Mellow Trail Race
Races: 26.2 mi, 13.1 mi, 10k, 5k, youth 1 mi
When: September 7, 2024
Where: Pace Bend Park
2011 Pace Bend Rd N, Spicewood TX
Closest smaller cities: Spicewood, Marble Falls, Bee Cave
Closest bigger cities: Austin, San Antonio
Get your friends and family, and join in on this close to Austin and San Antonio lake party and trail run! The finish line arch will be as close to the edge of Lake Travis as we can get it (Austin area’s famed lake boasting over 9 miles of shoreline)! So when you finish you can cruise straight into the water to cool off and start your floating post-race party! This means, as the lake rises and falls each year, the distance will possibly slightly change, so we'll add "ish" to each distance...and that's perfect when everything and everyone stays mellow.
We’re incredibly thankful for the support of this race by the Travis County Parks Foundation!
Race Day Results & Timing & Scoring
Start Options
We will have a mass start per distance. Sometimes we start more than one distance together, so pay attention to the Schedule for this event. We also leave the start line open for a little while longer for those who want to avoid the mass start, enjoy a more casual entry onto the course, and don’t care about overall awards.
Results and Live Split Updates
Click this button on race day to see updated results each time a runner passes a timing mat on the course and the final results. Timing mats are always at the start/finish/next lap line, and sometimes an additional mat is placed out on the course.
Timing and Scoring
The results page will show two times for each runner. “Gun Time” and “Chip Time”. Here’s what that means for you:
“Gun Time” is the time from the mass start (when the starter officially starts your distance) until when you cross the finish line. This is everyone’s “official time”, no matter when you enter the race course; and is the time that is used for all rankings and awards.
“Chip Time” is the time from when you actually cross the start line until the time you cross the finish line. This is not used for official times or award rankings. But if you begin after the Mass Start you can see this time in the results to know the time you actually covered the course in.
Race Schedule
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
Course Marking and Race Hub Setup: Sun up to sun down pretty much
FRIDAY
Packet Pickup: 4:30pm-6:00pm
Pre-Race Briefing: 6:00pm-6:30pm Pre Race Briefing and Q&A w/ drinks and snacks provided by Tejas Trails (not mandatory)
Packet Pickup: 6:30pm-7:00pm
SATURDAY
Packet Pickup:
6:00am-8:30am (for all Distances)
9:45am-10:00am (for Youth 1 Mile)
Start:
7:00am = 26.2 mi Mass / Competitive Start
7:30am = 13.1 mi Mass / Competitive Start
8:00am = 10km Mass / Competitive Start
8:15am = 5km Mass / Competitive Start
8:30am = Start Line Closes
10:00am = Youth 1 Mile Mass Start
Final Lap Cutoff: 11:30am (must be on your last lap)
Final Cutoff: 4:00pm (course closed)
Aid Station Cutoffs: See Aid Station Chart below
Teardown: Saturday all day and evening (yes, we always need help)
Course Information
RACE DISTANCES: 26.2 mi, 13.1 mi, 10K, 5K
ROUTE DETAILS:
The race features a main 13.1 mile loop with a shortcut for a 5k loop. 26.2 mile race is two full 13.1 mile loops. 10k is two 5k loops. When you return to the start line, cross the mat, hit the aid station if need be, and head back out for lap 2!
The Pace Bend Park trail system is set in a sweet peninsula jutting out into Lake Travis. One side has zero entry shores, the other has rocky cliff-edge shores.
Check out some cool videos and park info!
These twisty trails are constantly flowing up and down across rocks, roots, and hard-packed trails. At times the trail gains enough elevation to see out over the lake, which will be waiting for you to jump in after you finish the race!
Red Line = 13.1 Mile Loop
Green Line = 5k Loop
Both Courses run clock-wise
This is an old elevation profile but is meant to show you the lay of the land, not the exact course profile this year.
Course Markings
We go above and beyond on our course markings, and have become known around the world for it. We will have orange Tejas Trails caution tape blocking off any open intersections; yellow arrows stapled to stakes, signposts, fences, and trees; and hundreds of confidence markers between. You never have to navigate or use a map.
Course markings are not color-coded per distance. When you get to an intersection where a shorter distance breaks off from the longer main loop, there will be signs with distances on them pointing the appropriate ways. Simply follow the signs with your distance on them. If you don’t see your distance, you just missed your turn. Don’t ever cross caution tape. It usually is required that we keep the caution tape on the ground, but it’s always obvious, and will act as a guardrail for you at open intersections.
Also for any of our races that take place in dark hours, all our markings have high grade reflectors in them, so the course actually becomes even easier to follow in the dark!
Now of course, you can get off course… So if you’re new to trail running, you have to train your brain to keep looking up; and especially don’t trust the person in front of you. We have a special “Lemming Award” for those who blindly follow someone else off course and then get mad at us.
