Cactus Rose Endurance Trail Race, now at Camp Eagle (in Rocksprings, TX)
IMPORTANT UPDATE = WE HAD TO MOVE THIS RACE TO A NEW VENUE. IT IS NOW AT CAMP EAGLE @ 6424 HACKBERRY ROAD, ROCKSPRINGS, TX 78681.
COMMUNICATION:
Racers are getting emailed as soon as we formulate the details. Registered participants, please share your incoming race email with your friends, family, crew, and pacers. We will also be sharing updates on our Facebook and Instagram pages, in our private FB group, and on this new event page. If you see info elsewhere, it’s potentially old info or a rumor.
MORE DETAILS:
We don’t like this anymore than you do. It wasn’t our choice. The park used to be a rain or shine venue, but that’s no longer the case. The park just told us we can’t have the event as planned at HCSNA. These are the cards we have been dealt, and we will make some lemonade out of these lemons. We’re determined to pull of a first-class event for you all; and we are so thankful and humbled for the volunteers, friends, family, and Camp Eagle to be willing to go to such extreme measures last minute to make this happen!
GOOD NEWS:
We have a clean, amazing 25 mile course that really mirrors the original venue. We have figured out aid stations that are easy to get to. All but one is within a few minutes walk of each other and right along the main road that goes through Camp Eagle’s property. The other one that is further away is over a mile from the main camp area, a little beyond the same place we typically use for our usual race at Camp Eagle (up at the windmill), which is a pleasant hike or mountain bike ride. More details on that below.
LODGING INFO:
One of the biggest things we know you’re concerned about is your lodging. Camp Eagle has a ton of lodging options in heated / air conditioned cabins, dorm rooms, hostel rooms, yurts, some private hotel-style rooms, and a few RV pads with hook-ups. They also have plenty of primitive car and tent camping spots. You can even pitch a tent all around the race hub, which will be a fun party! They are extending their usual checkout procedures, to allow your lodging reservation to stay good until Monday morning at 10:00am.
However, for those who can’t get out of your current lodging without losing your money, we recommend you keep your lodging in Bandera, or Pipe Creek, or wherever you have it. If you were staying in or around those towns, you were about a half an hour to an hour drive to the back side of the HCSNA park where the race hub was at the original venue anyway. The drive from those towns to Camp Eagle is around 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. AND if you are too tired after your race to drive back there, you can utilize one of our beds in our medical/volunteer rooms. If you think you may end up wanting one of these, throw in a pillow and blanket or sleeping bag if you can. We will have a few extra sleeping bags and blankets if needed for a few folks. And the camp has showers anyone can use for no charge as well. Above all, know that Tejas Trails and Camp Eagle will be here to take care of you even if you need to sleep through the night after your race.
See below for the link that takes you to lodging reservations at Camp Eagle.
Races: 5 mi, 25 mi, 50 mi, 100 mi, 5 mi ruck, 25 mi ruck, youth 1 mi
When: October 27-29, 2023
Where: Camp Eagle, 6424 Hackberry Rd, Rocksprings, TX 78880
Closest smaller cities: Kerrville, Fredericksburg
Closest bigger cities: San Antonio, Austin
First off: No whiners, wimps, or wusses! This race was designed to test runners over rugged technical terrain. The old-school self-support style of putting out your own gear remains the same.
This was meant to be a tough race ...on purpose. If there is an option up a hill, we will mark the hardest option. The views are spectacular and picturesque, and the event is always beautiful in every sense of the word.
We’re also excited to Offer a Ruck Division at Cactus Rose! See details further down.
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
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
Course Marking, Aid Stations, and Race Hub Setup: Late morning to sundown on Tuesday, then around 8:00am to sun down on Wednesday and Thursday
Packet Pickup: 10:00am-7:00pm (at iRun Texas, Dominion Location in San Antonio)
FRIDAY (everything happens at Camp Eagle)
Packet Pickup: 2:30pm-3:30pm
100 Milers Show to Start Line for a Short Race Briefing: 3:45pm
100 Mile Mass Start: 4:00pm
Packet Pickup Continued: 5:30pm-7:00pm
SATURDAY (everything happens at Camp Eagle)
Packet Pickup (at Camp Eagle’s Party Barn in the Headwaters Campus):
7:00am-9:00am (for all Races, except the 100 milers)
10:15am-10:30am (for Youth 1 Mile Race)
Start:
8:00am = 5 mi & 5 mi Ruck Mass Start
8:15am = 50 mi, 25 mi & 25 mi Ruck Mass Start
8:30am-9:30am = Start Line open for all distances
9:30am = Start Line closed
10:30am = Youth 1 Mile Mass Start
SUNDAY (everything happens at Camp Eagle)
Final Lap Cutoff: 1:00am. You must be on your last lap.
