🤠 Dust Off Your Trail Shoes: The Austin Rodeo Trail Run Is Coming

The Austin Rodeo Trail Run is gearing up to bring grit, heart, and Hill Country toughness to runners this spring. Set against the rugged terrain of Grelle Recreation Area, this event blends trail running endurance with the bold spirit of a Texas rodeo.

Designed for runners who crave more than pavement and predictable miles, the Austin Rodeo Trail Run delivers a course that is steep, rocky, and unapologetically technical. From rolling dirt paths to demanding climbs and descents, every mile asks participants to dig deep, stay sharp, and embrace the challenge.

Distances for Every Kind of Grit

The event features multiple race options, including:

• Half Marathon

• Marathon

• Backyard Ultra format for runners who want to test their limits one loop at a time

Whether you’re chasing a personal best, a first ultra finish, or simply the satisfaction of conquering tough terrain, there’s a start line waiting for you.

🐂 Beware of the Bull

One of the standout sections of the course, known as “The Bull,” is a steep, rocky, out-and-back segment that demands focus and respect. Backyard Ultra runners will tackle this section repeatedly, making it a true proving ground for resilience and strategy.

On-course signage and volunteers will help guide runners safely through technical areas, but make no mistake: this course rewards preparation, patience, and grit.

A Finish Worth Earning

Finishers will be rewarded with custom rodeo-inspired belt buckles and gear, a nod to Texas tradition and the hard-earned accomplishment of crossing the line. This is not just a race medal, it’s a symbol of having shown up and pushed through.

The Gladiator Endurance Challenge

The Gladiator Award is reserved for athletes who complete 100 miles in under 24 hours on the official course.

To earn it, runners must:

• Complete 100 miles

• Finish in under 24 hours

• Follow all race rules

• Run without pacers unless explicitly allowed

There are no rollovers and no partial credit.
You either earn the Gladiator Award, or you don’t.

Few attempt it. Fewer finish it. One becomes a Gladiator.

How the Gladiator Award Applies to the Backyard Ultra

The Gladiator Award is designed to honor absolute endurance mastery, not just distance, but sustained performance under relentless conditions.

In the Backyard Ultra, runners complete a fixed loop every hour, on the hour, until only one runner remains. While the format is elimination-based, the Gladiator Award introduces an elite performance benchmark within that structure.

🏛️ Gladiator Qualification (Backyard Ultra)

A runner earns the Gladiator Award if they:

• Complete 100 miles (160.9 km)

• Within 24 consecutive hours

• On the official Backyard Ultra course

• Following all Backyard Ultra rules (no early starts, no rule violations)

The award is distance- and time-based, not placement-based.
You do not need to be the last runner standing, only to meet the 100-mile / 24-hour standard.

What Makes This Special

• Backyard Ultras test discipline, pacing, and mental resilience

• The Gladiator Award recognizes runners who conquer both distance and time pressure

• There are no rollovers, no partial credit, the standard is absolute

Either you reach 100 miles in 24 hours… or you don’t.

Can You Tame the Bull?

More Than a Race

At its heart, the Austin Rodeo Trail Run is about community, perseverance, and the shared experience of tackling something hard together.

Whether you’re local to Austin or traveling in for the challenge, this race invites you to lace up your boots, buckle up, and run into something unforgettable.

The trail is calling.
It’s time to run.

Registration: Now open (spots are limited)