Events
50-Miler Ultra
Last One Standing (Gauntlet)
Half- Marathon
Half-Marathon Ruck
10K Bluebonnet Trail Race
5K Bluebonnet Trail Race
Place
4000 Shaw Dr.,
Marble Falls, TX US 78654
Description
Bluebonnet Trail Run: The Million Bluebonnets Run
Benefits: HKRS Cedar Park's Fall and Spring Youth Running Programs
One run. One million bluebonnets. One epic finish line.
Experience the Beauty of Texas Bluebonnets in Full Bloom!
A million reasons to run! Join us for the Bluebonnet Trail Run, where nature's most spectacular display of millions of Texas bluebonnets provides the backdrop for an unforgettable running experience. Set against the stunning shores of Lake Travis at Turkey Bend Recreation Area, this event offers something for everyone - from serious trail runners to families looking for outdoor fun.
Race Details:
Choose your adventure:
- 50M, 50K, 26.2M, 13.1M & 10K Trail Run - Challenge yourself on diverse terrain featuring lake views, wooded paths, and breathtaking bluebonnet meadows. Camping sites are available which you can reserve here
- 5K Trail Run - Enjoy a moderately challenging route perfect for recreational runners of all levels
Course Records:
- 50 Miles: Segundo de los Heros Monereo (M) 10:34:52 and Beatriz de los Heros de Uriarte (F) 10:34:52
- 50K: Kate Taylor (F) 4:49:50 and Diego Romero (M) 5:51:39
- Marathon: Anthony Peguero (M) 4:38:12 and Nat Taylor 5:18:12
- Half- Marathon: Tim Parr1:38:41 (M) and Felicia Lombardi (F) 2:10:37
Why Participate?
- Stunning Scenery: Experience bluebonnet season in one of Texas Hill Country's most beautiful natural settings
- Community Spirit: Connect with fellow nature and running enthusiasts
- Support Local Youth: Your optional donations directly benefit the HKRS Cedar Park's youth running programs
- Beautiful Course: All routes are designed to showcase the natural beauty of Turkey Bend
- Custom Medal: All participants receive a unique finisher's medal
A Run with Purpose
Your registration directly supports HKRS Cedar Park. After deducting event expenses, net proceeds from the Bluebonnet Trail Race will be donated to HKRS Cedar Park. These funds will support youth running programs in Cedar Park, including equipment, registration assistance for families in need, and program development. Your participation helps ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in healthy, active lifestyle programs - building confidence, friendships, and lifelong healthy habits.
You can also donate directly to HKRS Cedar Park here
How does your money help?
Limited financial resources, lack of access to youth sports programs, social isolation, and barriers to healthy lifestyle activities are just some of the challenges young people face in accessing running programs. Through HKRS Cedar Park's 5-week fall and spring running series, and having a supportive community presence, HKRS Cedar Park helps kids build confidence, develop healthy habits, and overcome obstacles to active living. HKRS Cedar Park is part of a nationally recognized organization. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit it offers registration assistance to ensure all children can participate regardless of their family's financial situation, and anyone can access their programs including families new to running. All of their programs are welcoming, inclusive, and tailored to each individual child's age and ability level. Your money helps to do this.
Note: Due to the seasonal nature of bluebonnets, this event is scheduled during peak bloom time. Trail conditions are weather-dependent, and routes may be adjusted to protect natural areas.
The Bluebonnet Trail Run is managed and organized by Fit Foundation volunteers in aid of Healthy Kids Running Series Cedar Park youth programs.
Register today and secure your spot for this unique Texas Hill Country experience!
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.
- 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.
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.
The hill country is at its kindest.
The Gauntlet isn't.
By the time The Gauntlet reaches Marble Falls, the bluebonnets are out and the hill country is doing the one week of the year it puts on a show for. The course is not interested. Same rules as every stop on the circuit: 4 miles at 15:00 pace to open, then the ground shifts under you every eight hours until The Wall locks at 7 miles and 8:34 pace, on the hour, for as long as you can answer the bell.
