The Texas Distance Dispatch
Texas race news, new shoes and watches worth knowing about, and training that works in Texas heat. Every fact links back to its official source.
Texas race weekend, Nov. 21–22: the Houston 25K, a sold-out Shiner Beer Run, the Pie Run and a backyard ultra
Texas races on Nov. 21–22, 2026, the weekend before Thanksgiving: the Houston 25K, Great Houston Pie Run, Shiner Beer Run, Turkey Trails Austin and more, with fees.
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 29 vs. Brooks Glycerin Max 3: two max-cushion trainers, one Dec. 1 release date
The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 29 ($170) and Brooks Glycerin Max 3 ($200) both release Dec. 1, 2026 and are on preorder now. New foams, weights, drops, and which one fits a Texas winter marathon build.
NYC Marathon 2026 results: Almgren wins his debut, Chepkirui takes a three-way finish, and Houston’s record holder is top American
Almgren won the 2026 NYC Marathon in 2:06:01 in his debut, and Chepkirui won in 2:24:36. Top finishers, wheelchair winners and Zouhair Talbi’s finish.
Texas race weekend, Nov. 14–15: Hermann Park’s 23rd Run in the Park, Wild Hare’s 50 miler, Turkey Trails and the Oilman
Texas races on Nov. 14–15, 2026: Run in the Park, Wild Hare, Turkey Trails, Vibha’s Dream Mile and the Oilman Triathlon, with fees and deadlines.
Texas turkey trot price deadlines: when 5K fees go up in Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso
Thanksgiving is Nov. 26, and many Texas turkey trot fees rise first. 5K prices and increase dates by city, plus free and last-minute options.
Holiday gifts for runners in 2026: GPS watches, new shoes and race entries, from a $20 turkey trot to an $899 ultra watch
Gifts for Texas runners by budget: race entries, Brooks Adrenaline GTS 26, Nike Pegasus Plus 2, Saucony Space Cowboy and Garmin watches.
Texas race weekend, Nov. 7–8: a half marathon over the new Harbor Bridge, El Paso’s Transmountain climb, the Cypress Half and a Hill Country marathon with pie
The best Texas races on Nov. 7–8, 2026: Corpus Christi’s Harbor Half over the new Harbor Bridge, El Paso’s Transmountain Half, the Cypress Half, the Mustang Marathon in Marble Falls and more, with fees and deadlines.
Chicago Marathon 2026 results: Kipruto finally wins, Feysa repeats, and Hurley runs the fastest U.S. women’s debut
Amos Kipruto won Chicago in 2:01:09 and Hawi Feysa repeated in 2:13:33. Top 10s, the American records, the wheelchair world record, and how Texas A&M’s Natosha Rogers did.
Fort Worth Marathon 2026: the 20th festival is Nov. 7–8, and the 20-miler is in its final year
The Fort Worth Marathon runs Nov. 7–8, 2026 from Farrington Field. Start times, fees before the Nov. 2 increase, the BQ course, cutoffs, pace groups and pickup.
Four marathons in four days, or 250K in one go: Texas’s toughest Thanksgiving-weekend races
The Texas Quad runs a marathon or half every day Nov. 26–29 at Bachman Lake; the Colorado River Run adds a 250K and 100-miler near Bastrop. Spots, fees and cutoffs.
Texas race weekend, Oct. 17–18: a 50K down Galveston’s beach, a Wichita Falls marathon that builds homes for veterans, Inks Lake trails and the Huntsville Half’s return
The best Texas races on Oct. 17–18, 2026: the Galveston Ultra Trail beach 50K, the Home For Freedom Marathon in Wichita Falls, Inks Lake trail marathon, Midland’s Energy City Half and the revived Huntsville Half, with fees and deadlines.
