Dinosaur Valley Race Guide

Overview

2024 Event Registration is open and filling up over HERE!

Thank you to everyone who came to the 2023 event. We had so many finishers, and we were able to donate $4,000 to the Dinosaur Valley State Park (in Glen Rose, TX) to buy a rescue skid (like a sturdy medical gurney) to attach to their new EMS ATV to get people with medical emergencies off the trail quickly! Our 100K race has also been selected as a 2025 Western States qualifier for all those who completed the 100K distance in under 22 hours. 128 people qualified for the 2025 Western States race at our 2023 event!!

We are always looking to improve the event. We put in a lot of great improvements the last 3 years, and as we make improvements in 2024, they will be listed here:

Changes from the 2023 event to the 2024 event:

All awards will be based on gun time, not chip time like in the past.
You can now opt NOT to get a race shirt during registration and we will donate $8 to the Trail Mix Fund instead!
As part of The Active Joe's accommodations to keep aging athletes in the sport, participants age 70 and over in 50K, 25K, and 5 Mile may have a pacer for the entire race with permission from the Race Director. Age groups for those distances will also be 60-69 and 70-99 to reflect this difference in assistance opportunities. Participants 60 and over in the 100 miler and 100K may still have a pacer the whole race too with permission from the Race Director - that is unchanged.
Camping won't be available to sign up so early this year. Last year, we filled the campsites at the State Park super quickly, but then people later canceled but folks had made other arrangements by then so we didn't end up filling the park completely. We will open camping in late Winter or early Spring.
We plan to have a crew gear dropoff time window in the afternoon on Friday, November 22. Perfect for those fully outfitting their spot in Vally Village. Aside from that window, you will need to walk in any gear the 1/3 of a mile from the parking area.
It's important that you answer the registration question about what Running Club or Group you are part of. Clubs with a lot of participants and those with the most energetic and engaged participants on our social media will earn bigger crew spots with the closest proximity to the start / finish / aid station at Valley Village!
Runners will be able to reserve crew spots in Valley Village in 2024! Closer to the race, runners will be able to reserve a 10x10 crew spot. If you aren't needing a big 10x10 spot, we will have a larger drop bag area for placing a chair, cooler, and bag for crewing yourself!
Partial refund amounts have changed because of the volume of refunds we were processing for being a race that opens so early and lets you request a refund through Wednesday of race week.
More to be added soon!
Have other ideas for how to improve the event logisitcally or, in terms of inclusion, to help you feel safe and welcome at our event? Email info@dinosaurvalleytrailrun.com .

A Few of the Many Reasons to Run 100 Miles at Dino Valley

Uh, it's a freaking belt buckle with a dinosaur skull and the state of Texas on it? Hell yeah!!
We are big on encouraging participants to dream big and celebrating big accomplishments. Everyone in the 100 miler who passes the 100K mark (same start time and course as the 100K) will get an official 100K finish. And if you don't end up finishing the full 100 miles after that, you still take home a 100K buckle!
You see your crew every 10.5 miles!
You get a pacer starting at mile 52.
Participants age 60 and over may have a pacer from the start of the race to the finish with permission ahead of time by the Race Director.
While out on the loop, there is nowhere to drop, so you might as well keep moving.
It's technical but not too technical (some rocks, some super smooth); it has hills but not too many hills (total gain is 6000 ft)!
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is a hub for American Airlines, and the airport operates more flights than any other hub on the planet, so there is probably a flight from your area! We also have Dallas Love Field Airport which is a hub for Southwest Airlines.
You never pay any permit or parking fees on top of your entry fee.
You get professional photography out on the course to catch all those great moments during the race!

SCHEDULE:

Friday, November 22, 2024
- 12:00 pm - You can enter the parking field starting at this time. Note that you can only sleep at that location if you are sleeping in your car or staying in an RV (which must be parked back along the edges of the field). Absolutely no tent camping. You will need to hike in approximate 1/3 of a mile with whatever you want to set up in Valley Village. Crew canopies can be set up in the designated Valley Village crewing area. Please stake them down well in case there is bad weather overnight. There will be no supervision in Valley Village so set-up and leave things at your own risk.
- 2:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Those camping at the state park will be able to get their campsite beginning at this time over at the main entrance to the State Park (not the back entrance where the race is).
- 10:00 pm - Lights out and all quiet in the camping area and start/finish area so our participants can be fresh for their race in the morning.
Saturday, November 23, 2024
- 6 am – Packet pickup begins for Saturday participants.
- 6:45 am to 7:00 am - Trail briefing
- 7 am – 100 mile and 100K starts.
- 7:45 am to 8:00 am - Trail briefing
- 8 am – 50K / 25K / 5 Mile for all those who want to run that day. So much flexibility! Those in the 50K, 25K, and 5 Mile can run on either Saturday or Sunday. For 50Kers doing Sunday, please keep an eye on cutoffs which you must still meet. You can decide up until the last minute, and you don't have to tell us ahead of time which day you will run. Our timing system will start recording you when you start either day! Please only pick up your packet on the day you are running so that you don't accidentally have your timing chip read by the timing system near the start line. Results will be combined after both days of races, and awards mailed out.