Course Closed: 12:00pm on Sunday.
Aid Station Cutoffs: See Aid Station Chart below
Teardown: Sunday all day and night, and Monday morning (yes, we always need help)
Packet Pickup Details
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY @ iRun Texas
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 10:00am-7:00pm
At iRun Texas, Dominion Location.
22211 IH 10 West #1107A, San Antonio, TX 78256
FRIDAY and SATURDAY @ Camp Eagle’s Party Barn
Friday: 2:30pm-3:30pm
Saturday: 7:00am-9:00am (for all races) & 10:00am-10:30am (for youth 1 mile race only)
Course Information
RACE DISTANCES: 5 mi, 25 mi, 50 mi, 100 mi, 5 mi ruck, 25 Mi Ruck, youth 1 mi
ROUTE DETAILS:
Every distance runs counter-clockwise for their first lap. 25 milers will only go counter-clockwise. 5 milers are the exception. We will run you clockwise only. For multiple lap races, Laps 1 and 3 are counter-clockwise, and Laps 2 and 4 are clockwise.
The race features a main 25 mile loop with a shortcut for a 5 mile loop.
You can expect around 2500-3000 feet of elevation change, up and down, per lap.
The Rocksprings area, just like the Bandera area, is notorious for rocks and rocks and challenging beauty! There is really no extensive flat section, only a few short stints here and there. So, you’re mostly either climbing or descending…on rocks…lots and lots of rocks…get the picture yet?
It’s gorgeous, but don’t watch the sunrise or sunset too long, or you’ll end up face first in a cactus.
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 been know to give a “Lemming Award” for those who blindly follow someone else off course.
Please note for this route, you will definitely see other parts of the course from the trail you are on once in a while. Do not ever bushwack to get to confidence markers you see in the near distance. That section could be miles in front or behind where you are on course. An easy way to think of it is, unless the trail changes directions sharply, don’t ever make a sharp change of direction unless man-made course markings tell you to do so.
Aid Stations
This is what makes this race what it is. You place your bags and ice chests. Take care of yourself. After the race, you go get them. Or if you’re really fortunate, you share this adventure with your crew and pacers. Here’s more of what that means exactly:
You should still plan for the old school Cactus Rose style of racing and aid station drop bag planning like previous years.
5 milers should have everything you need for your entire lap (no aid stations on your lap).
Do not count on this at any point, but consider it bonus if you happen to run into some of our friends here and there who may have some special treats for you. Perhaps they’ll have some cold coke if it’s hot, or some hot soup, potatoes, or coffee if it’s cold. Think of it like you are on a long hiking trip and you happened into a nice person camping in the woods who had some extra food in their tent to share. This may or may not happen.
We will provide ice and water at all aid stations. Along with a lot of hand sanitizer. Please use the hand sanitizer before handling any ice scoops.
You are more than welcome to place your own ice chests and your own water at 4 out of the 5 aid stations, along with your drop bags. Just leave your items spaced out along the race route anywhere nearby the aid stations.
See more specific details about drop bags below in the next section.
Download and Save the Course Map (above), and also the Campus Map (below), and those will show you the driving roads you need to access each spot. All access roads are dirt, but maintained.
You (and spectators) will not be able to drive to the Ridgeline Aid Station. We will have a section in the Party Barn (where the race hub is located) for you to leave your drop bag for us to deliver for you to this Ridgeline Aid Station only. We will not transport anything to any other aid station. More details on this in the next section below.
Keep in mind, we will not be able to efficiently retrieve your Ridgeline Aid Station drop bag for you. We will do our best to accommodate, but it takes a while to get our logistics vehicle up there and back. We will bring everything back asap after the cutoff up there. Please plan accordingly.
You must also ‘sign in’ at every aid station (with the exception of the first two aid stations on Lap 1 only). From then on, beginning at Cabin A.S. in other words, you must write your Bib # and Time of Day in the provided notepads lying on the table). There will be a clock there too so if you don’t wear a watch, you’ll be fine.
Please tell your crew they can park along the edge of the main road (called Hackberry Road) but locals sometime haul down that road, so use discretion. Also to note, it’s a caliche dirt road, so we recommend keeping your windows rolled up!
They can try to drive up to the “Cabin Aid Station” but there are only a few parking spaces up there. It’s not that far of a walk from Hackberry Road to the Cabin A.S., and it’s an easy stroll. There will be signs leading up there from Hackberry Road.
Also please make sure your crew doesn’t move into the tents/shelters. Leave room for runners coming through.
There are cutoffs at each aid station starting at Mile 50, for the 100 milers. We will do a rolling teardown behind those cutoffs. So, they are not negotiable. Those cutoffs are quitting time for a bunch of volunteers who will be ready to get home.
