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Texas > The Grasslands Run 50-Miler, Marathon &
Half Marathon
Decatur, TX
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Date
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Event
Details
With more than 20,000 acres of rural grasslands used for cattle grazing
and home to many species of wildlife, the Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson
National Grasslands are the setting for The Grasslands Run, a series of
three backcountry trail races -- including a 50-mile run, a full
marathon and a half marathon -- that take runners through this park
that's as popular for its wildlife viewing and photography
opportunities as for hunting, fishing, mountain biking, camping and
horseback riding.
Organized by the North Texas Trail Runners running club, the race is
designed for those ready for real trail running conditions, they
emphasize -- which means that participants will need to be ready to run
across streams, through muddy bogs, as well as sand and underbrush.
While water and sports drinks will be provided at the aid stations
along the course, there are no water sources or electricity available
in the grasslands, so organizers add that you'll need to bring water
for your start and for your finish line refreshment.
The race follows an out-and-back loop course that starts and finishes
at the TADRA Point Camping Area within the Grasslands park area, near
the intersection of FS Road 900 and FS 904. From there, the 50-mile
participants will leave the starting line at 7:00 AM, followed by those
running the full and half marathons at 8:00 AM, and the course is
divided into four loop sections marked by the colors Yellow, Blue, Red
and White.
Runners in the half and full marathons start together with a short out
and back before the course splits the two groups, with the
half-marathoners continuing on the Yellow loop trail while those
running the full split off onto the Blue loop. On the course, aid
stations will be provided every two to four miles, and runners should
keep in mind that the trails will remain open to the public on the day
of the race, so they'll need to give right of way to riders on
horseback should they encounter any along the trails, and also remember
to close any gates behind you that you need to run through along the
route.
Just over 300 runners competed in this year's inaugural running of the
race (with nearly two-thirds of those running in the half-marathon),
the terrain for which consists of a mix of gravel, single-track trails
and dirt trails with a mixture of rocks, tree roots and limbs, and both
wet and sandy patches along the course. There are a number of rolling
hills along the course, as well as a mixture of pine and oak grove
forests and wide-open prairie grasslands, from which the park of course
takes its name.
The Grasslands area itself is a
place of serene natural beauty where the southeast begins to transition
into the southwest, and home to wildlife ranging from coyotes,
white-tailed deer and other small animals to bears, alligators and
venomous snakes. Visitors who return to the park for recreation and
camping are encouraged to contact the ranger station several weeks in
advance of their visit.
Race
Weather & Climate
Located about 70 miles northwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan
area, the LBJ National Grasslands lie just up the road from the town of
Decatur, which tends to experience moderately warm to mild and
sometimes cool weather in the early spring. In March, average monthly
temperatures range between 67°F and 42°F, while
rainfall amounts average around 2.9 inches for the month.
Fees
$30 to run the 13.1-mile half marathon
$40 to run the full, 26.2-mile marathon
$50 to run the 50-mile race
Registration
Because this race has already been run for 2008, registration is not
yet available for the spring 2009 running of the Grasslands Run. Please
check this space later in the year for updated information on how to
register.
Websites
www.nttr.org
Caddo-LBJ National Grasslands
Starting
Location Map
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Map
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Your Race Story
Ever run the course at Decatur's Grasslands Run Marathon or Half
Marathon? Share
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event.
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