Full Circle Trail Race
Races: 26.2 mi, 13.1 mi, 10k, 5k, youth 1 mi
When: April 12, 2025
Where: Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area
201 East Jones Street Lewisville, TX, 75057
Closest bigger cities: Denton, Dallas, Fort Worth
This incredible natural area (now known as LLELA) was originally wild and beautiful, full of an endless number of native species. When settlement began long ago, this area was farmed. Many years later when the Lewisville Lake dam was completed, the area was condemned for flood control and all but abandoned. As the population grew, it became a forgotten island of green surrounded by suburbia. At the same time, nature slowly began to creep back in all on its own.
Now LLELA, the University of North Texas, and the City of Lewisville are working together to help bring back the wild, by reclaiming it, protecting it, and making beautiful experiences possible for generations to come. As the partnership works daily to restore and replenish the native plant, tree, and animal life, they are bringing the natural environment back full circle. We invite you to come take part in that process by joining us for this trail race, and enjoying these special trails and eco-systems, while showing your support for LLELA’s great work!
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
Tuesday - Friday
Location: Trailhead Running Supply - 2600 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 140 Flower Mound TX 75022
Packet Pickup: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Pre-Race Briefing: 5 min before each start Saturday only
SATURDAY
Packet Pickup:
6:00am-8:30am (for all Distances)
9:45am-10:00am (for Youth 1 Mile)
Start:
8:00am = 26.2 mi Mass Start
8:10am = 13.1 mi Mass Start
8:20am = 10km Mass Start
8:30am = 5km Mass Start
10:00am = Youth 1 Mile Mass Start
Final Lap Cutoff: 2:00pm (must be on your last lap)
Final Cutoff: 4:00pm (course closed)
Aid Station Cutoffs: See Aid Station Chart below
Teardown: Saturday all day (yes, we always need help)
Course Information
RACE DISTANCES: 26.2 mi, 13.1 mi, 10K, 5K
ROUTE DETAILS:
The race features a main 6.2 mile route. There will be a .35 add-on for the 13.1 and 26.2 mile racers. 26.2 mile race is four x full 6.5 mile loops. 13.1 mile race is two full 6.5 mile loops. When you return to the start line, cross the mat, hit the aid station if need be, and head back out for your next lap! The 10k is one single loop. The 5k is one loop.
The LLELA trail system is gorgeous. Packed with wildlife, multiple eco-systems, seemingly endless foot bridges, and overall good tree canopy to keep you shaded if it’s hot. This is not a technical course, but does have some undulations in the topography. It is a very pleasant course for those new to the trails, and an opportunity to run fast for those seasoned trail runners.
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 will have a full aid station at the start/finish/next lap line. It will have various drinks, sweet and salty food options, fruits, plenty of water and ice, and nutrition products from our sponsors. We will also place a basic water aid station in the middle of the full lap to re-fill your bottle or vest if need be. There will not be an aid station on the 5km course, so plan on carrying whatever you need for your whole race. For those doing the longer distances, you won’t go more than around 3-3.5 miles between aid stations.
Drop bags
You may drop off your own ice chests, extra water, and any other food or supplies you’d like anywhere around the Race Hub. We have plenty of space, so we won’t monitor where you decide to place your bag or ice chest. Just make sure it’s not going to interfere with the race course.
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 the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, in Lewisville, TX.
Upon arrival, after you pass through the main check-in gate, be looking for race signs pointing you to the Race Hub. Packet Pickup and everything will be there.
LLELA allows us to take participant’s 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
There is camping at LLELA. Check out the LLELA website for their latest updates. There are also fun BnBs and other campsites around the lake, pretty close to LLELA.
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.