Drop Bags
If you’re going about the drop bags on your own without the help of a crew, you can feel free to place whatever you want, anywhere nearby an aid station. Just keep it orderly and avoid placing them on all dirt or paved roads, trails, and parking spaces.
Please just keep in mind, there will be a lot of others trying to find a good spot to place their supplies too.
You may not place your items inside our 10x20 tents. But you can take your stuff into it if you need to. For instance, if you need to replace batteries in your headlamp while it’s raining or something of the sort, you should walk in there and use the tables and space; or if you need to sit in a chair out of the sun you should do that in the tent. Just don’t setup permanently, or make it where runners can’t pass through, or access the dispenser jugs.
See the downloadable maps attached below to see how to get to each aid station.
Ruck Division
If you haven’t experienced a ruck challenge or competition, they are wonderfully simplistic and can take place in a variety of looks and feels. We are not going to have challenges along the way. Just straight hiking/jogging on a trail with a ruck (pack), from the start line to the finish line. So, all you need to join in on the Ruck division is a ruck (pack) with some weight in it, and the ability to cover some rugged Texas Hill Country trail miles.
Top finishers will be rewarded nicely (same divisions as our regular trail runs). All finishers will receive a patch and finisher medal.
We are now offering a ‘long course’ and ‘less long course’ at each event we offer the Ruck Division!
FURTHER DETAILS:
If you weigh under 150lbs, we will require a 20lb weight.
If you weigh over 150lbs, we will require a 30lb weight.
Mandatory ruck weigh in will take place prior to the start when you pick up your timing chip, and at the finish line.
Weight cannot be anything consumable or wearable like food or water or clothing. But pretty much anything else goes.
The mandatory amount of weight cannot be on the shoulders or chest. It must be on your back.
No sling bags, weighted vest or duffel bags or anything like that.
Any type of backpack (ruck) is acceptable otherwise.
No trekking poles allowed.
You can carry additional gear and supplies like food, water and clothing (and you should), but that will be additional weight.
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.
Also, for our longer events, sometimes we offer a “Premium Garment” that you can upgrade to during the Race Registration steps.
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 (or race afternoon for the 100 milers) 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 allowed after your 2nd lap. 60 and older may have a pacer their whole race. Pacers must start and end at an aid station. Only one pacer with a runner at a time. No mule-ing. All pacers must complete the free registration (see the registration button toward the top of this page).
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 Camp Eagle. All courses start and end in the Party Barn at the Headwaters Campus (first right after crossing the river, and up the hill).
When driving in, be sure you follow the directions found on Camp Eagle’s website. You want to come in from Hwy 41. If you turn onto Hackberry Road from the other side, you will make it, but you’ll be driving through ranches’ bump gates, and moving slow.
Once you pull onto the Camp’s property, you’ll drive across a beautiful low water crossing. Then you will take your first right into the Headwaters campus, head up the hill, and you’ll see the big pavilion, they call the Party Barn.
If you need the Camp Eagle staff, their office is just further up the main road (don’t turn right into the Headwaters Campus). Drive until you go up a little hill under a suspension footbridge. It will be on your left on top of that little hill.
If you can’t find a parking spot next to the Party Barn, you’ll have to head back down the hill the same way you came up, and go across the dirt road you came in on into the overflow parking area (which is a flat dirt field on the opposite side of Hackberry Road). This is also the main camping area if you don’t want to tent camp next to the Party Barn.
Camping & Lodging
Camp Eagle has hundreds of beds onsite. Some are within a few seconds, some within a few minutes walk to the start / finish line and main race area. You can choose from really nice hotel style rooms, dorm style rooms, hostel style rooms (where you just buy a single bed in a room of 12-24 beds), yurts, screened shelters, tent camping, and car camping.
Tent camping & RV camping will be available for $5-$15 per person per night, payable via cash or card at the front gate. (No reservation needed).
Check out Camp Eagle & make lodging reservations by clicking the button at the top of this page.
You will have until Monday morning at 10:00am to be out of your rooms.
The following price list may change (you'll have to check with Camp Eagle to be sure. But this will give you an idea):
Hostel Beds: $20/night
Screen Shelter Cabins: $35 (3-5 beds per cabin)
Dorm Rooms: $120 - $160 (At least 12 beds per dorm room)
Basic Parking side Hotel Style Rooms: $110
Basic River side Hotel Style Rooms: $120
Yurts along the river: $120 (14 per bldg)
Hotel Style Suites: $175
You can also sleep at one of a couple hunting lodges / inns in the little town of Rocksprings or other nearby town. Although there's not much to do there, there is a gas station, grocery store, and a couple restaurants. Also Kerrville is a full on small city, with several major hotel chains, grocery stores, many restaurants, gas stations, etc.