Aid Stations
We may not have fully staffed aid stations like a ‘normal year’. But we have some good plans to help you keep safe and having fun!
For starters, we will have “Grab N Go” snacks and water at the “Mudd” and “Well Rd” Aid Stations. See the aid station chart below to see how far it is to and from those two aid stations.
Further, we have modified the race route slightly so the course will bump out to the edge of the road multiple times.
When you get to the Pace Bend Park, the main road is one big loop around the park. Simply, follow the map and look for the labeled aid station areas. We will mark each one from the main park road. Just know that Croton is a short hike (like less than a minute) from the small parking lot / turnoff to the edge of the course. Abby Rd. and Pancho are right on the edge of the road.
You may drop off your own ice chests, fluids, and any other food or supplies you’d like at each Aid Station before you start. See Drop Bag details below.
We will have a lot of supplies at two locations for sure. The Start/Finish/Next Lap A.S. will have volunteers and full support both days. Depending on whether or not we get enough volunteers, will also put folks at Well Road Aid Station Friday and Saturday. At these two locations only, we will have “Grab N Go Snacks”. Items like Vfuel gels, peanut butter crackers, chips in small containers, etc. We will also have disposable/recyclable water bottles and ice. We will have a bit more at the Start/Finish line (Mudd A.S.).
Important note on the ice: it may be self-serve at the Well Road A.S. if we don’t have volunteers out there the entire weekend. Please use the hand sanitizer before you touch the scoops, and don’t forget to close the lid after use. If you are not comfortable with this, please plan on carrying enough cold fluids and utilize all the other drop bag locations. There are 3 other Drop Bag locations around the course. (Abby Rd, Croton, and Pancho) as well as the Start/Finish (Mudd).
Drop bags
As mentioned above, you may drop off your own ice chests, extra water, and any other food or supplies you’d like before you start. Or you can have a crew member do it for you.
Please keep in mind, this is a public use park and we will not be monitoring your drop bags. They will also be exposed to the elements and wildlife. Tejas Trails is not responsible for your belongings.
Volunteering
We fully recognize we could not (and would not want to) put on any of these events without your help. Volunteers breathe life into these events. You make them personal for people. We no doubt need you and love this component to our business. So, know that we will always do everything we can afford to do to help you enjoy your time out there in the trenches helping those runners achieve their goals and dreams.
As a volunteer, you get:
Park entry fees and Camping fees paid for (if your role requires you to sleep at the park)
Food brought to you while you are volunteering
Shirt, hat, race swag, etc.
Loads of good memories
All the gear you need to successfully accomplish your task
Volunteer hours exchanged for future race entries
We can always use help, specifically for: course marking, packet pickup, aid stations, course sweeping, teardown, and more!
Swag & Stuff
Your race entry comes with a bunch of good stuff! You’ll get the comfort of our world-renowned course markings so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. You’ll get our notorious staff and volunteer support (and probably leave with new friends you met at an aid station or the finish line)! We will offer a plethora of aid station food and drink options, as well as finish line drinks. There will be a relaxing race hub area with backyard games and toys for kids to play with for your spectators, friends, and family. We also typically have a food truck at the finish line serving a variety of good food and drink options, including an accommodating menu of most food allergies and vegan options.
You can also expect awesome gear you’ll actually want to wear, and a truly unique medal that you’ll be proud to have. Those who sign up before the shirt cutoff (when we actually have to put the shirt order in) will receive a nice shirt. Sometimes long sleeve, short sleeve, sleeveless, tank top, or something else we find that’s cool and different from the year before. Those who register after that date will receive a cool non-size specific item, such as a hat, beanie, arm warmers, scarf, drink ware, or something else we find.
If you don’t like the swag item you received, you may swap your item after the final Packet Pickup is over (when we have ensured everyone got the item they signed up for). You can also purchase the other item(s) if you like all of them. This will all happen from the Tejas Trails merchandise tent when it’s onsite, and otherwise will be made available at the Packet Pickup Tent or the Finish Line Tent.
Please note, we don’t always get the shirt color we had planned these days, as things are goofy with shipping and fulfilling. If the shirt color changes, sometimes we have to change the design colors too. But you can count on a quality item.
Timing & DNF
Chip Timing
All races will be chip timed. Chips will be attached to an ankle strap, picked up on race morning only at the event venue, and must be worn on your ankle during the race. Chips are likely to not work if worn anywhere other than your ankle.
Once you finish, we will have a bin for you to place your chip into. Our head timer will take care of it from there.
Please reference the “Start Options” section above for exact details of how we are utilizing “Gun Time” vs “Chip Time”, depending on which Start Option you choose during registration. For the “Open Start Option”, it is very important you do not get near the Start Line with your timing chip until you are ready to start. There is a different Start Line than the Finish Line/Next Lap Line. Consider the Start Line your “on ramp” onto the highway. Once on, you don’t hit that arch and timing mat again.
