In 54 days · Sun, Dec 13, 2026
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Sunday, December 13th, 2026
Pace Bend Park, Spicewood TX
Ultra · Marathon · Half · 10K
45–64°F · low rain risk
See last 10 years
On this date: rain 2 of the last 10 years
2025
58–79°F
dry
2024
54–65°F
dry
2023
50–58°F
rain
2022
59–71°F
dry
2021
45–66°F
dry
2020
41–68°F
rain
2019
45–74°F
dry
2018
44–64°F
dry
2017
34–67°F
dry
2016
51–68°F
dry
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About this race
December 13th at 9:30 AM | Pace Bend Park
A winter running celebration with stunning lake
views and Boston Marathon qualification potential!
BOSTON QUALIFIER ALERT!
This is a USATF-certified marathon course: Certification code: TX25015LAB. Course specifically designed with Boston qualification in mind! Our 1.64-mile loop format allows runners to master the course with each lap, creating the perfect opportunity to strategically pace your way to a BQ time.
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
Strategic Loop Design
1.64 miles per loop (16 loops for full marathon, 8 for half)
100% Paved Surface
Smooth, consistent running conditions for optimal performance
Perfect Pacing Opportunity
Learn the course quickly and optimize your speed on every section
Or Race the Clock Itself
The Speedyard turns the same loop into a seven round elimination on a shrinking clock, decided by one final loop at 2:30 PM
Personal Aid Station
Set up your nutrition exactly how you want it and access it every 1.64 miles
Rio Colorado Ultra Slam
Every Fit Foundation finish counts toward the Rio Colorado 250. Complete 250 km across our 2026 races and the buckle is yours, in addition to your individual race awards.
COURSE DETAILS
The paved course features moderate climbs and gentle descents. This balanced profile prevents the quad fatigue of excessive downhill courses while providing enough variety to engage different muscle groups.
BOSTON QUALIFICATION ADVANTAGE
Our unique loop course format offers strategic benefits for Boston hopefuls! The marathon course is USATF-certified (certification code: TX25015LAB) and a Boston Marathon qualifier, carefully designed to help runners achieve qualifying times. The loop format lets you become intimately familiar with every turn and elevation change.
By your third lap, you'll know exactly where to push and where to conserve energy, a strategic advantage for hitting your Boston Marathon qualification attempt!
Course Records
Star of Texas 50K: Benjamin Przybocki (M)– 4:20:56; Jabsy Diaz (F)– 7:27:40
The Star of Texas Marathon- Gabriel Karp (M)– 2:50:19
USATF Half Marathon: Edwin Pagan (M)– 1:14:40
Holiday Victory Half Marathon (Non-USATF) - Morgan Mengini (F)– 1:27:31
🔥 NEW FORMAT
THE SPEEDYARD
Seven Rounds to Earn the Final Loop
10:30 AM start • A shrinking clock on the certified 1.64 mile paved loop
Every round is two loops of the Pace Bend course (3.28 miles), and every round starts on the horn. Finish inside the window and you are in the next round. Miss it by a second and your day is done. Whatever time you have left over is the only rest you get, so speed buys recovery and going out hard buys nothing.
Then the clock starts shrinking. Round 1 asks for 12:12 per mile. Round 7 asks for 7:37. Clear all seven and you have earned a spot on the line at 2:30 PM for one final loop, flat out, fastest time takes the title.
THE CLOCK
Round Horn every Pace to survive Clock time 1 and 2 40:00 12:12 / mile 10:30 to 11:50 3 and 4 35:00 10:40 / mile 11:50 to 1:00 5 and 6 30:00 9:09 / mile 1:00 to 2:00 7 25:00 7:37 / mile 2:00 to 2:25 FINAL LOOP One loop, all out Fastest wins 2:30 PM startFifteen loops. 24.6 miles. Nobody is expected to get there, and most of the field will not.
Starts Wide Open
Round 1 asks for 12:12 per mile. If you can run a 10K, you can start this race.
Speed Buys Rest
Run the round in 30 minutes on a 40 minute clock and you bank 10. Run it in 39 and you get one.
Stop When You Choose
Every round you complete is scored and recorded. Step off after Round 4 and you still ran 13.1 miles.
Settled on the Line
Survive Round 7 and you start the final loop even with everyone else. One loop decides it.
HOW IT ACTUALLY WORKS
Corral start. Every round begins from the start corral on the horn. You must be in the corral when it sounds, whether you finished the last round with ten minutes to spare or ten seconds.
Two loops per round. Chip timing records every loop. Cross the line after the window closes and your race is over. No appeals, no partial credit.
