Event Overview
| Date | Jan 9-10, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Location | Hill Country State Natural Area, Bandera, Texas, USA |
| Format | Fixed-Distance |
| Terrain | Trail |
| Region | North America |
| Distance / duration | 100 km (2 × 50 km loops) |
| State / area | Texas (TX) |
| Course model | Loop |
| Edition note | Registration is open on RunSignup. On October 20, 2026 the prices were $245 for the 100K, $160 for the Sunday 50K, $139 for the 25K and $160 for the Saturday non-competitive 50K, which had 22 places left. Entries after December 1 get other swag instead of a shirt. Tejas Trails gives no refunds, and deferral credit shrinks closer to race day. Bandera is a Western States qualifier for 100K finishers within 18 hours, but it is not a 2027 Golden Ticket race, and no USATF championship has been announced for it in 2027. |
| Elevation gain | About 6,600 ft for the 100K (about 3,300 ft per 50 km lap), per the organizer |
| Elevation loss | About 6,600 ft |
| Cutoff | 25 hours. 100K runners must start their second lap at the Lodge by 8:00 PM Saturday, and the course closes at 8:30 AM Sunday, with rolling second-lap cutoffs at each aid station. The Saturday non-competitive 50K uses the 100K cutoffs, and the Sunday 50K and 25K close at 7:00 PM Sunday. |
| Start | 7:30 AM Saturday, January 9, 2027 (100K mass start; the start line closes at 7:45 AM). The Saturday non-competitive 50K starts at 8:00 AM, the Sunday 50K at 8:00 AM and the 25K at 8:30 AM Sunday. |
| Field size | Tejas Trails does not publish a cap for the 100K. DUV lists 264 finishers in the 2026 100K: 223 men and 41 women. |
| Highlights | Two 50 km Loops, Western States Qualifier |
Bandera 100K winners since 2016
Men’s and women’s 100K winners at each edition since 2016, and whether Tejas Trails counts that year’s course for records.
| Year | Men | Women | Record-eligible course |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jared Rothlauf, 8:54:58 | Anneke Durkan, 11:08:14 | Yes |
| 2025 | Dany Racine, 10:20:26 | Aimee Jacobs, 11:33:10 | No |
| 2024 | Hans Troyer, 7:45:40 | Colleen Chase, 10:32:22 | No |
| 2023 | Jeffrey Colt, 8:23:54 | Courtney Dauwalter, 8:59:37 | Yes |
| 2022 | Jonathan Rea, 8:10:00 | Marianne Hogan, 9:17:06 | Yes |
| 2021 | Ryan Miller, 8:10:08 | Katie Asmuth, 9:25:00 | Yes |
| 2020 | Drew Holmen, 8:13:15 | Ailsa Macdonald, 9:16:38 | Yes |
| 2019 | Tyler Green, 8:26:37 | Brittany Peterson, 9:26:59 | No |
| 2018 | Mario Mendoza, 8:07:45 | Camille Herron, 9:56:02 | Yes |
| 2017 | Justin Ricks, 9:13:11 | Stephanie Violett, 9:08:35 | Yes |
| 2016 | Jim Walmsley, 7:46:37 | Cassie Scallon, 9:19:46 | Yes |
Times are from Tejas Trails’ winners list, last updated February 18, 2026. DUV agrees on every winner; it gives Colleen Chase 10:32:19 in 2024 and lists that year’s course as 99.5 km. iRunFar lists the 2025 race at Rocksprings. The top two men and women earned Western States Golden Tickets in 2022 and 2023.
Sources: Tejas Trails race records: Bandera winners and course records; DUV: Bandera 100 km event history and results; iRunFar: 2023 Bandera 100K results; iRunFar: This Week in Running, January 15, 2024; iRunFar: This Week in Running, January 13, 2025; Trail Runner: First Golden Tickets of 2022 earned at the Bandera 100K.
Bandera 100K aid stations and cutoffs
Aid stations in loop order with cumulative mileage for each lap and the 100K cutoffs from the organizer’s aid-station chart.
| Aid station | Lap 1 mile | Lap 2 mile | Food | 100K cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyles | 5.02 | 36.16 | Regular food and drinks | 10:02 PM Saturday (lap 2) |
| Equestrian | 9.38 | 40.52 | Hot and cold food | 11:47 PM Saturday (lap 2) |
| Nachos | 16.37 | 47.51 | Regular food and drinks; drop-bag delivery | 2:36 AM Sunday (lap 2) |
| Chapas | 21.19 | 52.33 | Hot and cold food; drop-bag delivery | 4:32 AM Sunday (lap 2) |
| YaYa | 27.00 | 58.14 | Regular food and drinks | 6:52 AM Sunday (lap 2) |
| Lodge (start/finish) | 31.14 | 62.28 | Hot and cold food | 8:00 PM Saturday to start lap 2; 8:30 AM Sunday to finish |
There are no cutoffs on the first lap except the 8:00 PM last-lap cutoff at the Lodge. The chart is the one linked from the 2027 race page; Tejas Trails says the course can change slightly at the last minute.