Sunday, November 24, 2024
- 7 am – Packet pickup begins for Sunday participants.
- 7:45 am to 8:00 am - Trail briefing
- 8 am – 50K / 25K / 5 Mile for all those who want to run that day. So much flexibility! Those in the 50K, 25K, and 5 Mile can run on either Saturday or Sunday. For 50Kers doing Sunday, please keep an eye on cutoffs which you must still meet. You can decide up until the last minute, and you don't have to tell us ahead of time which day you will run. Our timing system will start recording you when you start either day! Please only pick up your packet on the day you are running so that you don't accidentally have your timing chip read by the timing system near the start line. Results will be combined after both days of races, and awards mailed out.
- 2:00 pm – CUTOFF - all 100K participants must have started their final loop (mile 52.5 for 100K).
- 3:00 pm – CUTOFF - all 100K participants must be leaving Fenceline aid station outbound (mile 55 for the 100K).
- 4:00 pm – CUTOFF – all 100 mile participants must be starting their last 5 mile loop (mile 95 for the 100 miler).
- 5:00 pm – CUTOFF - last incremental cutoff for all distances – all participants must be leaving Fenceline aid station inbound to the finish (approximately 2.5 miles from the finish).

Note that sunrise is 7:05 am and sunset is 5:27 pm, so plan accordingly to bring a headlamp/flashlight.

LOCATION:

Get ready to run in Dino Valley! The race is held at the beautiful Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas. The race is accessed from the back of the property, not through the main gate.

This course has rolling and sustained ascents and descents, although none are terribly steep. The loops take you through varied terrain, from double track trails in fields to single track in wooded areas. There is a mix of packed dirt, smaller rocks, larger rocks, slick rock, and some roots. There are NO river crossings (the 2016 and 2017 courses had crossings). This course really has a little of everything, which includes its views. There are amazing overlooks on this course where you can see for miles.

PARKING & DIRECTIONS:

The parking and start/finish have moved A LITTLE. If you have been to the race before, please pay close attention. You will be coming in one gate further to the south by about 0.3 miles. Note that the start/finish will only move slightly.

The race is through a back gate into the State Park that is only accessible during race weekend. Do NOT map to the State Park or you will be in the wrong place. To access the parking field, car camping, AND the start/finish lines, you will be entering a new back gate called the Styles Gate. To access this, use the following address: 4008 Co Rd 1007, Glen Rose, TX 76043. Since you can't always trust GPS / map software, please use the exact GPS coordinates below alongside these turn-by-turn road directions as you approach the area. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE STATE PARK.

Here is the exact GPS location for the gate into the parking area:

32°14'45.8"N 97°49'38.0"W
32.246056, -97.827222

The back gate to the park is located five miles west of Glen Rose.

Take U.S. Highway 67 S through Glen Rose
Turn Right on to Hereford St/56 N (then go 4 Miles)
Turn Left onto CO RD 1007 (then go 3.0 Miles)
There will be a gate on your left.

Click on the map for a bigger version.

Parking Field can be accessed starting Friday, November 18, at 12 pm. Leave things at your own risk, no overnight supervision.

New this year, you will park in one field, and then walk 0.3 miles along an old dirt road into the race administration and crew area known as Valley Village.

Pink arrows are the actual race course. Note that cars will turn RIGHT and take a 1 mile drive on dirt road to the car parking lot. DO NOT drive the walk-in route. That is only for official race vehicles and emergency personnel.

Parking is FREE. There will be a parking pass in your packet that is only needed for the main park entrance (not where the race is). Put it on your windshield if you will want to go over to the park's main gates before, during, or after the race and not have to pay entry over there. This is great for your family to enjoy the parks, your crew to access you at one of the aid stations, and you can use the park's restrooms and campground showers before and after the race! Family and friends will need to pay $8 if they are over the age of 13 to access the park with you.

STATE PARK ACCESS:

Note that the main park access, in addition to having all the campsites we have reserved, has a playground, dinosaur tracks, access to see the Paluxy River, a park store, restrooms, and showers! Please remember that our start/finish area is only accessible by car through the back gate and you must follow our driving directions to get to the race. The main entrance will not get you to the race site!!

NOTE: State Park increased their day use fee to $8 in 2023, and I had forgotten to update that. Updated now but wanted to point out!

Here are the rules from the State Park:

The parking pass slip provided in your race packet will not work for the family/spectators, ONLY for the race participant. The State Park front gate staff will also have a list of all participants and may be checking that to IDs if they choose to.
If family is only coming out to watch the race and NOT camping and will be exploring the Park while the racer is on the course they will still have to pay $8.00 per day for anyone 13 and over (12 and under is free). State Park staff will provide a normal Window sticker to family/spectators that check in and pay thru the front gate.
Family members do not need to make a day-use reservation on-line. They will let the staff at the front gate know that they are family/spectators of one of the entrants in the Endurance Run and even if they are sold out of passes for the day we will get them in.
For those camping in RV hookup sites: If entrant has family that will be camping with them each family member that is 13 or over will pay $8.00 per day that they are camping. Children 12 and under are free. The family will need to know the campsite number that the Entrant will be in. This was sent by the race to all the campers.
For those tent-only camping in the two group campsites: the camping fee covers only your camping and the park entry of the person who reserved it. Each person has pay for a spot or pay at the park entrance.
TSPP (State Park Passes) FOR CAMPING – Entrants cannot use a TSPP to get a discount on their camping fees as part of our Event Contract with the State Park.
TSPP (State Park Passes) FOR PARK ENTRY – if a family has a TSPP, we will accept it at the Park for the family to get in for free each day or for camping.
All normal rules apply when anyone is coming thru the front gate of the Park, such as placards/window stickers need to be visible to Park Personnel to make ingress a faster process.