Spring gives back the daylight the opener took, and charges for it. Warm afternoons, cold nights, and enough wind moving through the hills to make the same loop feel like two different courses depending on when you run it. The scenery is the best on the circuit. It stops mattering somewhere around hour 20.
This is the stop where the field sorts itself out. Runners who found their limit at Canyon of the Eagles come back knowing exactly what The Wall costs and how much of themselves it takes just to reach it. Everyone else finds out here, in the dark, with a loop that got longer three times since they felt fresh.
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4 → 7 MI
The Ramp
The loop grows three times before it locks. You do not get the easy version back.
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8 HRS
Between Escalations
Long enough to settle in. Short enough that settling in is a mistake.
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176 MI
Just To Reach The Wall
Nobody arrives at hour 33 fresh. That is the entire point of it.
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1
Sole Survivor
One title, one name. Everyone else is recorded with their yard count.
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Same bell every hour. Different race underneath it.
| Hours | Loop | Pace | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 8 | 4.0 mi | 15:00 /mi | 32 mi |
| 9 to 16 | 5.0 mi | 12:00 /mi | 72 mi |
| 17 to 24 | 6.0 mi | 10:00 /mi | 120 mi |
| 25 to 32 | 7.0 mi | 8:34 /mi | 176 mi |
| 33+ | 7.0 mi | 8:34 /mi | +7 every hour |
Everyone who reaches The Wall has already run 176 miles through three different versions of this race. From there it stops being a race and becomes a question of who can keep finding 8:34 with less and less left to find it with.
|
Ran the opener
You already know what the 6 mile block does to a body that has been out there sixteen hours. The question is whether knowing it makes you patient early or makes you flinch.
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First Gauntlet
The opening hours will feel too easy, and that is the trap. Bank the easy loops without spending anything. The race you are training for does not start until hour 17.
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01 · Opener
Canyon of the Eagles
New Year's Day, Burnet
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02 · You are here
Bluebonnet Trail Run
Spring, Marble Falls
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03
Labor Day Challenge
Labor Day weekend
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04 · Finale
Fields of Gold
October, Marble Falls
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Same wall at the end of it.
Three stops left after this one, and the board only remembers who was last to stop.
Enter The Gauntlet →The Million Bluebonnets + Labor Day Trail Bundle
5K & 10K Course: The Bluebonnet "Triple Crown" and 2X
Course Overview: 3.17-Mile Loop
Distance: Approximately 3.17 miles (5K) per loop.
Elevation Gain: 114 feet per loop, featuring a steady descent to the river and a climb back to the hub.
Start/Finish: All distances begin and end at the main race hub near Campsites 19–29.
5K Participants (1 Loop)
Your race is a single, beautiful loop that captures the best of the park’s blooming meadows and riverside views.
The Descent: After starting at the hub, you will head south toward the Colorado River.
Shoreline Run: At approximately Mile 1.5, you will hit the shoreline at the 660-foot elevation mark. This section offers expansive views of the water but be mindful of your footing near the bank.
The "Wild" Climb: Around Mile 2.5, the trail turns north, leading you through technical, single-track sections that have seen recent "natural tilling" from local wildlife.
The Finish: You will emerge from the woods for a final flat stretch back to the celebration at the campsite hub.
10K Participants (2 Loops)
You will be completing two full laps of the 3.17-mile course.
Loop 1: Follow the standard 5K route, focusing on your pace through the technical single-track climb.
The "Mid-Point" Hub: As you finish your first lap, you will pass through the Campsite 19–29 hub. This is a great spot to grab water or quick fuel before heading back out for your second lap.
Loop 2: Head back down to the shoreline for your second look at the bluebonnets! Use the momentum from the flat riverside stretch to power through the final technical climb to the finish line.
Half Marathon and Marathon Course: The Turkey Bend Epic
Half-Marathon: Participants will complete one full lap of this extensive course.
