Davy Crockett Bear Chase Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K

Saturday, March 30, 2019 • Groveton, TXCourse Map

A smaller marathon and half-marathon event that’s been described as friendly and enjoyable by several runners who’ve participated in the past, the Davy Crockett Bear Chase Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K usually draws a field of a few hundred runners each year for all three races combined.

The course for the race unfolds along an out-and-back route from Groveton High School at 207 North Main Street in Groveton, Texas, and from there heads into the nearby Davy Crockett National Forest, whose 160,000 acres are home to plentiful wildlife and East Texas woodlands, streams and grasslands.

Marked by rolling hills and an overall elevation change of about 400 feet, the course starts on the high school’s track and field complex and takes runners on a combination of mostly paved roads mixed with short intervals of hard-packed gravel track at both the start and the half-way point.

Runners follow an almost entirely north-south route throughout the half marathon race, in town along Cemetery Road and Dial Road and then onto Highway 3158 for the long stretch northward into the forest, where runners reach the halfway point on County Road 501.

After the turnaround on 501, the field then runs back along the same course they’ve just run, all the way back to the finish line at the high school on West 4th Street.

Runners have a 7-hour time limit to complete the race, whether they’re running the half or the full 26.2-mile marathon (which is a double-loop out-and-back along the same course). There’s also a one-mile “Possum Walk” designed for kids and families, which is for runners and walkers and follows a half-mile course out to Possum Walk and back.

Last but certainly not least, the “Bear Chaise” run that gives the event its name starts “anytime,” organizers add, whenever spectators arrive to bring out their chairs and cheer on the runners.

Race Weather & Climate

Located in southeast Texas, just over 100 north of Houston, the small town of Groveton generally enjoys mild to moderately warm weather conditions in the early spring, along with some of its driest weather all year long.

On race day (March 30), the average low is 50°F and the average high is 76°F.

Past Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the Davy Crockett Bear Chase Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

  • 7:00 AM – half marathon, full marathon
  • 7:30 AM – 5K
  • 8:00 AM – Possum Walk

Fees

  • $65 – $90 for the half marathon, full marathon
  • $25 – $35 for the 5K
  • $20 for the Bear Chaise
  • $15 for the Possum Walk

Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2019 running of Groveton’s Davy Crockett Bear Chase Marathon, Half Marathon or 5K race, register online at SignMeUp.com here.

Official Race Website

www.50statesmarathonclub.com

Comments

Ever run in the Davy Crockett Bear Chase? Share your impressions here, or post your review in the Comments below.

See more races: March, Texas

2 comments… add one
  • Sarah April 21, 2016, 12:22 pm

    Race has not been flooded out had it?

    Reply
  • MONICA LOPEZ March 28, 2016, 2:51 am

    GOOD MORNING!
    I HAVE A QUESTION.
    MRS. ANGELINA SANTOS REGISTERED FOR THE FULL MARATHON, BUT SHE IS NOT ABLE TO RUN THIS RACE. WE WANT TO DO A TRANSFER! IS THAT POSSIBLE?
    SHE GAVE ME HER HER COMFIRMATION SHE GOT WHEN SHE REGISTERED:
    912J3Q7 – DAVY CROCKETT BEAR CHASE
    MY NAME IS MONICA LOPEZ
    MY EMAIL IS FREEMARIPOSA07@YAHOO.COM
    CELL 936 5810524
    HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
    THANK YOU!!

    Reply

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