PACKET PICKUP:

Packet Pickup will be at the race site but set apart from the start line. All packets will be pre-stuffed and sorted in bib number order. Bring your bib number to make it go quickly - they'll be published on the website race week.

What am I picking up? The following things will be in your packet:

Your bib (write medical concerns we should know about on the back as well as emergency contact numbers)

Safety pins. Pin your bib wherever you want as long as it's on the front of you AND my volunteers can clearly read it at each aid station. Keep the number horizontal so it's easier to read and so the chip on the back of the bib will work with the timing equipment. If you fold your bib, do not bend the foam chip on the back of the bib.

Your Entrant Shirt - you can swap shirts if we have extras.

Your Parking Pass. Put it on your car windshield to get free access during the weekend at the State Park.

Once your race distance starts, you have forfeited all rights to your packet, and the shirt in the packet will be made available to runners who showed up to the start of the race.

Overview

Aid Stations

WE ARE CUPLESS: We're a firm believer in the Leave No Trace principles of trail etiquette, so this will be a Cup-Free Event to eliminate the chance of litter. There will be no paper cups for cold beverages at this event. Everyone must carry some sort of hydration system with them, whether it's a handheld water bottle, a waist fuel belt, or a hydration pack. For other drink needs besides water at the aid stations, we recommend the Ultraspire C2 collapsible reusable cup or the Hydrapouch.

AID STATION LOCATIONS:

For each 10.5-mile loop of the course, below are the aid station details. See the Cutoffs section above for aid station cutoff details.

FENCE LINE is an aid station you hit outbound and inbound in the longer loop so make sure you know which way you're headed or ask the volunteers if you don't know. 5 milers only hit Fence Line once outbound.

CEDAR BRAKE is accessed at the start/finish of each loop. It is two-way traffic from Cedar Brake to Fence Line aid station.

Here's everything in one big chart:

AID STATION FOOD & DRINK:

Water:

You are expected to carry a hydration solution that will allow you to do a full loop (whether that’s 5 miles or 10.5 miles for your race distance). Water will be served at all of the aid stations.

Other Beverages:
Multiple brands of soda as well as pickle juice to drink!

Electrolyte Drink: The electrolyte drink on the course will be Tailwind Nutrition.

Food:

Beginning at 5 pm on Saturday through 3 pm Sunday, hot foods and liquids will be available at the aid stations. A rotating assortment of a couple options will be available as volunteers cook things up. This food is not available to 25K and 5 milers.

Most of the usuals at a minimum. Cookies, candy, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, pretzels, and more. Energy gels are such an individual item that we will not be providing - bring your own favorite if you want to use these as fuel.

NOTE: Not all foods will be vegetarian friendly, and those with special needs (gluten-free or vegan, for example) and those who are super duper picky should plan to bring their own nutrition. Those with severe food allergies or conditions (like a nut allergy or celiac disease) need to be aware that we can not guarantee against cross-contamination. We can not guarantee that certain foods are Halal-certified or Kosher.

Other Supplies

We will have band-aids for minor cuts.
All-in-one “pack it in, pack it out” Menstrual Kits: Menstruation is an additional complicating variable for some of our participants. We want to make sure our participants are served while also maintaining a protection of the “leave no trace” environmental trail running principles we hold dear. Therefore, all aid stations at this race and all The Active Joe trail races will have multiple menstrual kits that contain a couple wet wipes, an ultra-thin menstrual pad, and a tampon in a Ziploc bag. As tampons do not degrade well in the environment, this kit helps our participants remember to “Pack it in, pack it out” by disposing of used tampons with the wet wipe in the Ziploc bag and saving it on their person or in their pack until they can throw it away in the trash at the next aid station.
Aid stations will not provide Advil, Aspirin, Motrin, or any other pain relievers.
Aid stations will not have blister kits. If you are concerned about blisters, carry what you will need in your pack or make sure it's in the drop bag at each location you might need to use it.

CHECK-IN/OUT & DROPPING

At the CEDAR BRAKE Aid Station, if you go to the crewing area, Valley Village, you can just head out on the course and you don’t have to check out with the aid station, re-cross the mats, or verbally check out by yelling your number.

At FENCELINE aid station, participants are expected to check OUT when leaving an aid station. If you are bib 482, when you arrive, yell "482 IN." When you leave, you or your pacer (for 100 milers) should yell "482 OUT". We have split mats but if anything goes wrong, volunteers need this to be able to manually record you.

If you decide to drop out of the race, you must please let the aid station captain know and make sure they note it on their clipboard. We don't want you to leave with your crew and then we're calling you or your emergency contact a couple hours later looking for you, or searching the expanse of the trail system for you!

Volunteers will work to monitor every participant's ingress to and egress from the aid stations. We reserve the right to disqualify anyone whose times between any check-in or check-out do not grossly align with the paces expected based on their moving times the rest of the race and their racing history.