Veterans Day races in Texas 2026: 15 runs and rucks from Nov. 1 to Nov. 14, and where veterans run free
Every Veterans Day run and ruck march in Texas for 2026, from Denton’s free-for-veterans half to Temple’s 6-mile food-drive ruck, with dates, fees, military discounts and where the money goes.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 26 vs. GTS 25: what changed for Nov. 1, and why the 25 on sale may be the better buy
The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 26 arrives Nov. 1 at $155 with reworked DNA Loft v3 foam, a flat-knit tongue and a heel loop. The GTS 25 is marked down to $124.95. Specs, changes and which to buy.
Garmin Forerunner 70 vs. 170: the $50 difference, and which first running watch to buy
Garmin’s Forerunner 70 ($249.99) and 170 ($299.99) share the same screen, coaching and heart-rate sensor. What the extra $50 buys, battery life, and which fits a first race.
Pink October in Texas: 16 breast cancer awareness runs from Oct. 10 to Oct. 31
Every breast cancer awareness 5K and walk in Texas this October, from Houston and Tyler to McAllen and Laredo, with dates, fees and who the money helps.
Garmin Enduro 4 is out: 320 hours of GPS, a flashlight and grade-adjusted pace for Texas ultra season
Garmin’s Enduro 4 launched Oct. 6 at $899.99: battery life, grade-adjusted pace, the flashlight, ruck tools, and how it compares with the fēnix 9.
Chicago Marathon 2027 applications are open. Texas runners have until Oct. 29
The 2027 Chicago Marathon application window runs Oct. 8–29, 2026, with the drawing on Dec. 8. Fees, the full time-qualifier table, legacy and charity routes, and which Texas marathon results can still count.
Día de los Muertos races in Texas: 19 runs from Oct. 10 to Nov. 7, from Galveston to El Paso
Every Día de los Muertos and Day of the Dead run on the Texas RunSignup calendar this fall: a six-city half marathon series, a 100K trail race at LLELA, free and untimed 5Ks, a community altar in Lubbock, and current fees.
Clocks fall back Nov. 1. Texas evening runners lose an hour of light; here is the plan
Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, and sunset in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso jumps an hour earlier. Sunset times by city, what TxDOT and GHSA crash data say about walking at night, and a visibility checklist for runners.
Oct. 25 in Texas: a Boston-qualifying Lubbock Marathon and the UTHealth Houston Half, whose price jumps Oct. 11
Two Texas races share Oct. 25, 2026: the Boston-qualifying Lubbock Marathon and the UTHealth Houston Half Marathon & 10K. Packet pickup, cutoffs, parking, prices and which one fits your goal.
Day of the Dead Half Marathon series: four Texas stops this weekend, two more next, and prices that tick up tomorrow
Bigfoot Running Company's Day of the Dead Half Marathon visits Dallas, Galveston, Waco and Corpus Christi on Oct. 10–11, then Houston and Fort Worth. Dates, venues and current prices for each stop.
Texas race weekend, Oct. 10–11: a Columbia astronaut’s half in Lubbock, Sugar Land’s flat half, Space City 10 and a Bastrop trail weekend
The best Texas races on Oct. 10–11, 2026: the Willie McCool Memorial Half in Lubbock, the Sugar Land Half, Houston’s Space City 10 Miler and Bastrop’s Autumn Harvest trail weekend, with current fees and deadlines.
Saucony Space Cowboy is live: five shoes from $140 to $290, with a Texas try-on plan
Saucony’s limited-edition Space Cowboy page lists five shoes from $140 to $290. Here is the model-by-model price list and how Texas runners can shop the drop without guessing on fit.
Thanksgiving is 53 days away. Texas turkey trots still leave time for a 5K plan
The 2026 Texas turkey-trot list is up to 91 RunSignup events from Nov. 13 through Nov. 29. With 53 days until Thanksgiving, runners can still build a practical 5K plan.
Austin Marathon wants local bands on the 2027 course; apply by December 14
Austin Marathon organizers are taking applications from local bands for paid on-course spots at the Sunday, February 14, 2027 race. The deadline is Monday, December 14, 2026, and nearly 40,000 registered runners are forecast across the marathon, half and 5K.