Marathon: Participants will complete two full laps
50K Course: The Turkey Bend Triple Threat
The 50K "Triple Threat" is the crown jewel of the Bluebonnet Trail Run. This is a true endurance test through the heart of Turkey Bend. You’ll tackle three full laps of the 10.41-mile Big Loop, meaning you’ll face the technical switchbacks and the steady "Big Loop" climbs three separate times.
Each lap offers a mix of rugged backcountry challenges and breathtaking views of the Colorado River. By the third lap, those blooming bluebonnets will be your best friends, guiding you home to the finish line. This is a course for those who want to earn every single mile!
50-Mile Course: The Turkey Bend Quad-Century
The 50-Miler is the ultimate endurance test at Turkey Bend. This course is a true grind through the best (and toughest) trails the park has to offer. You’ll start with five massive laps of the 10.41-mile Big Loop. This means five trips up the climbs and technical descents through the rugged backcountry.
We want to make sure you get your full 50-mile finish!
To hit the 8:00 PM cutoff for the whole event, we need you off the technical backcountry hills by 6:30
Race Safety & Cut-Off Policy
To ensure the safety of all athletes and to respect our park permits and teams, the following cut-offs will be strictly enforced. The course officially closes at 9:00 PM.
The "Hard" Cut-Off: 4:30 PM
Any 50-Mile or 50K runner who has not started their final 10.41-mile Big Loop by 4:30 PM will not be permitted to continue on that section of the course.
Note: Runners reaching this point after 4:30 PM may be offered the option to complete their remaining mileage on the 2.1-mile Peninsula Circuit to receive a "Finisher" medal (non-competitive).
Mandatory Headlamp Rule: 6:30 PM
The sun sets quickly over the Colorado River. Starting at 6:30 PM, all runners still on the course MUST have a functional headlamp or waist light. * Volunteers will be checking for lights at the main aid station. No light = No lap. Safety is our priority!
Course Closure: 9:00 PM
At 9:00 PM, the timing mat will be pulled, and the course will be officially closed. Any runners still on the 2.1-mile loop at this time will be swept into the finish area by our sweep team.
Custom Medal
Unique Finisher Medal
Every finisher receives a beautiful handcrafted wooden medal featuring bluebonnet designs - a perfect memento of your Texas Hill Country adventure!
Turkey Bend Trail Map
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Race Website
Additional race information can be found at https://fitfoundation.org.
Race Guide
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RaceDay Photos
THE GAUNTLET - OFFICIAL RULES
The Gauntlet follows the standard hourly-loop, last-runner-standing backyard ultra format, with a twist. Unlike traditional backyard ultras, pacers (after hour 12) and trekking poles are welcome, making this one of the most supportive backyard-style events in Texas.
1. Starting Corral
All runners must be inside the corral before the starting bell.
2. Starting Each Yard
Each Yard (one loop) begins exactly one hour after the previous Yard started.
- Warnings sound at 3, 2, and 1 minute before the bell
- All runners must start at the bell. No late starts.
3. During a Yard
- Pacers permitted starting at Hour 12. One pacer at a time per runner. Pacers must register in advance and wear a designated bib.
- Trekking poles and personal gear aids permitted.
- Runners may not leave the course once a Yard begins, except for restroom breaks.
- No personal aid (food, water, coaching) is allowed on course during a Yard outside of pacer support. Common aid stations are permitted.
- Faster runners have the right of way. Slower runners must yield.
- Each Yard must be completed in under one hour to count.
4. Timing
Individual lap timing is optional and left to each runner's discretion.
5. Winner and Results
The winner is the last runner remaining who completes one more Yard than every other competitor. All other runners are recorded as DNF.
6. Qualifying Status
This event is not a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Ticket qualifier for Big's Backyard Ultra World Championship. Results will not be submitted to Big's.
By registering, all runners agree to abide by these rules.
Directions
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