Required Reading
Cactus Rose 100 Mile & 50 Mile Trail Run
Hill Country SNA near Bandera Texas
October 30st & 31st
(start) 5:00am Saturday - (36 hours) - 4:00pm Sunday (stop)

I have made an attempt to create an event that required the least amount of volunteers as possible. A sort of Self-Serve setup of aid stations and support systems.

Here is how it works. I mark the hell out of the course and set up each aid station. The aid stations are one every 5 miles. The aid stations are large enclosed carport tents. I set up a few tables, set up a few large water coolers, and put a large coffin cooler full of ice. I make sure there is always water and ice during the run. Before the race, I show each and every runner where each station is so that you can put what you want at each. Some people set up a chair, ice chest, food bag, and clothes bag at each. Some people use only the main aid station at Equestrian which you hit twice on every loop. The loop is 25 miles to run, but is a very short drive to get to all of them by car. It might take 20mins to get to all of them. For record keeping, I leave a pad, with pen & watch at each station. Every runner must write down your name, bib#, and time so that we can keep track of where you are at all times. Most of the crews hang out at Equestrian, so this station ends up being a full service aid station, without promises. Still, for each previous year, there always seems to be somebody here cooking and caring for runners. Its usually better than most planned aid station with volunteers at many races I have been to. The way it goes is... Nachos and Boyles are empty and quiet aid stations, which most of the runners have acquired a very strong liking for. Nobody is there, so you can carefully take care of your own needs without being pressured or harassed. A great place to really take a peaceful break. Equestrian is a big Busy & Loud full service aid station that is serviced by your friends and everybody else's. It really is amazing how the runner's crews make a better full service aid station than a planned station. It is spontaneous and really very good. The Lodge is where the race staff, timing, medical and everybody else sits and waits for you to finish each loop. It also has become a great service station of sorts. Anyway, it might be more than you think. Still, it's your dime and you need to plan your own food and supplements. Hell, it would be wise to do that even if we staffed every station.

