Texas running, verified. Race calendar · Store directory · Gear guides
Affiliate disclosureRunning in Texas means year-round training over very different ground, from Hill Country limestone trails and Dallas–Fort Worth's paved trail networks to flat, humid Gulf Coast roads. There are 1,380 upcoming races in 282 Texas cities on our calendar, and races run every month. The most comfortable running weather is roughly October through April; in summer, run early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the worst heat and humidity.
This guide pulls together everything on Lone Star Strides for Texas runners: the statewide race calendar, running stores that host group runs and training programs, well-known places to run in each major metro, and how to train through a Texas summer.
Race counts updated Sep 25, 2026. Races from RunSignup, refreshed every morning. Store details checked against each shop's own website.
Our calendar lists 1,380 upcoming races: 1,156 5Ks, 568 10Ks, 393 half marathons, 58 marathons, 110 ultras and 99 trail races, and 1,179 have registration open now. Here are the next few on the calendar.
| Date | Race | City | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 2026 | 48 in 24: An Endurance & Discipline Challenge | Little Elm | Ultra |
| Sep 25, 2026 | Grit & Glory XC Invite | Sugar Land | 5K |
| Sep 25, 2026 | The Alief XC Classic | Houston | 5K |
| Sep 26, 2026 | 12th Annual “Heroes Among Us” 5K Color Run | Early | 5K |
| Sep 26, 2026 | 18th Annual CCA Hopeful Hearts 5K|1M Stampede | Lewisville | 5K |
| Sep 26, 2026 | 2026 Friends of the Poor Walk at St Thomas More Catholic Church | Austin | — |
| Sep 26, 2026 | 6000 Sisters, 6000 Steps for Hope Breast Cancer Walk & Health Expo | Dallas | 5K |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Bash Dash 2026 | Commerce | 5K |
The easiest way into a local running community is a store group run. These 55 specialty running stores in 37 cities list group runs, social runs, run clubs or training programs on their own websites. The details below are what each store publishes; schedules change, so check the store's page before you head out.
training programs; group runs (Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm)
training programs (Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Beginner 5K); group runs
training programs; group runs (Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm)
group runs; training programs
training programs (Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Beginner 5K); group runs
group runs
training programs (full marathon, half marathon, beginner 5K); group runs
group runs; training programs
group runs
group runs; training programs
training programs; group runs (social runs Mondays at 5 a.m., 3-5 miles)
group runs
training programs; group runs (social runs Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm)
group runs; training programs
training programs; group runs (social runs every Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm)
training programs (Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Beginner 5K); group runs (Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm)
group runs
training programs
group runs
group runs; training programs
training programs; group runs
training programs
training programs; run clubs
training programs; run clubs
training programs; group run clubs
group runs
group runs
group runs
training programs
training programs; run clubs
training programs
training programs; group runs (Wednesday evenings 6:30pm, 3-5 miles)
training programs (Half Marathon, 5K/10K); group runs (Friday Morning Social Runs)
training programs
training programs; free weekly social runs
group runs; training programs
training programs; free weekly social runs
group runs; training programs
weekly social runs
training programs; social runs
training programs
training programs
group runs; training programs
training programs
training programs; weekly social runs
training programs; group runs and walks
training programs; group runs
training programs; group runs and walks
group runs
group runs
group runs
group runs
group runs
Looking for a fitting, gait analysis or a specific brand instead? Browse all 68 Texas running stores. Know a club we should list? Tell us.
Well-known public trails and parks in each major running region. Lengths and surfaces are as published by the agency or conservancy that manages each one; follow the source link for maps, parking and closures.
Austin · Hill Country
The 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail and Boardwalk loops Lady Bird Lake through downtown Austin, with crushed granite on portions of the trail and a boardwalk section over the water.
Austin · Hill Country
More than 12 miles of trail, including a main 7.5-mile trail, past limestone cliffs along Barton Creek. Austin Parks describes rough, uneven terrain, so treat it as a trail run.
Dallas · Dallas–Fort Worth
The 3.5-mile Katy Trail is one of Dallas’s best-known urban running routes, supported by the nonprofit Friends of the Katy Trail.
Dallas · Dallas–Fort Worth
Dallas Parks calls the 9.4-mile loop around White Rock Lake the city’s most popular trail.