100 Milers ONLY can drop down midrace to the 100K and take that finish and not have a 100 Mile DNF, but you must check in at the Headquarters at the finish line so it is properly recorded and you receive your finisher items.

Course

COURSE OVERVIEW:

The race is held at the beautiful Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas. This course has rolling and sustained ascents and descents, although none are terribly steep. The loops take you through varied terrain, from double track trails in fields to single track in wooded areas. There is a mix of packed dirt, smaller rocks, larger rocks, slick rock, and some roots. There are NO river crossings in case you are reading past race reports or seeing old race photos (removed starting in 2018). This course really has a little of everything, which includes its views. There are amazing overlooks on this course where you can see for miles.

The course we are using was first used in 2018.

Course Layout

5 Mile – 5-mile reduced portion of the main loop.

25K – 5 mile course for your first loop THEN 1 loop of the 10.5-mi loop.

50K – 3 loops of the 10.5-mi loop.

100K – 6 loops of the 10.5-mi loop.

100 Mile – 9 loops of the 10.5-mi loop. THEN 5 mile course for your final loop. This is a change for 2023. 100K splits will be recorded as 100K finishes for all 100 milers because of this change.

None of the distances cross the river at any time. This also means our course isn't affected by intense seasonal or sudden rainy weather!

TRAINING ON THE COURSE:

HERE is a PDF document to help you find the start/finish when you visit on your own, along with downloadable course maps for your GPS watch and turn-by-turn printable directions!

COURSE MAP:

Click on the map to see it bigger, PDF version!

COURSE ELEVATION:

The race course is mostly rolling hills. Here is an elevation profile from someone who ran the 100 miler in 2020. Here's a Strava link for one 100 miler's race. The 100 mile is estimated to be about 9000 ft of total gain/loss. The 100K is estimated to be about 5700 ft of total gain/loss. The 50K is estimated to be about 2900 ft of total gain/loss. The 25K is about 1400 ft of total gain/loss. The 5 Mile is about 400 ft of total gain/loss

*Mileage is not for contestation. You will cover at least the distance you signed up for.

WEATHER:

Average low temperature is 53. Average high temperature is 74. But it’s Texas so the weather is known for being unpredictable. October is historically the rainiest month in fall so November sees less precipitation.

Sunrise: 7:44 am. Sunset: 6:38 pm.

The weather can be unpredictable, but hey, that's Texas for you!

In the case of extreme weather… There are limits to what a trail can handle. Because this is a State Park, the park personnel have the right to cancel the race before or during the event if they believe everyone's safety will be in jeopardy. We appreciate they are watching out for us, we understand the tough decision, and we hope the weather isn't extreme so they don't have to make that tough decision!

TRAIL HAZARDS

This is not an exhaustive list but some hazards to watch out for on the trail:

Snakes - it's typically cold in November so we hope they will have headed to hibernate, but there are copperheads spotted in the spring, summer, and fall at the State Park.
Bobcats and coyotes - we don't expect them to give anyone any trouble, but they do live in these woods.
Cactus - Be careful going off trail to use the bathroom.
Slickrock - it's fine unless it rains and then it lives up to its name. Watch your footing.
Loose rocky terrain

COURSE MARKINGS

As a state park, they have established a grid of trails through their land. It is each participant's responsibility to watch carefully for course markings. We will be using a combination of

bright pink contractor tape flagging, with reflective tape on the ends to capture the light of your headlamp in the dark, that will be clothespinned to tree branches and bushes.
bright pink stake flags for major field sections that don't have bushes to attach ribbons to
arrow signs (left, right, straight)

In spots where there's an intersection, just follow the flagging for the correct route to take if there are no arrow signs specifically. Flagging will be visible from where you are standing in the intersection.

Confidence flagging: For trail sections where there's no possible logical offshoot of a trail that you could take other than the one you are on, you may go as far as a half mile without flagging.

If you ever get to a spot where you are completely unsure of where you are, backtrack on the path you took until you get to course markers. If you become utterly and completely lost, never ever go off trail. Sit down where you are and wait until someone gets to you.

Ultimately, you are responsible for knowing the course.

Littering:

If we find you littering anywhere in the State Park, you're disqualified. We are here by the permission of the property owners, and we want them to invite us to come back. Don't jeopardize that for everyone. If you get all the way out of the aid station with a gel wrapper, paper cup, or anything else, carry it with you to the next aid station.

Race Logistics

Race Logistics: Drop Bags, Spectators, Crew, and Pacers

VALLEY VILLAGE (CREWING SETUP AT START/FINISH/CEDAR BRAKE AID STATION):

There will be an area marked off for runners to put their supplies. They can space out in this large area and have a camp chair, 10x10 canopy tent (especially helpful if it’s raining), and all their food and beverage supplies. It's a place for your crew to hang out too.

Participants are also welcome to visit their car but it is a 1/3 mile each way walk to the parking field, so it is not recommended.

For their safety, children, ages 10 and under, have to be supervised (no more than 30 feet away from their guardian and remaining visible to the guardian at all times). No more than one warning will be given about any unsupervised children before we ask the children and their guardian to leave the site.