Austin Marathon 2027 guide: Valentine’s Day race, fees, course, cutoffs, and the Spurs Austin International Half
The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, half and 5K are Sunday, Feb. 14, 2027, from 2nd & Congress to 9th & Congress. Current prices, field caps, wave times, the 7-hour cutoff, expo, pacers, and the net-downhill Spurs Austin International Half on Jan. 17.
Berlin Marathon 2027 lottery is open. What Texas runners need before Nov. 12
The 2027 GENERALI BERLIN-MARATHON lottery runs through Nov. 12, 2026, with results due Dec. 3. Here is what Texas runners should know about the fee, proof rules and local backup planning.
Cowtown Marathon 2027 guide: dates, price tiers, the Stockyards course, cutoffs and the Dec. 31 transfer deadline
Cowtown is Feb. 27–28, 2027, from Will Rogers Memorial Center: 5K and 10K Saturday; half, full and 50K ultra Sunday. Current tier prices and the Dec. 4 increase, the Stockyards-to-Sundance course, 7.5-hour cutoff, BQ status, expo and the no-refund fine print.
Halloween race guides are live. Texas runners have an Oct. 31 trail pick in Waco
Outside's national Halloween-race roundup shows the costume-race season is here. Texas runners can start with the Oct. 31 Chupacabra Trail Run in Waco and a statewide Halloween calendar.
Trail detours this fall: Lady Bird Lake reroutes, Shoal Creek closures, Memorial Park and White Rock
Texas trail closures this fall: Butler and Shoal Creek detours in Austin, Memorial Park’s Outer Loop in Houston and the reopened White Rock Lake Trail.
UIL state cross country meet 2026: schedule, parking tickets, how to watch, and the Texas college season
The 2026 UIL Cross Country State Championships are Nov. 6–7 in Round Rock. Race times by class, $25/$40 parking tickets, the NFHS stream and results.
World Road Running Championships 2026 results: Ngetich’s 1:05:15 record, Almgren’s 58:06, and an American 5K record
Agnes Ngetich broke the women-only half marathon world record (1:05:15) in Copenhagen, Andreas Almgren set a European record of 58:06, and Drew Hunter ran a 13:14 American 5K record. Every podium, the Team USA medals, and what it means for your next Texas half.
ASICS Sonicblast 2 vs. Reebok SpeedShifter: two new plated shoes for tempo days
The ASICS Sonicblast 2 ($190) is out now with a forked Pebax plate and FF Turbo Squared foam. Reebok’s first full-length carbon-plated shoe, the SpeedShifter ($220), lands October 20. Specs, what’s official, and which fits a Texas fall build.
Berlin Marathon 2026 results: Assefa’s 2:11:04 course record on a ruptured Achilles, and Adola’s 2:02:50
Tigst Assefa won Berlin in 2:11:04, the third-fastest women’s marathon ever, after running the last 2 km on a ruptured Achilles. Guye Adola won the men’s race in 2:02:50, adidas shod the whole podium, and the top Americans. What it means before Chicago.
San Antonio Marathon 2026 guide: prices, course, cutoffs and what replaced Rock ’n’ Roll
The second San Antonio Marathon is Sunday, December 6, 2026. Final-tier prices ($199 full, $169 half), the course past the River Walk, Pearl and Alamo Heights, 7-hour cutoff, expo hours, the no-transfer policy, and 2025 results.
Tacos, donuts, pie and beer: the tastiest Texas races this fall
A taco crawl 5K in Austin, donut-shaped medals in Houston, a hot dog every mile in Garland, and the Shiner Beer Run adding a full marathon. Every Texas food, wine and beer race from October to December 2026.
On Cloudsurfer 3 vs. Mizuno Sky Prime: two new max-cushion shoes for easy days
The On Cloudsurfer 3 ($160) reaches running stores October 1 with new Surreal foam; the Mizuno Sky Prime ($199.95) landed September 28 with a PEBA top layer and a 47 mm heel. Specs, what changed, and which fits your fall training.