Fort Worth · Dallas–Fort Worth
More than 100 miles of trail in the Fort Worth area, managed by the Tarrant Regional Water District.
Houston · Houston & Gulf Coast
A 3-mile loop in Memorial Park that circles the Clay Family Eastern Glades and the Memorial Park Golf Course and Tennis Center.
Houston · Houston & Gulf Coast
A 160-acre park just west of downtown Houston. The Sandy Reed Memorial Trail is ten-foot-wide concrete, and the asphalt Kinder Footpath is reserved for walkers and joggers.
San Antonio · San Antonio
Approximately 105 miles of multi-use, accessible trails across San Antonio, run by the City of San Antonio.
El Paso · West Texas
Almost 27,000 acres with over 100 miles of trail, for mountain trail running in El Paso.
Canyon · Panhandle
More than 30 miles of trails open to runners and hikers, bikes and horses, in the Panhandle near Amarillo.
Tyler · Piney Woods
More than 13 miles of trails in an East Texas state park.
October through April is prime time. Cooler mornings make fall, winter and early spring the season for goal races and long runs, and the race calendar reflects it: October 2026, November 2026 and December 2026 are the busiest months on our current calendar.
Summer is for base building. June through August hold 7% of the races between September 2026 and August 2027, and August 2027 is the quietest month with 21 races. Many runners use these months to build mileage slowly for a fall race.
Weather depends on the region. Texas is big enough that "Texas weather" means very different things: the Gulf Coast is flat and humid, West Texas is dry with elevation around El Paso, the Panhandle is high, flat and windy, and the Hill Country is rolling limestone. Check the forecast for where you'll run, not just the nearest big city.
Races currently listed on RunSignup. Months further out fill in as organizers post their dates.
Run at the coolest time of day. The National Weather Service advises moving strenuous activity to the coolest part of the day. In a Texas summer that usually means an early-morning start. Watch the heat index, not just the temperature, because humidity makes it harder for sweat to cool you.
Drink before you're thirsty. Drink plenty of water even if you don't feel thirsty. On longer runs, carry fluids or plan a route past water fountains, and check the trail map before you go, since water on the trail isn't guaranteed.
Slow down. Heat and humidity make every pace harder. On hot days, run by effort instead of by the watch, shorten the run or split it up, and build back up gradually when summer arrives.
Dress for sun. Wear lightweight, loose, light-colored clothing, plus a hat or visor and sunscreen. A local running store can help with lightweight apparel and hydration gear.
Know the warning signs. Heavy sweating, weakness, cool and clammy skin and a fast, weak pulse point to heat exhaustion: stop, get somewhere cool and sip water, and get medical help if you vomit or symptoms last more than an hour. Confusion or slurred speech can mean heat stroke, which is life-threatening: call 911.
Heat-safety guidance summarized from the National Weather Service heat safety guide and its heat illness guide. This is general information, not medical advice.
Running in Texas means year-round training over very different ground, from Hill Country limestone trails and Dallas–Fort Worth's paved trail networks to flat, humid Gulf Coast roads. There are 1,380 upcoming races in 282 Texas cities on our calendar, and races run every month. The most comfortable running weather is roughly October through April; in summer, run early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the worst heat and humidity.
Fall, winter and early spring. Race organizers vote with their calendars: October 2026 (377 races), November 2026 (251 races) and December 2026 (154 races) are the busiest months on our current calendar, while June through August hold 7% of the races between September 2026 and August 2027. Summer running is still possible if you move your runs to early morning or evening and adjust your pace for heat.
Yes. 55 specialty running stores in 37 cities in our directory list group runs, social runs, run clubs or training programs on their own websites. Schedules change, so confirm the day and time on the store's site before you go.
Dallas–Fort Worth (358), Houston & Gulf Coast (286) and San Antonio & South Texas (189) have the most upcoming races on our calendar, but every region of the state hosts events, from 5Ks to trail ultras.
Run at the coolest time of day, drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty, slow down on hot and humid days, and wear lightweight, loose, light-colored clothing. Stop and cool down if you notice heavy sweating, weakness or clammy skin, and call 911 for confusion or slurred speech, which can be signs of heat stroke.