DROP BAGS:

At the Start/Finish/Cedar Brake Aid Station: We will have a tarp set aside for those who don't have anything more than just a drop bag (not for those with camp chair or canopy tent set-ups who should find a spot in the Valley Village. It will be uncovered and exposed to the elements, so plan accordingly.

At the Fence Line Aid Station: 100K and 100 milers may put a drop bag out at the Fence Line aid station by dropping it in the designated area at the start line on Saturday morning. Bags should be labeled with your name and bib number. The drop bags will be collected and transported after the race start so by the time we load, transport, and unload, don’t anticipate getting your bag the first time you reach the aid station, only 2.5 miles in! Once they are at Fence Line, they will be spread out on tarps and sorted by bib number if the volunteers have time.

Please exercise reason regarding the size of your drop bag. It should not be bigger than 2 ft by 2 ft by 1 ft. Secure any liquids or fragile items for transport. It will be uncovered and exposed to the elements, so plan accordingly.

SPECTATORS:

Spectators are allowed in the crewing area at the Start/Finish/Cedar Brake Aid Station.

CREW:

Crew can assist their participant in the crewing area at Cedar Brake Aid Station (see my comment in the next paragraph about crewing from your car as an alternative). Only one crew member can approach the food tent to get hot food and drink for their participant to prevent congestion in that area.

Crews may only access their runners within 200 yards of the aid station or at their car. Crewing a participant outside that area may result in disqualification. You CAN visit your car in the parking field, which is 1/3 mile from the Cedar Brake Aid Station, but that big walk will add up each loop, and you need to be sure to restart each loop by the crew area and not return to the course any other way.

There is no parking space for crews at the Fence Line station. If you go to the Fence Line station to crew your runner, your runner will be disqualified.

Crews may not eat or drink from the aid stations (does not apply to pacers).

Failure by any crew member to follow the rules set out here may result in disqualification of their runner.

PACERS:

All pacers must check-in at the headquarters by the finish line before pacing to get a pacer bib. They need to go online HERE and sign the event waiver.
Participants can have a pacer starting mile 52.5 (after 5 loops) for 100K and 100 milers.
Participants age 60 and over in the 100K or 100 miler may have a pacer from the start of the race to the finish with permission ahead of time by the Race Director. Email us to get approved.
Participants age 70 and older in ALL distances may have a pacer from the start of the race to the finish with permission ahead of time by the Race Director. Email us to get approved.
Participants can pick up or change pacers only at the Cedar Brake aid station.
Participants can only be paced by one person at a time.
No pacers are allowed in the 50K, 25K, or 5 mile races.
No muling allowed. This means that a pacer may not carry or deliver anything to their runner unless within 100 yards of an aid station. This includes food and water. Muling may be lead to disqualification.
Pacers may eat and drink from each aid station just like the participants, but not until shortly before they start pacing. You don't get to nosh all Saturday when you won't start pacing until Sunday 2 am, for example.
Failure by any pacer to follow the rules set out here may result in disqualification of their runner.

Race Logistics: Cutoffs & Medical

CUTOFFS:

Because of the longer distances in the race, there should be no worries from 5 mile, 25K, and 50K participants about finishing cutoffs. The following info is really only relevant to the 100K and 100 Mile participants.

There will be no FINAL cutoff time (within reasonable limits - read on).

There are incremental cutoffs ONLY. You must make each of these cutoffs in order to continue in the race.

Here are the cutoffs for all distances. Note the mileages are based on the 10.5-mile loop.

These cutoffs represent the time you must be OUT of the aid station by. If a participant chooses to leave an aid station and return to the race course after the time cutoff or after being told by aid station volunteers that they are being pulled from the race, the participant is instantly disqualified and may be banned from future races.

If you leave an aid station before the cutoff but then backtrack and return to that same aid station after the cutoff, you will be pulled from the race.

The finish line will be stripped to bare bones at 2:00 pm but if you can make the final cutoff, we will wait for you at the finish, however long you take to make the final 2.5 mile journey, within reasonable limits (up to 3 hours for that final stretch).

MEDICAL:

Each runner is responsible for their own actions. You need to be prepared both physically and mentally for all of the various stresses of the race. Our hope is to not have to call 911 for any of you. But in the event we have to in a medical emergency, medical expenses incurred are the responsibility of the participants receiving medical attention. Some parts of this trail are very remote to road access, and there may be a substantial amount of time that passes before medical personnel can arrive to provide aid.

Runners must understand all risks associated with undertaking this event. These physical and mental stresses include, but are not limited to, dehydration, hyponatremia, hypothermia, heat exhaustion, renal failure, seizures, hypoglycemia, disorientation, falls resulting in physical injury, complete physical and mental exhaustion, etc. Every participant is expected to monitor his or herself continually with an understanding of their own personal limitations. YOU, the individual participant, are absolutely responsible for your well being during and after the race.

Race Logistics: Timing, Finisher Items, and Awards

TIMING:

The event will be chip timed. The "chip" is actually a tag attached to the back of the race bib. Unlike shoe chip tags, there are no special instructions for the bib tag. They do not have to be looped a specific way, nor is there possible runner mishandling that can compromise RFID timing. Do not take the foam cover off your bib chip. If you do not have a chip on the back of your bib, find the race timer by the start/finish early race day morning to get a new bib.

