Advertisement
The DragonSlayer Epic!Pick 13, 26, 52, or the brutal 104 miler for an epic trail-run which will etch the punishing and unforgiving Goodwater trail into your memories forever.
Nothing about this route or event is easy, not even the little half-marathon: the mile after mile of incessant rock gardens, encroaching cactus, punchy uphills, loose downhills, mental fatigue, and a feeling of complete remoteness will impress upon the runners a true feeling of doing something out of the reach of almost every other person on the planet.
To add to the epic flavor, the run is mostly self-supported: there will be a few water stations scattered around the 26-mile loop, a first-aid kit at check-in, someone at check-in available to dial 911 on your behalf, and a few bikes out on course every 12 hours or so to check on you. But you will pass by your vehicle every lap to resupply, drop bag service will be available for the 26/52/and 104 for a refuel "roughly" half way through each lap. Otherwise, your success or failure is entirely up to you. This is how we do things at EnduraRace epic events. Your glory is yours alone, the work done by you, and that solemn pride of finishing the distance is yours to revel in. Still interested? Keep reading for the details.
SWAG and AWARDS:
All participants, whether you finish or not, will get a commemorative T-shirt festooned with the appropriate graphics to make sure everyone knows you signed up for this monster. Also, while we will happily record and preserve your times for the history books, this is considered more of a "fun run". That said, the fastest male and fastest female to finish the 104 will get an extra something special to remember the day by. Else, see the list below for completion swag:
13 miler in 5 hours of less - valuable experience running a properly technical trail.
26 miler in 9 hours or less - 13 mile distance swag plus a finishers medal/trophy.
52 miler in 18 hours or less - 13 and 26 mile swag plus the coveted rock trophy and title of DragonSlayer.
104 miler in 36 hours or less - 13, 26, and 52 mile swag plus THE BELT BUCKLE which will be themed after the event logo.
SUPPORT
Drop Bags: We can leave a drop bag at around the halfway point on the lap for you. We will need these no later than 2 hours PRIOR to your event start. They will be in mileage-marked boxes at the Westlake Pkwy trailhead which the route will pass by. Use the drop-bags for nutrition and/or hydration powder mixes. NO FLUIDS (gels are okay). A water station will be at the location with plenty of fresh cold water you can mix your powders with.
First-Aid and medical emergencies: EXPECT TO SELF RESCUE! Plan ahead and have a charged phone with you. Someone will be available at check-in with a first aid kit for BASIC stuff like cuts and scrapes. Anything more than this you will need to self-rescue to a nearby 24 hour clinic or call 911 and request a rescue be made. Notify check-in when you can to let us know your status. Everyone will receive a laminated contact card to carry with them with instructions to follow for on-course injuries that you cannot self-rescue from. Download the "what three words" app on your phones so you can provide your exact location to 911. Don't push yourself into a place mentally or physically where you cannot get yourself back to check-in safely. There are multi-mile sections of this trail with zero rescue access, so if you go down and cannot get out, plan for a long wait for help to arrive. The only vehicle access points along the 26-mile loop are Russell Park, Westlake Pkwy, Cedar Breaks, Overlook, and Jim Hogg. The loop does not pass-through Camp Tejas unless the lake is too high to use the box crossing.
PARKING, CAMPING AND LODGING:
We have the entire two group shelters at the end of camp road 8 rented for the weekend. You will follow the Dragonslayer signs to park road 8 and park NOSE-IN along the RIGHT-HAND side before the traffic circle. You will run past your car each lap, so its a great location. Dispersed tent camping is available around the two group shelters for up to 50 persons each. Email the race director to get on the list to camp. We ask for $10 per tent per night to help us offset the site rental costs. Pay cash, PayPal, or Venmo the day of the event.
There are motels/hotels in Georgetown not too far away for out-of-town participants.
There is an official campground at Russell Park with some amenities, but book well in advance. Jim Hogg Park has RV camping and is a short drive to the check-in at the end of park road 8.
CHECK-IN:
The day of your start time, plan to check in at least one hour in advance. You will receive your emergency contact card, race bib with timing chips, and be able to see the course map if you have not have a chance to look at it prior.
Check-in is located in the traffic circle at the end of Park Rd 8 which is also where the start/finish line will be.
AMENITIES:
There are water spigots and restrooms at check-in. The group shelters will be lit and have 15-amp 110v plugs if you need to charge-up anything. Each group site has a fire-pit if you want to bring something to burn. The Russell Park official camping area about a mile away has additional restrooms. There will also be water coolers at check-in. Bring your own toilet paper in case things run out. It is pretty low-tech out there.
INCLEMENT WEATHER/REFUNDS:
This is a rain or shine, heat-wave or ice-storm event. Plan appropriately. We will not refund any registrations, but you may transfer your registration to another person.
THE ROUTE:
This is not the traditional 26-mile lap of the Goodwater trail. We decided that was too easy. We use a route that takes runners down below the dam on the east side and crosses the San Gabriel at the old box low-water crossing (usually dry to only ankle deep) on the west side so skipping Camp Tejas. This route has around 2000 vertical feet per lap of climbing and is roughly 26 miles long. Should the lake or river be too high to use the box crossing, we will shift to the traditional lap route.
Multi-lap runners will be "washing-machine style", alternating directions each lap. The 26, 52, and 104 distances will begin running COUNTER-CLOCKWISE for 2022 (2023 will start the other direction). 13-mile runners will run CLOCKWISE (each and every year).
You will start and finish each lap at the check-in station by running/walking across the red/black timing mat.
CHANGING DISTANCES MID-RACE:
You can drop down to a lesser race during your event. Let's say you signed for the 104, but realize that 52 is all you can do. You will be eligible for all the 52 miler prizes if that is what you are able to finish. Likewise, if you start for the 104 but have to bail after three laps, you will still get the 52 mile distance credit.
HISTORY OF THE DRAGONSLAYER:
The DragonSlayer came to be in 2017 with the first annual mountain-bike triple lap race of Lake Georgetown. Participants could choose 1, 2, or 3 laps for up to 81 miles. Over the next several years, the route expanded to a 104-mile competitive distance with 30, 60, or 90 mile "fun ride" distances. It is now in its 5th year. Only a few dozen mountain bikers have actually completed a three-lap ride here. It is they who have earned the title of DragonSlayer. Runners are now joining for the ultra madness for 2022, but two laps or more earn them the title of DragonSlayer.
Advertisement
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Russell Park, Georgetown, TX 78628, United States
Tickets