Sources: Official Bandera aid-station and cutoff chart; Official Bandera race page.
Course & Terrain
Two counterclockwise laps of a 50 km loop from the Group Lodge race hub; the organizer’s aid-station chart measures the loop at 31.14 miles and the 100K at 62.28 miles. The same weekend has a one-lap 50K on Sunday, a limited non-competitive 50K on Saturday, a 25K on Sunday that cuts across after Equestrian and rejoins the loop before YaYa, and a youth 1-mile run on Saturday.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Six aid stations per loop: Lodge, Boyles, Equestrian, Nachos, Chapas and YaYa
- “The Race Track,” the only consistently flat section, on either side of YaYa
- Short, steep climbs to Hill Country views
- Start and finish at the Group Lodge race hub
Technical, rocky trail lined with sotol and other spiky plants; the organizer says everything on the course “cuts, stings, or bites.” The hills are short but steep, and runners climb or descend for almost the whole loop. Texas Parks and Wildlife describes the park as a former ranch of more than 5,000 acres of canyons, plateaus and creek bottoms northwest of San Antonio.
Tejas Trails does not publish a weather guide. In 2022 the 100K started in the low 40s °F with light rain on rocky, slick trail. The 2025 race was held at Camp Eagle near Rocksprings, Texas, instead of the state natural area, and Tejas Trails’ policy is to offer a backup venue or date rather than refunds.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Open entry through RunSignup, with no qualifying race. Prices on October 20, 2026: 100K $245, Sunday 50K $160, 25K $139, Saturday non-competitive 50K $160 and youth run $12. Park entry for racers is included. |
| Support model | Six aid stations per lap. The Lodge, Equestrian and Chapas serve hot and cold food and drinks; Boyles, Nachos and YaYa serve regular food and drinks. The race is cupless, so runners carry a cup or flask, and Hydrapak cups are available at packet pickup. Caffeinated drinks are often available at night, but the organizer advises bringing your own if you rely on caffeine. |
| Crew / pacers | Crews and spectators may go to every aid station. The organizer’s chart lists parking at the Lodge, very limited parking at Equestrian and Chapas, and none at Boyles, Nachos or YaYa. 100K runners may have one pacer after the first 50 km loop, or for the whole race if they are 60 or older. Pacers start and stop only at aid stations, may not carry anything for the runner, and must complete the free pacer registration. |
| Drop bags | Runners may place their own bags and small coolers at any aid station the day before. YaYa is about 200 yards from the road, and Boyles about half a mile up a jeep road from the Lodge parking. For the 100K only, Tejas Trails delivers bags to Nachos and Chapas if they are handed in at the Lodge by 7:00 AM Saturday. Bags come back to the Lodge by 9:00 AM Sunday, and unclaimed bags are discarded or donated. |
| Logistics note | Packet pickup runs Tuesday to Thursday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, at iRun Texas (Dominion), 22211 IH 10 West #1107A, San Antonio; then 1:00 to 7:00 PM Friday and on race mornings at the Group Lodge (10600 Bandera Creek Rd). Picking up early checks you in, and you can no longer defer. Timing chips are handed out only on race morning. An optional briefing is at 5:30 PM Friday at the start line. Non-racers 13 and older pay $10 park entry in cash; primitive camping is $25 per person for the weekend, and RV sites with hookups $40 a night. |
Why This Race Matters
Tejas Trails, the Texas trail-race company Joe and Joyce Prusaitis started in 2001, created Bandera in 2003, and its results archive covers every year since. The 100K is held each January, and its winners include Jim Walmsley (2016) and Courtney Dauwalter (2023), who hold the course records. USATF listed Bandera as the site of its 100 km Trail Championships in January 2018, and the race gave Western States Golden Tickets to its top two men and women in 2022 and 2023. iRunFar reported that 2024 was not a Golden Ticket race, and Bandera is not on Western States’ Golden Ticket lists for 2026 or 2027. It remains a Western States qualifier.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- 100K men: Jim Walmsley, 7:46:37 (2016). Hans Troyer ran 7:45:40 in 2024, but Tejas Trails excludes 2024 from records because of a significant course change, and iRunFar reported that year’s route was shorter.
- 100K women: Courtney Dauwalter, 8:59:37 (2023).
- 50K: Kris Brown, 3:47:02 (2022), and Molly Seidel, 4:09:39 (2026).
- 25K: Grant Colligan, 1:38:07 (2024), and Ashley Brasovan, 1:57:27 (2020).
- Tejas Trails marks some years as not eligible for records because of course changes: 2019, 2024 and 2025 for the 100K and 50K, and 2019 and 2025 for the 25K.