All placement for results on the website and for awards will be based on chip time, not on gun time, so that it doesn’t matter what wave you are in.

NEW IN 2023: Even 100 Milers will get a 100K finish! Because we have moved the 100 Miler's last 5 mile loop to the end of the race, both 100K and 100 milers will come through the finish line area at the 100K mark. We have made the decision to record everyone's 100K split, regardless of distance registered for, as an actual 100K finish. 100 milers who drop out of the race before 100K will show as a DNF. 100 milers who drop out of the race before their 100 mile finish but after 100K will not show a DNF because of the 100K recorded finish, and they will receive a 100K buckle. All 100 milers who finish out the full 100 mile distance will get a 100 mile buckle instead of a 100K buckle but will also have a recorded 100K finish! This will be a huge help to our timing guy with this setup!

Some tips that enhance reader sensitivity, all of which are very standard practices:

Bibs need to be worn to ensure race timing. If they do not wear a bib, they do not receive a time.
Bibs should be worn on the front of the body.
Bibs should be worn visible to anyone observing, so on the exterior of clothing. If you wear a jacket and place the bib underneath, it can help if you expose the underlying bib upon mat-crossing to enhance reader sensitivity. This is usually only a precaution.
Bibs should not be crumpled up and placed inside runner's clothing.

Failure to register on multiple timing mats or incredibly inconsistent timing splits between timing mats may result in investigation and potential disqualification. The same is true for those not registering in the written rosters of check-ins at aid stations or inconsistent or unreasonable splits from one aid station to another.

There may be at least one timing mat besides the one at the start/finish somewhere out on the race course. We will not be announcing the locations of all of these mats.

If you find you inadvertently go off course or take a wrong turn, you must return to where you left the course before continuing. If you cut a loop short and realize it, immediately notify volunteers to go find the race officials so a determination can be made as to how to help you complete the full distance.

Those not following the course will risk disqualification.

FINISHER ITEMS (MEDALS AND BUCKLES):

All medals will be the same across all distances so there’s no confusion in picking up the wrong one. 100K and 100 milers will NOT receive a finisher medal since they are getting a belt buckle.

Buckles are guaranteed on race day for any 100K or 100 mile participants signed up by September 1, 2022 who finish their race.

For later entrants in the 100K or 100M: Buckles are ordered months in advance. There is a possibility that with a high finish rate, you may not be able to take home a buckle ON RACE DAY. One will be made available for pictures, and then a buckle will be mailed to me about a month after the race if this occurs (once more buckles are produced). The race will take on the cost of mailing you your buckle in this instance. No matter what, whether it's race day or later, you will receive a buckle for finishing the 100K or 100 miler.

AWARDS:

All placement for results on the website and for awards will be based on GUN time.

You are only award eligible if you complete the course as it is laid out in the order it is meant to be completed.

100 Milers will be receiving a 100K finish for their split at the 100K mark, and with a recorded time, they are also eligible for 100K awards.

For race distances held both days (50K, 25K, and 5 Mile), awards and placement will be determined after all race results are consolidated. Therefore, no awards will be handed out at the race for those distances. I will strive to mail all awards within 15 days of the race finish.

There are the following awards in each distance:

Top 3 Overall Male, Female, and Non-Binary*
At least first place male and female in the following age groups: 00-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and for 100 Mile and 100K, 60-99, and for all others distances 60-69 and 70-99. We will go 2 deep in age groups for any distance with over 100 signed up by September 1, and 3 deep in age groups for any distance with over 150 signed up by September 1.

See the Non-Binary Athlete Entrant Policy for more information.

There is no prize money. Awards for The Active Joe races are small and will travel well in checked or carry-on luggage.

Swag

For your entry, you receive:

No additional money due race weekend when you arrive for permits or parking!
Professional photography by photographers who have shot races like Western States 100, Mountain Lakes 100, Javelina Jundred, and the photos after the race are only half the cost of the other races because we cover the other half of the cost!
Race Shirt
Custom bib with your name or a chosen nickname printed on it if you register early enough.
The opportunity to run beautiful trails during a competitive race!
Being taken care of for up to 35+ hours (depending on your race distance) with aid station, portapotties, race timing, and a marked race course.

For your finish, you receive:

A Finisher Medal. All medals will be the same across all distances so there’s no confusion in picking up the wrong one. No medal for the 100K and 100 miler because they get a belt buckle.

A Belt Buckle for those in the 100K and 100 Miler.

Additional Details on Finisher Items and Awards under the "Race Logistics: Timing" section.

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Travel

Trail runners from all over the United States, and all across the great state of Texas, travel to experience this event. Whether you’re traveling a short distance or far distance, we encourage you to enjoy the local attractions and make a weekend stay of your race weekend.

To see an overall map of restaurant, lodging, and local attractions - Click here

ACCOMMODATIONS - HOTEL

If you’re traveling from Dallas or other cities East of Glen Rose:

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Glen Rose

101 West Bo Gibbs Blvd

Glen Rose, Texas 76043

There is currently no group block set up for this event.

If you’re traveling from west of Glen Rose:

Hampton Inn Stephenville
910 South Harbin Drive
Stephenville, TX 76401

No discounted rates.