DIRECTION: The race starts in the clockwise direction, but you change direction with each loop. So, every runner will get to check on every other runner as you pass and repass each other as you make all four 25 mile loops. Equestrian, Nachos, Equestrian, Boyles, Lodge, Boyles, Equestrian, Nachos, Equestrian, Lodge. Each loop is exactly 25 miles. Loops 1 & 3 are CW, so loops 2 & 4 are CCW. There is no distinction between the 50 mile and 100 mile races.... except, 50 milers run 2 loops while 100 milers run 4 loops.
VOLUNTEERS:
Of course, some things we cannot do without, and these are what we need help with. Medical, Glow Stick hangers, course markers, checkers to make certain every station always has water and ice, and also to cross check names, bibs, and times at every aid station. And there is always some grunt work, but really not all that much. So if you want to help and can... please call or email and note the day(s), time(s) and means to contact you (name, phone, email, when to call) I plan to arrive in the park early on wednesday to start marking the course.
Thx/Joe Prusaitis-RD
Email:
Phone: 512-294-6456
4 AID STATIONS: (every station is self-serv)
Here is how it works. I set up five aid stations prior to the race. Each will be a large tent that is enclosed via tarps. You will be given the details of each location so that you can place your own necessities at each place that you want to use. All the stations are an easy drive within minutes of the start and directly off the park roads, such that you could drop gear at each of the stations in a very short amount of time. This is the method we have used for 3 years and it works great. A pad and pen will be left at each station for you to write down your name, bib#, and time so that we can keep track of where you are at all times. We will put water & ice at each station and a table, with a lantern, but that's about it. If you want, I can even escort you to each aid station before the race so that you can make certain you know where each one is.
Equestrian 5mi on the run5 minute drive from the Lodge
Nachos 10mi on the run10 minute drive from the Lodge
Equestrian 15mi on the run5 minute drive from the Lodge
Boyles 20mi on the runA very short walk from the Lodge
Lodge Start/FinishYou are there
Pacers: pacers are allowed AFTER 50 miles or AFTER it gets dark. As many as you want, but only one at a time. Only start from Aid Stations. If a runner is over 60, then a pacer is allowed the entire 100 miles. No muleing is allowed. Please carry your own stuff, whatever it is.
Aid Station Crews: If you have crew and you want them to be somewhere, then have them take care of the station while they wait for you. Heck they might as well even help anybody else who happens to come in. And if you just want to hang out and adopt a station, then have at it, but keep in mind that as many runners might appreciate your help, as many others don't want it or need it. Also, I want to make certain that Nachos and Boyles are left unadopted. Please be considerate when rendering aid. Some prefer to do it all themselves. A good crew might be talked into a drive into town for a hot meal to be brought back. Thats your business. At the Equestrian aid station, it is ok to set up a stove and cook or whatever, but please do not disturb the peace and quiet at Boyles or Nachos. It is ok to go there, but be respectful of the runners desire for a peaceful and quiet rest station. Most people do pull up and camp at Equestrian. It has become a big party of sorts, with lots of activity all day and night.
Aid Station Support: I will check on the aid station at intervals just to make sure nobody is making a mess of the station or themselves. Also to make certain no critters are getting into your food. I would suggest putting everything you own in a container with a lid, do not leave out your food or trash, as it will only attract bees, bugs, and other wild beasts. I will make certain we always have water and depending on the weather, ice too.
Aid Station Notes: Set up your own stuff where you want it and nobody will touch it. It remains where you put it. Nobody is to touch anyone else's gear. If anything is left on the table, it is available to everybody. This does not mean that you should leave your trash on the table because you do not want it anymore. There will be a trash can there for your trash: please use it. These stations are unattended, so do not leave anything with a flame (like a lantern) unattended. I have a few LED lanterns I use that give some light, but only a little.
DROP Bags: Well this is what this one is all about... your skill in providing for yourself, in your own drop bags at each station. You bring it, you clean it up, you take it home. Its all yours. But on Sunday at 4:00 PM, I'll tear down the stations and close the race, so if you leave anything behind, its gone. My crew and I clean up and clear out pretty quick after the race is over. We have it down to a science and will not be there soon after. Please note: we do not take home any items left behind. All abandoned items will be donated prior to our departure from Bandera.
TRASH: The park expects us to leave the park as clean as we found it. We would hope that you will help us to keep it clean by putting all your trash in the aid stations trash cans. Please do not leave any trash on the course. I hate to take about "disqualification" but this is one place where it could happen.
COURSE CONTROL: At this, I do plan to excel. We mark and manage the course. We use many course markers (signs, ribbons, trail blocks, wrong ways, glow sticks) and then tear down all course markings after the last runner. Every effort is made to make it so obvious that anybody can follow the route. Glow sticks will be hung at every intersection for the 5:00 AM start and again for Saturday night. We intend to over mark every turn but only the turns.
Wednesday-FridayFlag the course & place signs & put up the aid station tents
Friday - LateHang glow sticks for first half of course
Saturday 2pmHang glow sticks for the entire course
Sunday - mid-daystart tearing down the course behind last runner
Set up and Tear Down: This will require some work. Would love to have some help. I'll attempt a rolling tear down following the last runner. This includes all course markings, blocked trails, trash, and aid stations.
Trail Guides: There will be no course guides or aid station volunteers. Still you should be fine. We have run this event 3 years with minimal issues. I will provide waterproof course maps to every runner, and you should keep this with you for the entire event.
KITCHEN STAFF: There is none. We are cooking NO meals and providing NO food. All we provide is water & ice. and a whole lot of moral support.
RESULTS & AWARDS: The top 3 male and top 3 females will each receive a metal rose that is very nice and does great in your garden, but is hell to travel with. Last year, it cost quite a bit to mail one to Alaska. All 100mile finishers will receive a beautiful belt buckle, all 50mile finishers will receive an excellent medal of the same design as the 100mile buckle. The shirts are always excellent technical quality shirts, but the only way to get one is to register on time. Late registration usually means you will not get a shirt. This may be a self-serve style event, but its still a full grown kick you in the pants 100 mile & 50 mile race, with timing, medical, awards, shirts, buckles, and one hell of a weekend in a very nice place.
TIMING: I will have somebody at the finish at all times to make certain your loop splits and final finish times are recorded. We are using chip timing. We will also make trips to each station to keep track of all your aid station splits. You MUST write down all your split times to get credit for each loop. DayLight Savings Time ends at 2:00 AM on Sunday. What that means is... at 2:00 AM, Time Falls back to 1:00 AM. It is Halloween Night, so this seems to fit in perfectly. You do need to keep in mind... the clock is still running, and it is the running clock you need to pay particular attention to, and not just the time of day. After all, the Time of Day just played a Trick on you.
MEDICAL: yes... Medical will be there. The park does expect some sort of coverage. Otherwise, I'd let you duct tape your own wounds.
MAPPING & COURSE CERTIFICATION: As usual, Chris Matus has again made certain of the distances. The loop will be a 25 mile round-a-bout that we have made every attempt to avoid what is flat and to find what is nasty. That said, this is the Bandera 50km route minus the flat sections. Every year. there are a few minor changes due to trail maintenance, but we just ran the course on Oct 5 to verify that nothing major has changed.
THE 50 MILE OPTION: The 50 milers will start with the 100 milers. Same start, same course, same rules. The 100 milers cannot have a pacer until dark or 50 miles, so, this same rule applies to the 50 mile runners. thus, the only way you can have a pacer is to still be running after dark. Cutoffs. The 50 mile cutoffs are the same rules as the 100 mile cutoffs. You have 36 hours. I am giving medals for a 50 mile finish. Underachievers: If a 100 miler stops after 50 miles, then he can place in the 50 mile race. You are all running the same course at the same time, so this is valid and needs to be understood. Overachievers: If a 50 miler decides to go for it, and run 100 miles, well, the same rule applies: they can place in the 100 mile race (but, you owe me the extra entry cost for the extra miles). These two groups (100 & 50) are starting with different bib numbers, so that everybody can see what is your intention, but that is all it is... your intention. We will know after 2 loops, who is underachieving or overachieving... or simply running what they signed up for. It seems to add to the whole TRICK or TREAT theme of this halloween weekend. Let it be understood that the 50 milers get the same treatment as the 100 milers do. You manage your own stations, and work within the same rules.
Halloween: I will be selecting an award for the best costume worn during the run. You need not wear it for the entire run, but must have it for at least one complete 25 mile loop.