Bandera 25K : Official Thread

Don't wait too long, I hear the race is getting full just like the Rocky Racoon.

I'm already signed up for the 25.  Think I can switch to the 50?  not sure I'm quite ready for it, I've heard Bandera is tough as nails.

I'm almost sure you could switch.  And it's just five more miles than a marathon.  And you did the Longhorn course, theoretically around the same time frame-ish. 

DJ, I'm sure you can do this.

I think the Tejas Trails guys claim that the 25k course has all the "good" hills that the 50k course has, just without so many miles of flats between them, meaning that the 25k course is tougher than the 50k course. I did the 50k last year and thought it was a great experience. There is a small percentage of the course that's only runnable by mountain goats (steep hills and/or loose rocks), but that percentage is small. Most of the course is typical trail run. The photos on the Tejas Trails web site, http://tejastrails.com/docs/Bandera__Sto.html are very accurate and give you a good idea of what to expect. I'm a MOP runner and my time for the 50k was about 30-minutes slower than a 50k I'd run the month before on the "easy" trails at Huntsville State Park. All in all, I'd give this race two thumbs up and recommend it to anyone wanting a trail run experience.

Yeah, that is just what the course elevation profiles look like.  50k just has a bunch of flat in the middle of the same hills that are in the 25K.  I am so torn!  What to do?  If I switch before Jan 1, I save $10....but just not sure how ready I am.  I'm running about 30-35 mpw right now, ramping up to 40 by the end of the month.  I know I can finish but how much pain do I want to go through the next day?  OK I'm starting to sound wimpy now...I should just do it!

I love the way Joe sets up the race...if you are doing the 25K you get to do all the hard hill, he doesn't want you to miss out. If you are doing the 50K you get all the hills plus some "easier" flatter cruising. 100K well, they do it all twice...

I did the 25K last year in 3:00:59 I did a fair amount of walking up some of those hills. 

It is truly a great run. My coach told me to skip it this year. Focusing on IMTX in May and I haven't built up enough mileage at this point in my training.

I was planning on doing the 50K, I say if you are on the fence go for the 50K and plan on walking and setting up some good special needs drop bags for yourself. I'd said plan on 6-7 hours. Take a camera, I wish I did last year, some great opportunity for some great shots.

Good luck, have fun...maybe I'll volunteer...If I do I'll be wearing a Team Beef Shirt....say "hello Brad"

email from Joe today. 

"You are now in the 50km
You can send me a check for the difference."

uh-oh...   no turning back now!

I'm guessing 6 hrs or so.  I'm not going to run hard, i'm going just to finish!