ACCOMMODATIONS - CAMPING

If being one with nature for the weekend is your preference, we have several options for you. When you register for the race, these are an optional add-on cost available. Get them while they're still available!

Camping signups will be available to book late Winter or early Spring. Priority given to race participants. There are 45 hookup sites available and 60 tent-only group campsite spots.

No refunds on campsites after November 1 so we can finalize the list.

Option 1: Official Campsites with Hookups: You will have to drive to the start line from these campsites - these campsites are inside the main entrance of the State Park, and the race takes place through a totally separate back gate into the park about a 10 minute drive away. We have 45 water and electric campsites with pads for $24 a night inside the State Park. These sites must be reserved with us as the State Park has given us all the campsites for our runners. We will assign the spots and let the park know so when you check in at the main office to get your tag to put on your campsite, then they'll be expecting you. Each site has picnic table, water hookup, electric hookup, 30 amp hookup, and fire ring and/or grill. These campsites are for RV or tent camping. RVs, motorhomes, and towable trailers are limited to 30 FEET long. For longer rigs, use the Dinosaur Valley RV Park located just outside the main entrance to the state park.

Option 2: Tent-Only Group Campsite (Pick a Spot) Near Bathrooms/Showers: You will have to drive to the start line from these campsites - these campsites are inside the main entrance of the State Park, and the race takes place through a totally separate back gate into the park about a 10 minute drive away. There are tents-only group campsites (Sauropod and Theropod) located next to the water/electric hookup loop that is still easy walking distance to showers/bathrooms. The cost to you for us to reserve is $8 PER CAMPER per night. It's a nice alternative when hookup campsites (Option 1) is sold out or if you want a low cost simple tent camping option. It is only for our group, so you'll be able to pick among our specific area's open spaces, shade trees, and picnic tables, to set up your tent and camp set-up! All first come, first served on finding a spot to pitch your tent. The tent-only group campsite is the top left red circle on the map below.

Option 3: Car Camping: You are welcome to sleep in your car parked in the Parking Field if that works best for you. Because we have all of the state park, absolutely NO TENT CAMPING IN THE PARKING FIELD.

All race packets will be given a sheet to put on your windshield to give you State Park access inside the park gates, where you can drive to restrooms with indoor plumbing and the campground shower building.

PLACES TO EAT

Click here to see where these top-rated restaurants are located:
Riverhouse Grill (Glen Rose)
Hammond’s BBQ (Glen Rose)
Loco Coyote Grill (Glen Rose)
Pastafinas (Stephenville)

PLACES TO HAVE FUN

While at Rough Creek for the weekend, there are multiple unique entertainment options:

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is an exotic animal ranch that spans 1,400 acres. The 9-mile driving tour is full of encounters with many different animals. Fossil Rim is a short 20 minute drive from Rough Creek Lodge and even shorter 10 minute drive from the Glen Rose hotels.

Dinosaur World is a fun, family attraction highlighting the prehistoric past of Glen Rose & Dinosaur Valley State Park. Located right outside the entrance of Dinosaur Valley State Park, it’s a great place for the kids to get exercise and see life-size dinosaur species.

Take a throwback trip to The Brazos Drive-In Theatre to grab some popcorn, tune in and turn up the radio, and enjoy a drive-in movie. About a 40 minute drive from Rough Creek Lodge, but still worth highlighting because these vintage opportunities are few and far between.

Finishing a trail race is cause for celebration.

We trust that you will be responsible, but an adult beverage is a common way to celebrate. Specifically if you’re traveling back to the D/FW-area, a stop on your return trip might include Revolver Brewing or Firestone & Robertson Distilling (book a reservation ahead of time for Firestone & Robertson).

Air/Ground Transportation

A car will be needed to get around. There will be no shuttle service arranged, as we expect the vast majority of attendees to be locals or have rented a car for the trip from the airport.

Dallas, Texas is served by two area airports: Dallas-Love Field (DAL) is the smaller one where Southwest Airlines flies out of, and then all other airlines fly through Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

DFW - Dallas-Fort Worth International - 82.8 miles, approx. 1 hr, 25 minutes in good traffic

DAL - Dallas Love Field - 86.0 miles, approx. 1 hr, 30 minutes in good traffic

Registration/Policies

Registration & Policies

Register Now

Click HERE to go to Ultrasignup to register NOW...

Do you want to race but can’t afford the entry fee? Are you a part of the BIPOC or LGBTQ+ community? Apply to the Trail Mix Fund to have your registration fee waived.

As with all The Active Joe races, bib numbers are assigned in order of signup, so the lowest numbers for those most enthusiastic who sign up first!

You are also given the chance to request your top 3 "lucky" bib numbers. If not already claimed, I'll give you the first one of those listed that I can!

You can personalize your bib with any nickname until October 1st.

Mail-in registration is not available.

Children 12 and under entered in the race will need to have an adult with them every step of the race. This is a big state park, and I don't want a child getting distracted on the course, getting lost, and having any distress.

Entry Fees: We expect the race to sell out before race day, and some of these pricing tiers will fill fast.

Emphasis will be on the longer distances so shorter distances may close temporarily if they fill too fast to allow certain percentages in each distance. Some swag as we get closer to race day will be limited to the first so many that sign up in that distance once orders are placed.