BMW Dallas Marathon 2026 guide: Sunday is sold out. Here's what's left, and what runners need to know
The 55th BMW Dallas Marathon (Dec. 11–13, 2026) has sold out its marathon, half, 50K, relay and weekend series. What is still open, the full race-weekend schedule, corrals, time limits and cutoffs, expo rules, pacers, and the North Texas races to run instead.
Houston Marathon sold out? Here's where to run instead this winter
The 2027 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half sold out in August. The charity route that's left, and the Texas marathons and Houston-area half marathons to run instead from December to February.
NYC Marathon 2026: the 50th five-borough race, a two-time Houston champion vs. Conner Mantz, and the Texans in the field
The TCS New York City Marathon is Sunday, Nov. 1, on the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course. The elite field, Houston Marathon record holder Zouhair Talbi, the Texas-based athletes, and how a December Texas marathon can still earn a 2027 time-qualifier entry.
The Cap10K turns 50 in 2027, and it is bringing the national running-club convention to Austin
The 50th Statesman Capitol 10,000 is Sunday, April 11, 2027, and registration is open. The RRCA National Convention comes to Austin the same weekend, with guaranteed Cap10K entry.
Chicago Marathon 2026: how to watch from Texas, who to watch, and the Aggie leading the U.S. women
The 48th Chicago Marathon is Sunday, Oct. 11. TV and streaming times in Texas time, how to track a runner, the elite field, Texas A&M alum Natosha Rogers, and when 2027 applications open.
Texas ultra season 2026–27: Cactus Rose, Big Tex Backyard, Brazos Bend 100, Bandera and Rocky Raccoon
The big Texas trail ultras run from October to February. Dates, distances, current entry fees, which races are Western States qualifiers (and for which lottery), and how a backyard ultra works.
October shoe drops, part 2: the redesigned Saucony Endorphin Speed 6 and the Hoka Arahi 9
Two more October releases for fall marathon training: the plated Saucony Endorphin Speed 6 (Oct. 15) and the Hoka Arahi 9 stability shoe (Oct. 1). Prices, weights, stack and what changed.
Boston Marathon 2027 cutoff is 5:17: 8,019 qualifiers missed out. What Texas runners should do next
The 2027 Boston Marathon cutoff is 5:17. The B.A.A. accepted 24,630 on time, is drawing 1,000 more and turned away 8,019. Texas races for a 2028 BQ.
Texas big-race registration check: Houston and Dallas are sold out. Here is where San Antonio, Austin and Cowtown stand
The Houston Marathon and Half sold out in August, and Dallas’s Sunday races have sold out too. Dates, prices and registration status for the San Antonio, Austin and Cowtown marathons and the renamed Austin half.
October 1 shoe drops: the new ASICS Gel-Slowcush and Nike Pegasus Plus 2 colorways
ASICS launches an all-new easy-day shoe, the Gel-Slowcush, on October 1, 2026, the same day Nike adds colorways to the Pegasus Plus 2. Prices, specs and who each is for.
Garmin fēnix 9 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 4: the new flagship running watches
Garmin launched the fēnix 9 in August and Apple the Watch Ultra 4 in September 2026. Prices, battery life, the new running features, and what the free Garmin update adds for Forerunner owners.
Nike Alphafly 4 vs. adidas Adios Pro 5: the two new marathon super shoes, side by side
Nike and adidas both launched new marathon racing shoes in September 2026. Here is what changed, what they cost, when you can buy them and which Texas races they are built for.
The run-walk method: how to finish your first Texas 5K, turkey trot or marathon
A randomized marathon study found run-walkers finished in similar times to runners with less muscle pain and fatigue, and Garmin just added run/walk workouts to its coaching plans. How to use run-walk for a fall race in Texas.
Zone 2 in Texas heat: why your easy pace slows down, and what the science says about slow running
Zone 2 and slow jogging are everywhere, but in Texas heat and humidity your heart-rate zones will wreck your pace. What heat does to easy runs, how acclimatization works, and what a 2025 review found about zone 2.
Looking for a race? Every upcoming Texas race is on the race calendar, and the running store directory lists specialty shops statewide.
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