The Race
Just north of Houston, the longest trail in Texas winds its way through Sam Houston National Forest. The 96-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail may only be explored on foot, so why not run it?
Sam's Last Stand will be a fatass-style race across the entire LSHT. Starting at Trailhead 1 on the western terminus of the trail, 25 runners will have 36 hours to reach Trailhead 15 near Cleveland. Just 96 beautiful miles of towering pines and magnolias, trickling creeks and curious local wildlife.
We will provide minimal water along the course and allow drop bags.
Some rules and information is provided below. The rest is up to you.
Course Resources
Course Information
While not common for fatass races, there will be a small registration fee for participating. This will help us buy water to cache for runners, and allow us to provide a LSHT patch to runners. Any leftover funds will be donated to the LSHT Club.
The LSHT is mostly marked with 2” x 4” aluminum markers and wooden directional signs. Markers with colored bands distinguish connecting trails and should NOT be followed for this event. Follow the LSHT signs and know the route!
Respect other hikers. On road sections, stay on the left side facing traffic, as close to the edge of the road as possible. Beware of partiers at trailheads in the evening hours. Watch out for nature (spiderwebs, poison ivy, hogs, coyotes). Anticipate aggressive farm dogs!
ALL runners must have the route loaded on their phone and be able to show proof of this at bib pickup or at the race start. GAIA GPS is the recommended app and is free to download. Instructions for Importing GPX File in GAIA
Timing & Scoring
Gun time will be used, and finishes will be manually logged to determine finisher rankings. Runners will have 36 hours to reach the finish.
| Schedule | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Feb 26 | 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Early bib pickup at Ladybirds 5519 Allen St, Houston |
| Saturday, Feb 28 | 4:30 am | Parking shuttle leaves LSHT TH 15 |
| 5:00 am - 6:00 am | Bibs, drop bags, route check at LSHT TH 1 | |
| 6:00 am | Run start at LSHT TH 1 | |
| Sunday, Feb 29 | 6:00 pm | Race cutoff |
- Crewed runners are encouraged to have crew bring them to the race start. Those without crew will need to drive to LSHT TH 15 the morning of the race and arrive before 4:30 AM to catch a shuttle van to the start.
- For those unable to make bib pickup on Thursday, runners may collect their bib at the race start Saturday morning. Drop bags will be collected at the race start.
Waypoints
- All waypoints will be stocked with 1-gallon jugs of drinking water. Water may ONLY be used by runners and pacers, not crew. Water may NOT be used to pour over the body for cooling or any other use besides drinking. No one may drink straight from the jugs, but must have their own container to drink from.
- Drop Bags are allowed at all waypoints, but there are size restrictions to minimize our footprint and reduce the risk of vanishing supplies at high traffic locations. All bags must be labelled with the runner’s Name and desired Waypoint. Drop bags will be collected at the race start.
- Small Bags: Quart sized freezer bag
- Large Bags: Up to 1.5 gal / 6L bag
- Supplies (both water and DB’s) will NOT be under full time supervision during the race. While we will do what we can to avoid it, the risk of theft is very real. It is your responsibility to be prepared for all possible scenarios.
| Waypoint | LSHT TH | Name | Mile | Distance | Section | Drop Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | LSHT TH 1 | 0.0 | 0 | |||
| 1 | 3 | LSHT TH 3 | 8.7 | 8.7 | wilderness | small |
| 2 | 6 | LSHT TH 6 | 15.8 | 7.1 | kelly | small |
| 3 | Stubblefield | 19.7 | 3.9 | conroe | large | |
| 4 | Ball Road | 27.9 | 8.2 | conroe | small | |
| 5 | 7 | LSHT TH 7 | 35 | 7.1 | huntsville | small |
| 6 | 8 | LSHT TH 8 | 45.1 | 10.1 | phelps | small |
| 7 | FS 207 at FS 202 | 54.4 | 9.3 | four notch | large | |
| 8 | 9 | LSHT TH 9 | 62.8 | 8.4 | big woods | small |
| 9 | 10 | LSHT TH 10 | 67.4 | 4.6 | magnolia | small |
| 10 | 11 | LSHT TH 11 | 73.7 | 6.3 | magnolia | large |
| 11 | 13 | LSHT TH 13 | 82.3 | 8.6 | big creek | small |
| 12 | 14 | LSHT TH 14 | 90.7 | 8.4 | winters | small |
| Finish | 15 | LSHT TH 15 | 96.1 | 5.4 | winters |
Leave No Trace
- LNT principles must be adhered to by everyone at all times! Failure to comply will result in immediate DQ.
- Do not leave trash on the trail. Trash may be carried on your person or left sealed in your drop bags. To avoid wildlife interference, we will NOT have trash bags at waypoints.
- Solid human waste & toilet paper should be bagged and carried, or deposited (bag free) in a cathole 6-8” deep and at least 200 ft from water, camps or trails, then covered.
- Further educate yourself here
Pacing
All pacers should adhere to these rules:
- Pacing will be allowed beginning at mile 20 (Stubblefield).
- Each runner may only have one pacer at a time.
- Pacers may mule for their runner.
- Pacers must adhere to the same guidelines as the runners while on the trail.
- Pacers are entitled to use the water provided at waypoints.
- Pacers may not have their own drop bag.
Crewing
Crewing is allowed, but we need to take steps to minimize our impact on the trail and surrounding community:
- Only 1 crew vehicle per runner.
- If a runner has crew, they are encouraged to have their crew bring them to the start.
- Crewing is NOT allowed before mile 20 (Stubblefield).
- Crew are encouraged to meet their runner at the official waypoints. Be advised that Ball Rd and FS207/202 are not LSHT trailheads and do not have parking. The dirt roads to these 2 points could be difficult for cars/low clearance vehicles to manage.
- When parking at trailhead parking lots crew must ensure that at least 3 spots are left open for arriving hikers. If a lot is full (except for those 3 spots), crew will park along the road with all 4 tires of the vehicle completely off the pavement, pointed in the same direction as the flow of traffic, and only occupy one side of the road (park on the same side as everyone else). We do not want to impede traffic in any way.
- At Stubblefield, crew may NOT occupy any campsite unless they have paid to reserve that campsite. There is abundant parking available east of the lake bridge near the canoe access.
- Crew may NOT drive alongside their runner on road sections, even if there is no traffic. This poses danger to everyone involved and will not be tolerated.
Records
The LSHT is listed as a route at fastestknowntime.com. According to the guidelines, “A supported FKT can be set during a race.” For those interested in pursuing a new FKT, here are the current records:
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About us
Ava's Trails is a Houston-based company dedicated to providing outdoor enthusiasts with unforgettable experiences in nature. Our leaders are passionate about sharing their love for the outdoors with others.