Sam's Last Stand

Sam's Last Stand

Sam's Last Stand is a fatass style race held on February 20, 2027, that covers the entire Lone Star Hiking Trail through Sam Houston National Forest. The course follows the full trail from Trailhead 1 at the western terminus to Trailhead 15 near Cleveland, a distance of 96 miles. Entry is limited to 30 runners and there is a 36-hour cutoff to reach the finish. A small registration fee helps cover event costs.

The route is not specially marked for the event; runners must follow the existing LSHT signs and have the route loaded on their phone for verification at bib pickup or the start. GAIA GPS is the recommended mapping app. Organizers provide limited water at waypoints and allow drop bags; drop bag sizes are restricted to small (up to 1 gallon / 4 liters) or large (up to 2 gallons / 8 liters). Waypoint water is for runners and pacers only and must be taken from jugs using a personal container. Supplies will not be under constant supervision and theft is possible.

There is no mandatory gear list, but recommended items include a rain jacket or poncho, gloves, beanie, and about 500 extra calories. Pacing is allowed beginning at mile 20; each runner may have one pacer at a time and pacers may carry supplies for their runner but may not have their own drop bag. Crewing is allowed after mile 20 with limits on vehicles and parking to minimize impact.

Leave No Trace rules apply; failure to comply may result in disqualification. Timing uses gun time and finishes are manually logged. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.