Check Out
If you leave the race for any reason before completing the full race distance, you must turn in your timing chip. If we have your Chip, then we know you have left the course & we won't go looking for you all day & night.
DNF (Did Not Finish)
If you decide to not finish the distance you registered for, you may get a finisher medal to commemorate the miles you did finish; but you will be a DNF in the results; and you will not be in contention for awards for the shorter distance category.
Split Time Collection
Some races may have mid-point reads to help us track progress during the race. If you see a timing mat on the course, make sure you run over it.
Pacers
Pacers are not allowed for this event.
Overall Awards
We love celebrating our top finishers! However, we don’t have awards ceremonies at most of our events. But all the top finishers will receive some really great stuff!
We will have some fun, special, handmade overall awards to hand out when you cross the finish line. Volunteers will check results as you cross, but sometimes there’s a delay since our events are mostly remote. So, if you think you may be in contention for one, please ask before leaving.
Please note, we do not mail awards to anyone who leaves without their earned award. If there is any signal, you can also look up how you did on the results page (found in the pre-race email and at the top of this event webpage).
For this race, we award the Top 3 Overall + Top 1 Masters (50 & Older) per distance.
There are special awards handed out uniquely for the Tejas 250, Tejas 300, and Tejas 400.
For anyone who completes 500, 1000, 1500km or miles at the same event, we give away special fleeces for you to make others jealous with.
Families & Youth Run
Tejas Trails is for families! We have a few things going on to help everyone have fun on race weekend.
For you runners who are trying to figure out how to train and race while trying to be a good friend, partner, spouse, or grandparent.
For you family members and friends who are trying to support your runner, but get bored out of your minds trying to keep your young ones safe and busy.
Our goal is for the runner’s family and friends to have fun things to do, enjoy hanging out, exercise, play in the woods, and create great life-long memories together. Bottom line, we want families to grow closer together because of Tejas Trails events. So, we will provide things like family discounts, yard games, practically free youth races, and a family-friendly environment.
One of our favorite parts of our events is the Youth Trail Run. The course will be around a mile, and at most events it’s possible to run less for our really young racers! You can register your child on the main Reg button at the top of this page. It is an untimed race, and every runner receives a race bib and finisher medal.
We will also have a bunch of backyard games setup around the Race Hub. Just look for the ‘Fun and Games’ flag, and dig through the totes to find some fun toys and games for all ages.
We are proud to be a part of the Youth Trail Series by ATRA & USATF
If you see this badge on an event page, that means that event is a part of the Youth Trail Series, which is a growing nation-wide series of events that are seeking to help grow youth trail runners, to have more fun and be involved at the recreational level, and to ultimately lead to more competitive runners repping Team USA at international trail running races!
For any registrant who is 19 & Under, your registration will automatically be discounted 15-20%. No code is needed. This is good for all our races of 10 miles and shorter.
Getting Here
Everything happens at Pace Bend Park.
Upon arrival, after you pass through the main check-in gate, take your first right onto Grisham Trail Rd. Follow that road for a little bit until you see signs for Mudd Cove and Tournament Point on your right. Once there, turn right around the permanent Bathroom #11.
If you got there before their staff unlocked it, and that first right turn is blocked by a locked gate, simply go straight, staying on Pace Bend Rd North. This will take you the long way all the way around the peninsula. This gate usually stays locked until around 7:15am this time of year. If you had to go the long way, turn left just before Bathroom #11.
Either way, after that turn by Bathroom #11, when you get to the big open clearing and the lake is way down below you, veer right, followed by your first left (onto a dirt road) that takes you out onto “Tournament Point” (which is a high mesa-type area of land). Park in straight as possible rows, and leave room for cars to get out. There is plenty of parking up there. Once parked, walk down toward the lake to find us. No parking on the road or down right by the lake. Please note, it is a paved road coming in, and a dirt parking area.
Pace Bend Park allows us to take your day use fees during our registration process. So runners will not have to pay upon entering the park, but spectators will. Please tell your friends and family to be cool about the day use fee, as it is a great way to support our local parks in their ongoing trail maintenance and other efforts (and it’s mandatory).
Camping & Lodging
Check out the Travis County website for their latest updates as we aren’t monitoring this daily, and things are constantly changing regarding various entities’ normal processes for things like camping. There may be other camping options nearby at another park like Krause Springs or Grelle Recreation Area, but you’ll need to check with them to find out.
If you want a hotel room nearby, Tejas Trails recommends you book your hotel through this booking portal: Hotels for Hope
Not only will you receive a discounted rate through this booking portal, but your hotel reservations will make a difference in someone's life! Every room night booked generates a $2 donation to fund a cool organization.
Tejas Trails has chosen "Kids in a New Groove" as the organization to benefit from this service.
