Big Bend 50

There is a place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime southwestern sun, and diversity of species is the best in the country. This magical place is Big Bend.

In 2004, a wild idea was hatched: An ultra run in Big Bend National Park. It had never been done, the logistics were impossible. It’s several hours from San Antonio. Water is scarce. Fuel is scarce. Transportation is scarce. The first Ultra Run in Big Bend National Park was organized by Carroll Voss and a dedicated crew of volunteers in 2005. It was 50 miles, and was the first organized ultra to be held in Big Bend National Park. We had about 100 runners, and it was a huge success. Logistics prevented us from having another 50 mile event, since the return path off the runner’s course was WAY out of the way. In some cases, it was an hour and half drive back to camp so the 50M was replaced with a 50K instead. In the years since, the “Big Bend Ultra” or “Big Bend 50” or “Big Bend 50 25 10” has become the go-to event for hundreds of runners, their families, and volunteers who make it all possible.