The Backland
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Event
Nature Nate's The Backland is a last-man-standing trail race held near the Texas-Oklahoma border at Walnut Creek Resort & Marina, 1075 Walnut Creek Rd, Gordonville, TX. The course is run mostly on trail with some road. The event is limited to 38 competitors. An optional pre-race camp out is available the day before. Tent camping and resort cabins are available at the venue.
Format and awards
Runners complete repeated 4.5-mile loops, called "lands". Each loop must be finished within one hour; runners who fail to finish a loop or who quit are eliminated and ring a bell. New rule starting in 2025: no ties are allowed. The last person remaining is titled The Backland Champion and receives a $1000 cash prize, a large trophy, and a six-pack of beer or root beer. All finishers receive a long sleeve Backland shirt and a beer or root beer. Additional awards include belt buckles for longer totals:
- 4.5-mile loop per land
- 103.5 miles - 23 lands - 100-mile belt buckle
- 153 miles - 34 lands - golden 150-mile belt buckle
A trophy is also awarded for the best start/finish setup at the race site (for example: large tent, heaters, food, lights). Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.