Milestone recognition. Finishers are recognized at Round 2 (6.56 mi), Round 4 (13.1 mi), and Round 7 (22.96 mi). Pick your target and race to it.
The final loop. Everyone who completes Round 7 lines up at 2:30 PM for one loop, scratch start, fastest time wins. Whether you cleared Round 7 with six minutes to spare or six seconds, you start even. Margin banked in the earlier rounds buys you recovery, not a head start.
Title and Assist. The fastest final loop is the Speedyard Champion. Second across the line takes the Assist, the runner who made the champion earn it.
If nobody clears Round 7. Round 7 is a hard ask by design, and there may be no final loop at all. In that case the Speedyard Champion is the runner who posted the fastest Round 6, counted among everyone who started Round 7. The Assist goes to the second fastest. No further running is required and the result stands on the timing already recorded.
The same course advantage applies. You will know every climb and descent by Round 2, and your personal aid station sits at the start corral, so you pass your own nutrition twice per round.
Counts toward the Rio Colorado 250. A full Speedyard is 39.6 km toward your 250 km buckle. Every round you complete counts.
The Speedyard is a timed elimination format and is not a Boston qualifier. Runners chasing a BQ should enter the certified marathon.
EVENT FEATURES
Accurate splits and finish times for all participants
Track your progress every lap to perfect your pacing
Your supporters can cheer you on multiple times without moving, and the Speedyard final loop at 2:30 PM is the best seat of the day
Challenge coin and medal for all finishers
Advent Run to New Year Challenge and Winter Marathon Series
PACE REQUIREMENTS
The Star of Texas Marathon Challenge
Checkpoint Guidance for those aiming for a sub-4 goal:
- 9:45 AM: Complete at least 3 loops (4.65 miles)
- 10:30 AM: Complete at least 6 loops (9.3 miles)
- 11:15 AM: Complete at least 9 loops (13.95 miles)
- 12:00 PM: Complete at least 12 loops (18.6 miles)
- 12:30 PM: Complete at least 15 loops (23.25 miles)
- 1:00 PM: Complete all loops (26.2 miles)
Personal Pacers Welcome
Personal pacers are welcome at our Star of Texas Marathon event! For a nominal fee, pacers will receive park entry, insurance coverage, and an official PACER bib. Each registered runner may have only one pacer on course at any time, and pacers may join their runner after the first loop.
Our unique loop format creates the perfect environment for pacing support, allowing pacers to join or exit at the start/finish area and access personal aid stations alongside their runner.
Pacers must register in advance, sign the event waiver, and follow all race rules including wearing their designated bib at all times. For Boston Qualifier hopefuls, rest assured that our pacer policy complies with BAA requirements. Whether you need support for the full marathon or just those challenging final miles, our pacer-friendly course design offers the ideal setting for achieving your race day goals.
Half Marathon (8 loops)
Maintain 18:13/mile pace or faster (28:15 per loop) to finish before the cutoff
Checkpoint Guidance:
- 10:00 AM: Complete at least 2 loops (3.1 miles)
- 11:00 AM: Complete at least 4 loops (6.2 miles)
- 12:00 PM: Complete at least 6 loops (9.3 miles)
- 1:00 PM: Complete all loops (13.175 miles)
Special Provision: Marathon participants who complete at least 8 loops (half marathon distance) but don't finish the full marathon by the 3:00 PM cutoff will receive official half marathon recognition and their medal.
10K & 5K Distances
10K participants will complete four full loops of our scenic course, while 5K runners will conquer two loops. All finishers earn a commemorative medal.
The Speedyard (up to 15 loops)
There is no finish time to beat. There is a horn every round, and you are either on the line for it or you are done.
Round Windows:
- 10:30 AM: Round 1 horn. Rounds 1 and 2 on a 40:00 clock (12:12/mi)
- 11:50 AM: Rounds 3 and 4 on a 35:00 clock (10:40/mi)
- 1:00 PM: Rounds 5 and 6 on a 30:00 clock (9:09/mi)
- 2:00 PM: Round 7 on a 25:00 clock (7:37/mi)
- 2:30 PM: Final loop, all out, fastest time wins
Mandatory briefing at 10:05 AM in the start corral. If you have not run a horn start race before, this is where you learn how the corral works. Registration closes one week out and there are no walk up entries.
Personal pacers are not permitted in the Speedyard. Crew, chairs and coolers are welcome in the designated corral area.
READY FOR YOUR HOLIDAY VICTORY?
Join us at Pace Bend Park on December 13th for a unique loop course experience with Boston Qualifier potential, and a brand new way to race it.
Course map
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