Preparing for a Race Like Bandera 100K
The fixed-distance race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- Walking strategy for ultramarathons: When and how to walk by terrain, effort and cutoffs.
- Crew and aid-station strategy: Crew tables, aid stops, drop bags and runner preferences.
- Hydration and sodium for ultramarathons: Fluid, sodium, thirst, sweat rate and hyponatremia risk.
- Tapering for ultramarathons: Plan the taper and race week around your own recovery.
Best Fit
- Runners chasing a Western States qualifier in January
- A first 100K on technical trail with a 25-hour limit
- Groups mixing 100K, 50K and 25K entries in one weekend
Planning Notes
- Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
- The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
- 100K runners must leave the Lodge on their second lap by 8:00 PM Saturday
- No refunds; deferral credit falls from 100% at 90 days out to nothing in the last nine days, minus a $10 fee
- Loose rock and sotol: expect cuts and falls
- Cupless race: carry your own cup or flask
- Not a Western States Golden Ticket race
Event FAQs
When is the 2027 Bandera 100K?
Saturday, January 9, 2027. The 100K starts at 7:30 AM at Hill Country State Natural Area near Bandera, Texas, and the course closes at 8:30 AM Sunday. The 50K and 25K are on Sunday, January 10.
What distances are there at Bandera?
The 100K (two 50 km laps, Saturday), the 50K (one lap, Sunday at 8:00 AM), a small Saturday non-competitive 50K that is not eligible for overall awards, the 25K (Sunday at 8:30 AM, with a shortcut after Equestrian) and a youth 1-mile run on Saturday.
What is the Bandera 50K like?
One full lap of the 100K loop: 31.14 miles on the organizer’s chart, about 3,300 ft of climbing and six aid stations, with the course closing at 7:00 PM Sunday. The records are Kris Brown’s 3:47:02 from 2022 and Molly Seidel’s 4:09:39 from 2026, when she was first overall in her ultra debut.
Is Bandera a Western States Golden Ticket race in 2027?
No. Western States’ 2027 Golden Ticket races are CCC, Javelina Jundred, Black Canyon 100K, Tarawera 102K, Chianti Ultra Trail 120K and The Canyons 100K. Bandera is a qualifier: finishing the 100K within 18 hours lets you enter the Western States lottery, and the January 2027 race is on the 2028 qualifier list.
Is Bandera a USATF championship in 2027?
Not as of October 20, 2026. The organizer’s race page does not mention a USATF championship, and none has been announced for Bandera. USATF did hold its 100 km Trail Championships at Bandera in January 2018.
Where can I find Bandera 100K results?
On race day, the race page’s “Results and Live Split Updates” button links to live results from EDS Results, updated each time runners cross a timing mat. Past results back to 2003 are on Tejas Trails’ historical results page, and winners and course records are on its records page.
What are the cutoffs for the Bandera 100K?
The limit is 25 hours. You must start your second lap at the Lodge by 8:00 PM Saturday and finish by 8:30 AM Sunday. Second-lap aid-station cutoffs run from 10:02 PM Saturday at Boyles to 6:52 AM Sunday at YaYa.
Can I have a pacer or crew at the Bandera 100K?
Yes. Crews may meet runners at every aid station. One pacer is allowed after the first 50 km loop, or for the whole race for runners 60 and older. Pacers must register for free, start and stop at aid stations, and may not carry anything for the runner.
Related Preparation
- Open the Fixed-Distance format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated October 20, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official Bandera Endurance Trail Race page: schedule, course, aid and cutoffs — https://tejastrails.com/bandera
- Organizer’s 2027 RunSignup registration — https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Bandera/BanderaEnduranceTrailRun
- Official aid-station and cutoff chart — https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vT7mHPj6Her8OwjYnMGSxwf6TxVfqXhGyZbW8lR_XO42j2OUoUdEd-YZBXdQREyTAnuD1e6I14AyExf/pub?output=pdf
- Official course map — https://www.tejastrails.com/s/HOKA-Bandera-Course-Map.pdf
- Tejas Trails pacer rules — https://tejastrails.com/pacers
- Tejas Trails 2027 pacer registration — https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/CentralTexas/TejasTrailsPACER2027Registration
- Tejas Trails policies: deferrals, transfers and refunds — https://tejastrails.com/policies
- Tejas Trails historical results — https://www.tejastrails.com/historical-results
- Tejas Trails race records — https://www.tejastrails.com/records
- 2026 Bandera results (EDS Results) — http://edsresults.com/bandera26/
- Tejas Trails: Our Story and timeline — https://tejastrails.com/about
- Western States qualifying races (cross-check) — https://www.wser.org/qualifying-races/
- Western States HOKA Golden Ticket races (cross-check) — https://www.wser.org/golden-ticket-races/
- USATF 100 km Trail Championships, Bandera, 2018 — https://usatf.org/events/2018/usatf-100-km-trail-championships
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.