Race day is just around the corner!  Please read this information carefully.  If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@InspiredRaceEvents.com

Packet Pickup:
We will be having packet pickup on Friday, March 6th from 4pm-7pm at:
Soler’s Sports (Stone Oak and Loop 1604)
18720 Stone Oak Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78258

Please do your best to pick up your packet on Friday at Soler’s Sports.  However if you can not make it, we will have a packet pickup table available at Government Canyon on race day, from 6am-7am.

Even though a waiver was “signed” online during registration, we require a hardcopy signed waiver to participate.  Each participant will be required to sign a waiver at packet pickup.  With that being said, you must pick up your own packet.  Packets may not be picked up by anyone other than the participant.  We are sorry for the inconvenience.

At packet pickup and all day on race day, we will be selling some awesome silicone bracelets and bumper stickers to help support our charity Any Baby Can.  Bracelets will be $1 and the bumper stickers will be $3.  Please bring some extra cash and help support this amazing cause!

Race Day Info:
Government Canyon State Natural Area’s address is:
12861 Galm Road
San Antonio, TX 78254

If you type in the address into any GPS device or smart phone, it should bring it up. The entrance is right at the bend in Galm Road. There is currently some construction at the entrance of the park making it a little confusing. However, there is a gravel driveway that will lead you to the entrance. Go slow and you will see it.

Entrance and Parking:
Gaits will open at 6am for participants on race day, Saturday March 7th.  That is an hour and a half before the event starts.  That is plenty of time to park, check in and get ready.  We will have volunteers arriving before then, so please do not arrive before 6am to avoid confusion.

When you enter Government Canyon, there is a long, winding road that you must take to get to the parking lot(s) and visitor’s center. Along that road you will come across a toll booth. Please stop there and let the attendant know that you are participating in the Backcountry Trail Run.  Each vehicle will need a parking tag to put on their car.  If there isn’t an attendant, please park and “check in” at the visitor’s center.  The entry fee for participants and volunteers is included in your registration. However, any family or friends who are not running or volunteering, will be required to pay the $6 State Park Fee.

There are 4 parking lots at Government Canyon.  Parking is first come, first serve.  Parking lots A and B will are closest to the visitor’s center and start/finish line.  If lots A and B are full, overflow parking is available in lots C. Parking in lot D is not allowed.   

Race Time!
The start/finish line is on the bridge, which is right next to the visitor’s center. We will have several tables and tents set up, you can’t miss us.  The visitor’s center has a separate men and women’s restroom and we will have additional porta-potties available near the start/finish line as well.  There are no porta-potties on the course.

The race will start at 7:30am.  We will start the race in 4 different waves.  The 25k participants will start first, then the half marathon participants, then the 10k participants and finally the 5k participants.  This will go very quickly.  Because some of the trails are single track, we will be doing an individual staggered start to avoid congestion.

Trail info, Aid Stations and Trail Conditions:
Please review the race map for the event you will be participating in.  We will have course markers (arrows) along the trail to help guide you, however it is a good idea to look at the map before starting your event.  All of the events are ran in a clockwise route and will start and finish on the bridge.  If you want to take a map with you while you run, there will be plenty available at the starting line.  Please don’t hesitate to grab one.  Please view the maps HERE.

You will start and finish the race by running over a long bridge.  You will be above the tree line and it makes for a pretty cool start/finish.  As soon as you cross the bridge, everyone will take an immediate left.  About 25 yards into the run, the 5k and 10k participants will go to the right, while the half marathon and 25k participants will continue running straight.  We will have the course marked, but reviewing the maps will definitely help.

25K RUNNERS (IMPORTANT!)- Once you come down the Far Reaches Trail (the northeast part of the map), you will continue south (clockwise) around Lytle’s Loop.  You will then make a single loop around Savannah’s Loop.  Once you do one loop, you will continue on Lytle’s Loop until you meet back with the Recharge Trail.  When you hit Recharge Trail, you will run west towards the exit.  We will have an aid station at the intersection of Far Reaches Trail/Lytle’s Loop/Recharge Trail to help with any confusion.  It’s very important to review the map HERE.

We will have 3 aid stations out on the course.  The aid stations are marked on the course maps.  5k runners will have one aid station, 10k runners have two, half marathoners will have three and 25k runners will have four (hitting the second aid station twice).

Government Canyon is a protected State Natural Area. They are very particular about their trail conditions and they reserve the right to postpone/cancel the race if the trails are too muddy. With that being said, we have Sunday, March 8th as a backup date just in case the trails are too muddy on the 7th. Worst case scenario, we will have a road race option on Sunday, March 8th. We will do everything in our power to not cancel the race.  No one wants this to happen.

Prizes:
The top 3 male and female finishers for each event (5k, 10k, half marathon and 25k) will receive a custom award celebrating your awesome achievement!  We will not have a set time for an awards ceremony, because I don’t want to keep you waiting around too long.  A little while after the times are properly registered with our chip timing company, we will pass out the awards.   After you join us for a picture, you are free to leave.

Waiver:
All participants will be required to sign a waiver at packet pickup before running in the event.  All minors must also have a parent/guardian sign the waiver as well.

Special Thanks:
I want to personally thank you for registering for this event!  We are going to have a lot of fun on race day.  There will be music playing and we will have food available for everyone.  Don’t forget that your entry fee is good all day.   After the race, enjoy everything the park has to offer. Especially the dinosaur tracks!  They are located 2.5 miles up the Joe Johnson trail.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@InspiredRaceEvents.com