We understand that LIFE HAPPENS! Note that, unlike a lot of races, this race offers a refund policy (described below) and even refunds if you downgrade your distance (also described below). You may also go up in distance up until the start of the race (also described below). So there is no downside for committing to your goal now!

100 Mile -

First entry fee tier - first 50: $200
Second entry fee tier - next 50: $220 (CURRENT TIER)
Second entry fee tier - next 50: $240
Next entry fee tier: TBD

100K -

First entry fee tier - first 50: $175
Second entry fee tier - next 50: $200 (CURRENT TIER)
Second entry fee tier - next 50: $215
Next entry fee tier: TBD

50K -

First entry fee tier - first 50: $100 (CURRENT TIER)
Second entry fee tier - next 50: $120
Next entry fee tier: TBD

25K -

First entry fee tier - first 50: $90 (CURRENT TIER)
Second entry fee tier - next 50: $100
Next entry fee tier: TBD

5 Mile -

First entry fee tier - first 50: $60 (CURRENT TIER)
Second entry fee tier - next 50: $65
Next entry fee tier: TBD

*All prices subject to change.

Refunds:

Refunds can be requested if you find your plans change. If you cancel your race in an email to us or by removing yourself in Ultrasignup without requesting a refund specifically, we assume that you want your entry fee to be treated as a donation to our organization and our charitable causes.

Refunds are done through a tiered system based on when it is requested:

We use a tiered system for entry refunds (not including the online Ultrasignup processing fee):

80% refund for withdrawals before September 1st
60% refund for withdrawals September 1st through September 30th
50% refund for withdrawals October 1st to November 19th (2 days before race day)
No refunds after November 19th.

No deferrals are allowed, especially because we have our super generous partial refund policy.

Bib transfers:

Want to transfer your race entry to a friend? Bib transfers will be allowed until October 1st with a $15 Administration Fee. After that at the discretion of the Race Director's available time for an administration fee of $30. NO TRANSFERS ALLOWED ON RACE DAY. If we've already committed the available swag (like shirts), your friend taking your bib gets whatever sizes/stuff you signed up for (no switches).

Changing Distances Ahead of Time:

If you want to switch distances before your race starts, email us before Wednesday, November 19 to make it race morning official and have a bib that matches your new distance. We may not be able to switch you after that - ask after November 19.

Distance upgrades only need to pay the difference between the price you paid for your original distance and the current price at the time of the request for your new distance (plus the Ultrasignup online processing fee).

Distance downgrades do not receive a refund for any price difference.

You can only change distances while that distance has spots still available.

Dropping Down Distances Mid-race

No dropdowns allowed mid-race in any distance. However, even 100 Milers will get a 100K finish this year! Because we have moved the 100 Miler's last 5 mile loop to the end of the race, both 100K and 100 milers will come through the finish line area at the 100K mark. We have made the decision to record everyone's 100K split, regardless of distance registered for, as an actual 100K finish. 100 milers who drop out of the race before 100K will show as a DNF. 100 milers who drop out of the race before their 100 mile finish but after 100K will not show a DNF because of the 100K recorded finish, and they will receive a 100K buckle. All 100 milers who finish out the full 100 mile distance will get a 100 mile buckle instead of a 100K buckle but will also have a recorded 100K finish! This will be a huge help to our timing guy with this setup!

Wait List

We will offer a wait list for those who didn't get in if the race sells out early. Depending on when you get pulled off the wait list if a spot opens up, your swag (like shirt and other stuff) options may be limited or you may not receive some of it. We do not over-order stuff.

Rules

See our Transgender Entrant Policy which applies to all races produced by The Active Joe and seeks to support, include, and protect the privacy of the transgender athletes who attend our races.
See our Non-Binary Athlete Entrant Policy which applies to all races produced by The Active Joe and seeks to create a supportive and inclusive environment for our non-binary athletes and addresses how those with a Non-binary gender will be handled in the registration and timing processes.
No dogs or strollers are allowed on the race course for the safety of all.
Runners and walkers are both welcome, as long as you can finish by the time limit.
Entry fees are non-refundable, including in the case of inclement weather.
No refunds will be granted if you downgrade at any time.
This is a private event, so unregistered participants are not allowed. "Banditting" (as this action is referred to) is frowned upon in the running community and unfair to the runners who paid for the opportunity to participate. Race entry fees go for a lot more than water on a course, medals at the finish line, and a shirt in your race packet. It also exposes an event to serious liability risk. It stresses race resources that were calibrated for the sold-out number of participants and therefore can put other participants', the paid participants, health or safety at risk. Those who bandit any portion of the race may be banned from future events by The Active Joe.
Note that it is never okay to allow someone else to use your bib without a proper bib transfer arranged with the Race Director. This can lead to serious liability and medical risks in the chance of emergency and jeopardize the future of the event for everyone.
Our primary goal is to provide a safe event for participants, volunteers, and the community alike. If something arises that threatens that safety, then a) the event will be altered as it is reasonably possible without stressing other resources, b) the events may be delayed during the morning, or c) the event may be canceled. The event can not be rescheduled for another date due to resource availability in the event of cancelation.
Event shirts not picked up at packet pickup or race day will not be mailed.

*All items above subject to potential significant change.