The only difference is what you are carrying and who you are racing.

Ruckers are scored as their own division with their own results and their own awards. You are not competing against the runners and they are not competing against you.

Minimum pack weight
20 lb  ·  30 lb
20 lb if you weigh under 150 lb. 30 lb if you weigh 150 lb or over.
The rules
  • Weigh in before the start. Bring your pack to the start area at least 30 minutes before your wave. We weigh it, we tag it, you go.
  • Water does not count. Your hydration, food, phone and layers are on top of the minimum. The weight is dry weight.
  • Any weight is fine. Ruck plates, bricks, sand, books, dumbbells. It has to be secure and it has to stay in the pack for the whole course.
  • You finish with what you started with. Weight is checked again at the finish. Anything under the minimum moves you out of the ruck division.
  • Carry it yourself. No handing your pack off, no dragging, no wheels.
  • Run, walk, or anything between. There is no rule about how you move, only about what you carry.
  • Rucking counts toward your Run the River mileage exactly the same as running. Thirteen point one miles is thirteen point one miles.
First time rucking?

A loaded pack on a trail is harder than the same distance on your feet, and most people go out too quick. A few things that help:

  • Train with the weight before race day. Even two or three loaded walks makes a difference to your shoulders.
  • Get the load high and tight against your back. Weight that sits low and swings will wreck you by mile six.
  • Wear the socks and shoes you have already tested. Rucking changes how your feet hit the ground.
  • Pack the weight so it cannot shift. Movement inside the pack is the most common reason people stop.
Same trail. Same finish line.
Considerably more of it on your back.

Course and Aid Stations

Course by distance

5K

3.12 mile lollipop, 1 loop.

10K

3.12 mile lollipop, 2 loops.

Half Marathon

4.5 mile loop, 3 loops.

Marathon

3 loops of the 8.20 mile course, plus a short 1.6 mile run to the halfway point of the 5K course.

50K

3 loops of the 8.20 mile course, plus 2 loops of the 3.12 mile lollipop.

8-Hour Solo

8.20 mile loops, then switch to the 3.12 mile lollipop for remaining time.

Aid stations

4 aid stations along the course

Mile 1.6

Manned

Mile 3.3

Unmanned

Mile 5.3

Manned

Mile 7.4

Unmanned

Note: Aid station placement is still being finalized, as LCRA permit requirements may require some adjustments.

5K (1 lap) and 10K (2 laps) Course

Half-Marathon (3 laps)

Marathon, 50K, 50M and 8 Hour Course

Packet Pickup

Packet Pickup

Date and time

Saturday, Sept 5

6:00 AM race morning

Location

McKinney Roughs

In front of the classroom building near the car park

What's included

  • Bib number
  • Timing chip
  • Race shirt
  • Course map

Important info

Parking

Onsite parking available. Follow the main road to the car park.

Picking up for someone else

Bring a letter of authorization from that person.

Race Cutoffs and Start Times

Labor Day Trail Challenge, September 5, 2026

Race start

7:15 AM

All distances

Course closes

6:30 PM

11 hour 15 minute window. 50 Mile course closes at 8:15 PM.

Short and mid distances

5K

Complete by 6:30 PM course close

10K

Complete by 6:30 PM course close

Half Marathon

Complete by 6:30 PM course close

Half Marathon Ruck

Complete by 6:30 PM course close

Marathon

Complete by 6:30 PM course close

50K Ultra

Based on 21 min/mile pace

Last 8.20 mile loop must start by

1:15 PM

Last 5K lollipop must start by

5:15 PM

Course closes

6:30 PM

50 Mile Ultra

Six 8.20 mile loops plus one 1.19 mile spur (50.33 miles). Based on 15:30 min/mile pace.

Loop 4 must start by (mile 24.6)

1:40 PM

Final 8.20 mile loop must start by (mile 41.0)

5:50 PM

Final 1.19 mile spur must start by

7:55 PM

Course closes

8:15 PM

Headlamp required after 7:00 PM

Sunset is approximately 7:50 PM. Any runner still on course for the final loop or spur must carry a working headlamp. No headlamp, no continuation.

8-Hour Solo

8.20 mile loops, then switch to 5K lollipop

Last 8.20 mile loop must start by

12:30 PM

Last 5K lollipop must start by

2:30 PM

Event ends

3:30 PM

A note on timing

All cutoffs are measured from the actual gun time, not the clock. If the start shifts because of LCRA park operations, every cutoff on this page shifts with it by the same amount. Listen for the announcement at the start line.

Cutoffs are enforced at the start/finish area. If you arrive after a cutoff you will not be permitted to begin another loop, and you will be recorded at the distance you completed.

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Rio Colorado Ultra Buckle

Every Fit Foundation finish counts toward the Rio Colorado 250. Complete 250 km across our 2026 races and the buckle is yours, in addition to your individual race awards.

Timed events count the distance you actually cover, so the 8-Hour Solo, the 12 Hour at Fields of Gold, and backyardultras, including the Big Bastrop Backyard, can each put significant kilometers on the board.

Contact Form

If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.

Event Location

McKinney Roughs Nature Park
1884 State Hwy 71 West
Cedar Creek, TX 78612 US View Location on Map

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