Autumn Harvest 50K • 20-Miler • 10-Miler • 5-Miler • Full • Half • 10K • 5K • Big Bastrop Backyard Ultra (Last Runner & Last Rucker Standing)

Autumn Harvest Trail Weekend

Lake Bastrop, Texas • October 10-11, 2026

Experience the magic of autumn trail running

THE BIG BASTROP BACKYARD ULTRA (LAST STANDING RUNNER/RUCKER)

• 50K • MARATHON • HALF • 20-MILER • 10-MILER • 10K • 5-MILER • 5K

BRONZE TICKET QUALIFIER

An Enchanting Fall Adventure

Join us for an unforgettable autumn trail weekend. Experience the beauty of fall running as seasonal colors transform the landscape and Lake Bastrop's calm waters create a stunning natural backdrop.

Whether you're chasing your first 50K, a marathon PR, or a fun family 5K, you'll journey along winding lakeside trails, under open skies, and through towering pines in one of Central Texas' most picturesque settings. Crisp fall air, fast dirt trails, and the energy of fellow runners make this a truly unique endurance experience.

Two days. Eight distances. One unforgettable weekend.

Saturday, October 10

The Ultra & Distance Day

The Big Bastrop Backyard Ultra 

You'll never know how far you'll go... until you show.

The Official 'Last Standing' Event of the Autumn Harvest Trail Weekend and part of the Texas Backyard Ultra Series

Start: 7:00 AM  |  Distance: 4.167-mile loop. Format: Last Person Standing with cumulative time tiebreaker. One loop. One hour. Last runner standing wins.  Are you in?

The 7:00 AM start means you'll run the Gideon Loop starting from the Basecamp, through one full day, one full night, and into a second morning. Sunset falls around 7:15 PM, approximately 12 hours and 2 loops into the race. Runners must have mandatory night gear ready before the 7:00 PM loop.

If you're the last runner standing, you'll complete a victory lap to claim the win.

Paid by the Mile:

The last runner standing receives an event champion's trophy and a check for $2 per mile covered, rounded to the nearest dollar. The winner also earns a complimentary entry to the next race on The Last Frontier Circuit. Prize money is awarded to an official winner only (final loop completed solo). Entry is non-transferable; if the winner is already registered for that race, they receive a credit they can apply to a future race or merch.

How many loops are in your software? Come find out. You can achieve this just by showing up and taking it one loop at a time:

1 Loop: 4.16 miles (A great trail run)

2 Loops: 8.33 miles (A major personal milestone)

3 Loops: 12.5 miles (Essentially a Trail Half Marathon)

4 Loops: 16.6 miles (Uncharted territory)

You don't need to be fast. You just have to move 4.167 miles in 60 minutes. That is a highly achievable 14:23-per-mile pace.

You can briskly walk the uphills, jog the flats, and still make it back to the starting corral with 5 to 10 minutes to spare to sit in a lawn chair, eat a snack, and hang out.

It's not a speed race. It's a pacing game.

Run until you can't. Then run one more.

Important Race Format Note: The Big Bastrop Backyard Ultra starts promptly at 7:00 AM. For this inaugural edition, the race has a 48-hour time limit, which the race director may extend by up to 6 additional hours based on weather and course conditions. Future editions will have no time limit. The race director may also pause or end the race at any time for runner safety.

The Texas Backyard Series Pass Options

Want the ultimate circuit experience? Choose a Bundle during checkout to unlock exclusive contender privileges:

Mailed Legacy Bib: Your permanent number for the entire season, shipped straight to your door. Zero race-day lines (Must be registered at least 3 weeks before the first race day for guaranteed delivery).

Priority Crew Pit Setup: Premium space allocation closest to the starting corral at all venues.

Injury Deferral Insurance: Clean, hassle-free single-race transfers if your training block gets sidelined.

A backyard ultra is won at the rest chair, not the starting line. Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, training plans, pacing strategy, and the mental playbook for the bell. Every Wednesday, straight to your inbox.

Course: 1× Gideon Loop via Swift Trail . Aid stations every 2.1 miles, full support at start/finish.

The Loblolly Redemption

Click here for details

When you fail to complete your loop on the Autumn Harvest Last Standing main course (Gideon Loop), your race isn't over. It's different. Walk to the basecamp, lace up, and start running the 5.1 km Loblolly Loop. Redemption runners start on the hourly bell, the same bell as the main backyard ultra. To keep the trail clear, Redemption runners hold in the Loblolly corral until a race official releases them, once the main field has cleared the start area. The hour counts from the bell, not the release. A runner dropped from the main event at the Hour 8 bell begins their first Redemption loop at the Hour 9 bell. Same format. Smaller loop. New field. Last person standing wins.

You can't register for the Redemption. You can only be sent there. Click here for more details. 

Last Rucker Standing

Click here for more information 

Start: 7:00 AM, October 10  |  Loop: 5.1 km (Loblolly Loop) 

A backyard-format rucking event running on the same clock as the main Last Standing ultra. Complete the Loblolly Loop every hour on the bell with a weighted ruck on your back: 30 lbs for men, 20 lbs for women. Ruck 20 loops and you've covered 100 kilometers. Last rucker still completing loops wins. Field capped at 20. 

Important Race Format Note: The Big Bastrop Backyard Ultra begins promptly at 7:00 AM and features a baseline 32-48 hour time limit for all competitors. However, the race director maintains total operational flexibility to extend the race hour by hour based on real-time environmental and weather conditions.

