Great Springs Trail Race - Natural Bridge Caverns
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Trail Running at Natural Bridge Caverns
The Great Springs Trail Race takes place at Natural Bridge Caverns, located near San Antonio and New Braunfels. The event features a variety of distances and formats on a course that includes subterranean sections and surface trails through wooded landscapes and flowing hills.
Participants can choose from several standard distances:
- 4 miles
- 8 miles (run and ruck divisions)
- 16 miles
- Youth 1 mile
The 4 mile, 8 mile, and 16 mile races feature a start inside the caverns. Runners begin with a quarter-mile section underground before emerging to complete the remainder of their distance on the surface trails. These races are chip-timed, and awards are based on individual chip times rather than a mass gun start.
The event also includes a Last Person Standing format for both runners and ruckers. In this competition, participants must complete a specific loop every hour on the hour. Runners tackle a 4.1667-mile loop, while those in the ruck division cover 2.47 miles. The race continues until only one person remains who can complete a loop within the 60-minute cutoff. Last Person Standing participants do not start in the cave but receive a tour pass for the caverns.
The Ruck division requires participants to carry a weighted pack: 20 lbs for those under 150 lbs, and 30 lbs for those over 150 lbs. No trekking poles are permitted in this category.
Full aid stations are provided at the race hub, offering various food and drink options. This is a cupless event, and participants are required to bring their own hydration vessels. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