Autumn Harvest 50K

Start: 8:00 AM  |  Cutoff: 10 hours

The premier event. Three full out-and-backs on the scenic North-South Trailway plus a Southshore finishing spur. Aid stations every 2.5 miles. Drop bag access at start/finish every 10 miles. For experienced trail runners and first-time ultra athletes with solid training bases.

Autumn Harvest 20-Miler

Start: 8:00 AM  |  Distance: 20 miles  

Two full out-and-backs on the North-South Trailway. Perfect marathon long-run training or a serious trail challenge in its own right. Aid stations every 2.5 miles.

Autumn Harvest 10-Miler

Start: 8:00 AM  |  Distance: 10 miles  

One full out-and-back on the North-South Trailway, the signature trail experience in a single lap. The sweet spot distance between a 10K and a half marathon.

Autumn Harvest 5-Miler

Start: 8:15 AM  |  Distance: 5 miles  

The gateway to trail running. Out-and-back on the first 2.5 miles of the North-South Trailway. Challenging enough to feel like a real effort, welcoming enough for first-time trail runners.

Sunday, October 11

The Marathon & Community Day

Autumn Harvest Marathon

Start: 9:00 AM  |  Cutoff: 9 hours

Central Texas trail marathon running at its finest. Start with two laps on the scenic North-South Trailway, then finish strong with two laps of Gideon Loop via Swift Trail. Experience Lake Bastrop's iconic lakeside trail alongside the quiet beauty of the forest.

Course: 2× North-South full looped laps + 2× Loblolly Loop via Swift Trail . Aid stations every 2.5 miles, full support at start/finish.

Autumn Harvest Half Marathon

Start: 9:00 AM  

A generous half-marathon-plus on Lake Bastrop's most scenic trails. Start with one full looped lap on the North-South Trailway, then head out to Loblolly Loop via Swift Trail before returning to the finish. Two distinct trail experiences in one unforgettable journey.

Course: 1× North-South full loop + Gideon Loop via Swift Trail

Autumn Harvest 10K

Start: 9:15 AM  

A unique trail 10K showcasing scenic sections of Lake Bastrop's trail system. Start with the full Gideon Loop via Swift Trail, return to the start area, then head back out for the Loblolly Loop before a short finish to bring you home. More trail variety per mile than any other event in the weekend.

Course: Loblolly Loop via Swift Trail X 2

Autumn Harvest 5K

Start: 9:15 AM  

The perfect trail introduction. Short, out-and-back. Bring the kids, bring your running buddies, bring someone who's never run a race before.

The Course

Scenic Trails

All events traverse the trails of Lake Bastrop, primarily the North-South Trailway that connects Lake Bastrop North Shore and South Shore Parks. The course features rolling terrain with moderate elevation changes and a dynamic mix of single-track and wider trail sections.

Towering loblolly pines, shade much of the course. Lakeside stretches provide stunning water views, while interior sections wind through peaceful forest. Vibrant autumn colors enhance the beauty of this unforgettable trail adventure.

Course Highlights

Terrain: Rolling with moderate elevation changes

Trail Type: Mix of single-track and wider trails

Views: Lake Bastrop overlooks and Lost Pines 

Scenery: Fall foliage and autumn-transformed landscapes

Aid Stations: Every 2.5 miles on long-distance events

Safety: Well-marked with high-visibility trail markers

Every Registration Includes

Custom Finisher Medal

Race Shirt

Guaranteed if registered by Sep 15

Chip Timing

Fully Stocked Aid Stations

Water, electrolytes, fuel, ice

Medical Support

Race Photography

Free digital downloads

What's Not Included

LCRA park camping (reserve separately through LCRA Parks) 

Overnight lodging

Crew fees (crews must purchase day-use park pass)

Event Logistics

Packet Pickup

Friday Evening: 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

Saturday Morning: 6:00 AM - 6:45 AM

Sunday Morning: 7:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Location: Lake Bastrop South Shore Park Pavilion

Spectator Information – Autumn Harvest Marathon

We’re excited to welcome your friends and family to cheer you on at the Autumn Harvest Run!

Please note: Lake Bastrop North Shore and South Shore Parks require a park entry fee for all non-registered spectators and support crews.

Park Entry Fee

Required for all spectators entering Lake Bastrop parks. Passes can be purchased online in advance through our race store.

➡ Click here to purchase a Spectator Park Entry Pass

We encourage spectators to plan ahead to help ensure smooth entry on race day.

Thank you for helping us create a great race experience for everyone!

Parking & Directions

Start/Finish Area: Lake Bastrop South Shore Park

Free parking available at the event venue for registered runners. Arrive at least 45 minutes before your start time.

Race Guide will be emailed one week before the event.

Weather & Contingency

October in Bastrop typically brings pleasant temperatures (highs 80-85°F, lows 60s). Runners should prepare for a range of conditions.

In case of severe weather, the event may be:

Moved to an earlier or later start time

Postponed to the following weekend

Modified to shortened course distances

A decision will be made 24 hours before the scheduled start and communicated via email and social media.

Refund & Transfer Policy

No refunds; transfers at race director's discretion

Weather Cancellation: Runners receive credit toward any race of the same distance on our event calendar.

Experience the Magic of Autumn Trail Running

Join us for this enchanting fall weekend on the trails of Lake Bastrop. Eight distances. Two days. One unforgettable experience.

REGISTER NOW

Organized in partnership with Healthy Kids Running Series Cedar Park.

Proceeds support HKRS Cedar Park youth running programs.